The Network Access Identifier
RFC 2486
| Document | Type |
RFC - Proposed Standard
(January 1999; Errata)
Obsoleted by RFC 4282
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Last updated | 2013-03-02 | ||
| Stream | IETF | ||
| Formats | plain text pdf html bibtex | ||
| Stream | WG state | (None) | |
| Document shepherd | No shepherd assigned | ||
| IESG | IESG state | RFC 2486 (Proposed Standard) | |
| Consensus Boilerplate | Unknown | ||
| Telechat date | |||
| Responsible AD | (None) | ||
| Send notices to | (None) | ||
Network Working Group B. Aboba
Request for Comments: 2486 Microsoft
Category: Standards Track M. Beadles
WorldCom Advanced Networks
January 1999
The Network Access Identifier
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1999). All Rights Reserved.
1. Abstract
In order to enhance the interoperability of roaming and tunneling
services, it is desirable to have a standardized method for
identifying users. This document proposes syntax for the Network
Access Identifier (NAI), the userID submitted by the client during
PPP authentication. It is expected that this will be of interest for
support of roaming as well as tunneling. "Roaming capability" may be
loosely defined as the ability to use any one of multiple Internet
service providers (ISPs), while maintaining a formal, customer-vendor
relationship with only one. Examples of where roaming capabilities
might be required include ISP "confederations" and ISP-provided
corporate network access support.
2. Introduction
Considerable interest has arisen recently in a set of features that
fit within the general category of "roaming capability" for dialup
Internet users. Interested parties have included:
Regional Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operating within a
particular state or province, looking to combine their efforts
with those of other regional providers to offer dialup service
over a wider area.
Aboba & Beadles Standards Track [Page 1]
RFC 2486 The Network Access Identifier January 1999
National ISPs wishing to combine their operations with those of
one or more ISPs in another nation to offer more comprehensive
dialup service in a group of countries or on a continent.
Businesses desiring to offer their employees a comprehensive
package of dialup services on a global basis. Those services
may include Internet access as well as secure access to
corporate intranets via a Virtual Private Network (VPN), enabled
by tunneling protocols such as PPTP, L2F, L2TP, and IPSEC tunnel
mode.
In order to enhance the interoperability of roaming and tunneling
services, it is desirable to have a standardized method for
identifying users. This document proposes syntax for the Network
Access Identifier (NAI). Examples of implementations that use the
NAI, and descriptions of its semantics, can be found in [1].
2.1. Terminology
This document frequently uses the following terms:
Network Access Identifier
The Network Access Identifier (NAI) is the userID submitted
by the client during PPP authentication. In roaming, the
purpose of the NAI is to identify the user as well as to
assist in the routing of the authentication request.
Please note that the NAI may not necessarily be the same as
the user's e-mail address or the userID submitted in an
application layer authentication.
Network Access Server
The Network Access Server (NAS) is the device that clients
dial in order to get access to the network. In PPTP
terminology this is referred to as the PPTP Access
Concentrator (PAC), and in L2TP terminology, it is referred
to as the L2TP Access Concentrator (LAC).
Roaming Capability
Roaming capability can be loosely defined as the ability to
use any one of multiple Internet service providers (ISPs),
while maintaining a formal, customer-vendor relationship
with only one. Examples of cases where roaming capability
might be required include ISP "confederations" and ISP-
provided corporate network access support.
Aboba & Beadles Standards Track [Page 2]
RFC 2486 The Network Access Identifier January 1999
Tunneling Service
A tunneling service is any network service enabled by
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