Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) is an authentication framework frequently used in network and Internet connections. EAP is usually tunnelled over RADIUS between the Authenticator and the Authentication Server. 802.1x uses EAP.
EAP is an authentication framework, not a specific authentication mechanism. Commonly used modern methods capable of operating in wireless networks include EAP-TLS, EAP-SIM, EAP-AKA, LEAP and EAP-TTLS. Requirements for EAP methods used in wireless LAN authentication are described in RFC 4017.
The Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol (LEAP) method was developed by Cisco Systems prior to the IEEE ratification of the 802.11i security standard.