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802.1X network authentication (wired and wireless)

How corporate Wi-Fi and wired ports authenticate devices and users, and how to diagnose failures from the client and the NPS logs.

Level
Advanced
Length
About 45 minutes
Contents
3 lessons · 1 video · final exam
Status
Published · updated 1 Oct 2026

Skills you'll practise

  • Explain EAP-TLS and PEAP-MSCHAPv2 at a conceptual level
  • Distinguish machine and user authentication
  • Diagnose 802.1X failures using client event logs and NPS events

Course outline

  1. 1.802.1X network authentication (wired and wireless)Video · 5 min
  2. 2.How 802.1X decides who gets on the networkLesson · 15 min
  3. 3.EAP methods and the client settings that matterLesson · 14 min
  4. 4.Reading 802.1X failures on the client and on NPSLesson · 12 min
  5. 5.802.1X network authentication (wired and wireless): knowledge checkKnowledge check · 17 questions
  6. 6.Corporate Wi-Fi rejects one laptopScenario
  7. 7.Final exam5 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out

Sources it draws on

The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.

  • Microsoft Learn: Network Policy Server (NPS)
  • Microsoft Learn: Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) for network access
  • Microsoft Learn: Troubleshoot 802.1X authentication

See it with your own jobs and topics

Tell us about your team and we'll walk you through setup, from choosing jobs to your first skills check.