cisco fast secure roaming

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Application Note

Cisco Fast Secure Roaming

Cisco Systems® is pleased to introduce Cisco fast secure roaming with CiscoIOS® Software release 12.2(11)JA for Cisco Aironet® 1200 and 1100 Series AccessPoints and Cisco Aironet Client Adapter Installation Wizard version 1.1. Cisco fastsecure roaming, a component of Wireless Domain Services, provides significantenhancements to Layer 2 (L2) roaming performance. With Cisco fast secureroaming, wireless LAN (WLAN) clients can roam between Cisco Aironet accesspoints in fewer than 150ms. This application note examines all aspects of L2roaming including: the necessity for fast secure roaming, L2 roaming components,fast secure roaming latency improvements, and configuration considerations forfast secure roaming.

Author

Bruce McMurdo, a Cisco enterprise solution design technical marketing engineer, is the

author of this application note.

Introduction

Wireless domain services (WDS) is introduced with the Cisco Structured Wireless-Aware

Network (SWAN). WDS is a collection of Cisco IOS Software features that enhance WLAN

client mobility and simplify WLAN deployment and management. These services, supported

today on access points and client devices, and on specific Cisco LAN switches and routers in

2004, include fast secure roaming and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

(IEEE) 802.1X local authentication.

Fast secure roaming is supported by Cisco Aironet 1200 and 1100 Series access points

in conjunction with Cisco or Cisco Compatible client devices. With fast secure roaming,

authenticated client devices can roam securely at L2 from one access point to another

without any perceptible delay during reassociation. Fast secure roaming supports

latency-sensitive applications such as wireless voice over IP (VoIP), enterprise resource

planning (ERP), or Citrix-based solutions (Figure 1). WDS provides fast, secure handoff

services to access points, without dropping connections, for fewer than 150ms roaming

within a subnet.


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Figure 1 Fast Secure Roaming

More information on Cisco SWAN is available from the references section at the end of this document and at

http://www.cisco.com/go/swan.

This document provides details on Cisco fast secure roaming protocol implemented in the following software

releases:

• Cisco IOS Software release 12.2(11)JA or greater for Cisco Aironet 1200 and 1100 Series access points

• Client Aironet Client Utility, firmware, and driver software releases included in Cisco Aironet Client Adaptor

Installation Wizard version 1.1 or greater

Cisco fast secure roaming enhancements will be included in Version 2 of the Cisco Compatible Extensions program,

which will be made available to third-party WLAN network interface card (NIC) vendors.

Table 1 and Table 2 summarize the client and infrastructure types that can and cannot utilize Cisco fast secure

roaming to roam between upstream access points.

Table 1 Client Support for Cisco Fast Secure Roaming

Fast Secure Roaming Client

Supports Fast Secure Roamingwith Cisco Centralized KeyManagement (CCKM)

Cisco Aironet 340, 350 wireless LAN client adapter cards Yes

Cisco Aironet 5 GHz, 54 Mbps wireless LAN client adapter cards Yes

Cisco Compatible Extensions version II compliant NICs (when available) Yes

Cisco ACSAAA Server

AP2 AP1

WAN

AP Based WDS

Note: Because the local WDS device handles roaming and reauthentication, the WAN link is not used

1. Access Point must now 802.1X authenticate with the WDS Access Point (AP1) to establish a secure session

2. Initial client 802.1X authentication goes to a central AAA server (~500ms)

3. During a client roam, the client signals to the WDS it has roamed and WDS will send the client’s base key to the new Access Point (AP2)

4. The overall roam time is reduced to <150ms, and in most cases, <100ms

http://www.cisco.com/go/swan


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Table 2 Infrastructure Support For Cisco Fast Secure Roaming

Solution Overview

Networks are normally partitioned into discrete L2 domains corresponding to Internet Protocol (IP) subnets.

This partitioning and the difference between L2 and Layer 3 (L3) roaming are illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Layer 2 and Layer 3 Roaming

Cisco Aironet 1200 and 1100 Series access points running Cisco IOSSoftware in repeater mode

Yes

Cisco Aironet wireless bridge in non-root mode No

Cisco Aironet workgroup bridge No

Fast Secure Roaming Infrastructure


Cisco Aironet 1200 and 1100 Series access points running Cisco IOSSoftware in access point mode

Yes

Cisco Aironet 350 Series access points running Cisco IOS Software inaccess point mode (when available)

Yes

Fast Secure Roaming Client


Subnet A Subnet B

Layer 3Distribution

Layer Switches

Access LayerSwitches

Access LayerSwitches

QoS QoS

AccessPoints

AccessPoints

Layer 2 RoamingInter Access Point Protocol (IAPP)

Layer 3 Roaming(Mobile IP)


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This application note discusses only L2 roaming. L2 roaming occurs when a WLAN client moves between wireless

access points that are part of the same IP subnet.

A L3 roam occurs when the client roams to an access point in a different subnet. Mobile IP capability is required to

provide seamless roaming across L3 subnet boundaries. Every L3 roam is preceded by a L2 link-layer roam. This

document examines L2 roaming in detail. L3 roaming will be addressed in a separate application note.

Wireless LANs provide the ability to connect to the network from virtually any location within the enterprise. The

desire to move from one location to another while maintaining an application session is a natural extension of this

extended network reach.

The trend toward wireless IP telephony, wireless laptops, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) will further

accelerate the desire for seamless network access for clients moving between locations. Wireless LAN benefits specific

to mobility include:

• Innovative application deployment—New and innovative applications such as actionable alerts, messaging, and

workflow applications that require always-on network connectivity, are now possible

• Improved efficiency and productivity—Continuous connectivity allows work to be performed any where, any

time without interruption

• Increased data accuracy—Data can be captured or updated immediately, from any location, which increases data

accuracy.

• Ubiquity—Users can remain online at virtually any location at home, at work or on the road

General Design Characteristics

Cisco AVVID (Architecture for Voice, Video, and Integrated Data) provides comprehensive campus network

architecture including WLANs. Where possible, the existing Cisco AVVID L3 architecture should be maintained,

with wireless LANs deployed as an additional, dedicated, wireless subnet per wiring closet for WLAN overlays.

Detailed enterprise network design guidance is provided on the Cisco Solution Reference Network Design Guides

home page, available at http://www.cisco.com/go/srnd

Clients not compatible with Cisco Centralized Key Management (CCKM), can be migrated to CCKM by making

client use of CCKM optional.

Layer 2 Design

Due to access-point WDS processing and memory limitations, Cisco fast secure roaming currently supports a

maximum of 30 access points per L2 domain (subnet).

Caveats

Deploying WLANs as recommended in this document and in the Cisco AVVID Network Infrastructure Enterprise

Wireless LAN Design document may result in multiple L2 subnets on the same floor of a building. As recommended

in this document, mobile IP is required to roam seamlessly between these L2 subnets.

Layer 2 Roaming Primer

This section details WLAN client roaming and explains what happens when a WLAN client roams.

http://www.cisco.com/go/srnd


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Introduction

A L2 roam occurs when a WLAN client moves from one access point to another within the same subnet. If the client

moves to a new access point on a different IP subnet, L3 roaming occurs after the L2 roam has completed. Roaming

is always a client station decision. The client station is responsible for detecting, evaluating, and roaming to an

alternative access point. Figure 3 Sequence of Events for L2 Roam illustrates a L2 roam.

Figure 3 Sequence of Events for L2 Roam

The arrows in Figure 3 indicate the following events:

1. A client moves from access point A coverage area into access point B coverage area (with both access points in

the same subnet). As the client moves out of the range of access point A, a roaming event (for example, maximum

retries) is triggered.

2. The client scans all IEEE 802.11 channels for alternative access points. In this case, the client discovers access

point B and reauthenticates and reassociates to it. After associating to the new access point B, if it is configured

for 802.1X, the client begins IEEE 802.1X authentication.

3. Access point B sends a null media access control (MAC) multicast, on the client’s virtual local area network

(VLAN), using the source address of the client. This updates the content addressable memory (CAM) tables of

the upstream switch and directs further LAN traffic for the client to access point B and not access point A.

4. Using its own source address, access point B sends a MAC multicast, on the native VLAN, telling access point A

that access point B now has the client associated to it. Access point A receives this multicast and removes the

client MAC address from its association table.

This guide focuses on events 1 and 2 in Figure 3. Events 3 and 4 are post-roam actions taken as part of the Cisco

Inter Access Point Protocol (IAPP) and are not discussed in this document.

• Event 1 in Figure 3 is discussed in the Roaming Events section of this document that describes the events that

cause a client to initiate the roam process.

• Event 2 in Figure 3 is discussed in the Fast Secure Roaming section where the process of discovering evaluating

and roaming to an alternative access point is reviewed.

AccessPoint A

AccessPoint B

1

2

34

IAPPInter Access

Point Protocol

Wired LAN Connecting APs(Intra-Subnet Roaming)


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Roaming Events

This section reviews the events that cause a client to roam. The roaming process is described in the Fast Secure

Roaming section. Roaming is always initiated by the client, and is not defined by IEEE standards. For Cisco clients,

roaming is caused by one of the following events.

• Maximum data retry count is exceeded

• Missed too many beacons

• Datarate shift

• Initial startup

• Periodic client interval (if configured)

Maximum Data Retry Count Exceeded

When a client station retries a packet more often than is acceptable under the max data retry count, the station will

initiate a roam. The max data retry count defaults to 16, and is configured in the Aironet Client Utility under the RF

Network tab for the currently active profile. A sample screen is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 Setting Maximum Data Retries in the Aironet Client Utility


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Missed Too Many Beacons

All clients associated to an access point receive a periodic beacon. By default, access points send a beacon every

100ms, which is the beacon period setting on an access point as is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5 Max Data Retries, Beacon Period, and Data Rate Settings


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Clients learn the access point’s beacon interval from an element in the beacon. If a client misses eight consecutive

beacons, a roaming event is deemed to have occurred, and the roam process detailed in the Fast Secure Roaming

section is initiated. By continuously monitoring for received beacons, even an otherwise idle client is able to detect

a loss of wireless link quality, and will initiate a roam.

Datarate Shift

Packets are normally transmitted at the access points’ default rate. The default rate is the highest rate set to the

“require” or “enable” setting on the access point. The configuration of data rate on an access point is shown in

Figure 5.

Every time a packet has to be retransmitted at a lower rate,1 a retransmit count is increased by three. For each packet

successfully transmitted at the default rate, the retransmit count is decreased by one, until it is zero. If the retransmit

count reaches 12, one of the following scenarios occurs:

• If the client has not attempted to roam in the last 30 seconds then the roam process as described in the fast secure

roaming event occurs.

• If the client has already attempted to roam in the last 30 seconds, the data rate for that client is set to the next

lower rate

A client transmitting at less than the default rate will increase the data rate back to the next-higher rate after a short

time interval if transmissions are successful.

Periodic Client Interval (If configured)

The ability to configure how often, and at what signal strength threshold, the client will scan for a better access point

is available in Aironet Client Utility version 6.1 or greater, included in Cisco Aironet Installation Wizard version 1.1

or greater. This capability is configured in the Aironet Client Utility for the selected profile under the radio frequency

(RF) network tab as shown in Figure 6.

1. A rate shift occurs when a frame is retransmitted three times and a request to send/clear to send (RTS/CTS) is used to send the last tworetransmissions.


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Figure 6 Aironet Client Utility Configuration – Scan For A Better Access Point

Figure 6 Aironet Client Utility Configuration – Scan For A Better Access Point shows the default Aironet Client

Utility settings. With these settings, the client will scan for a better access point when both of the following conditions

have been met.

• The client has been associated to its current access point for at least 20 seconds. This restriction is to prevent a

client “flapping” or switching between access points too rapidly. Valid values are from 5 to 255 seconds

• The signal strength is less than 50 percent. Valid values range from zero to 75 percent.

The periodic scan is a roaming event that causes the occurrence of the roam process described in the Fast Secure

Roaming section.

Initial Client Start-up

When a client starts up it goes through the roam process described in the Roam Process section, to scan for and

associate with the most appropriate access point.

Roam Process

The previous section described the five events that cause a client to decide that it needs to roam. This section discusses

what a client station does when it roams.

The process of finding and re-associating to a new access point includes:

• Scan for available access points

• Compile a list of roam targets

• Pick the best access point from the list of roam targets


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When a roaming event occurs, the client station scans each 802.11 channel.2 On each channel the client station sends

a probe, and waits for a probe responses or beacons from access points on that channel. The probe responses and

beacons received from access points are discarded unless they have matching Service Set Identifier (SSID) and

encryption settings.

Once the scan is complete and the client has a list of responding access points, it selects the access point to compare

the others against. That access point is then referred to as the current access point. The current access point is

determined in the following manner:

• If this is the clients initial start-up

– Current access point = the first access point in the list

• If the client is roaming

– Current access point = the previously associated access point, if it responded to the probe request

• If the client is roaming and the previous access point did not respond to the probe request

– Current access point = the first access point in the list

The current access point is compared with each of the access points in the list of responding access points. To be

considered as a new current access point, each access point must meet all the criteria in Table 3.

Table 3 Access Point Conditions that Must Be Met for the Access Point to Be Considered a Roam Target

The client compares each access point that meets the base criteria listed in Table 3 with the current access point. If

an evaluated access point meets any of the criteria listed in Table 4, then the client selects it as the new current access

point, and compares the next access point in the list against this new current access point.

2. The client scans all 802.11 channels valid in the country in which the client is operating The Fast Secure Roaming section describes ways in whichthe fast secure roaming channel scanning enhancements can reduce the number of channels that are scanned during a roam.

Client station with Cisco Aironet ExtensionsEnabled (Probe response / Beacon must satisfyall conditions) Client Station without Cisco Aironet Extensions

• Potential roam target access points signal strength isgreater than 20 percent

and

• If signal strength more than 20 percent weaker thancurrent access point, signal strength must be 50percent or more

Unknown—implementation dependent

If the potential roam target access point is in repeatermode and is more radio hops from the backbone thanthe current access point, its signal strength must be atleast 20 percent greater than the current access point’ssignal strength

Not applicable—radio hop information is Cisco elementin beacons. Client stations that do not have Cisco Aironetextension capability cannot read the Cisco beaconelement.

The transmitter load for the potential roam target accesspoint can not be more than 10 percent greater than thetransmitter load of the current access point

Not applicable—access point transmitter loadinformation is Cisco element in beacons. Client stationsthat do not have Cisco Aironet extension capabilitycannot read the Cisco beacon element.


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Table 4 Choosing from Eligible Roam Targets

Fast Secure Roaming

The Cisco fast secure roaming implementation in Cisco IOS Software release 12.2(11)JA is comprised of two

main enhancements.

• Improved 802.11 channel scanning during physical roaming

• Improved reauthentication using advanced key management

The improved 802.11 channel scanning during physical roaming enhancements speeds up all L2 roaming, regardless

of the security method used. The improved reauthentication, using advanced key management enhancements, speeds

up Cisco LEAP authentication to provide fast secure roaming.

Improved 802.11 Channel Scanning

Improved channel scanning is enabled by default on Cisco clients and access points and is not configurable. The

fast secure roaming enhancements to channel scanning require communication between the client and access point.

Improved channel scanning has the following software dependencies:

• Cisco IOS Software release 12.2(11)JA or greater

• Cisco Aironet Client Utility, firmware, and driver software, which is included in Cisco Aironet Client Adaptor

Installation Wizard version 1.1 or greater.

Channel Scanning Prior to Fast Secure Roaming

Before the release of Cisco IOS Software 12.2(11)JA, Cisco Aironet clients took 37ms to scan for each of the 11

802.11 channels in the United States, for a total scan time of ~400ms. (Eleven channels are used in the United States.

Different countries use different channel sets.)

For each of the 802.11 channels valid in a specific regulatory domain, the client performed the following steps:

• Radio hardware physically moves to a specific WLAN channel

Client Station with Cisco Aironet ExtensionsEnabled (Access point must satisfy any condition)

Client Station without Cisco Aironet Extensions(Access point must satisfy all conditions)

Signal strength is 20 percent stronger than currentaccess point

Unknown—implementation dependent

Fewer hops to the backbone Not applicable—Backbone hops information is Ciscoelement in beacons. Client stations that do not haveAironet extension capability cannot read the Ciscobeacon element.

At least four (or more) fewer clients associated to it thancurrent access point

Not applicable—access point client association loadinformation is Cisco element in beacons. Client stationsthat do not have Cisco Aironet extension capabilitycannot read the Cisco beacon element.

20+% less transmitter load1

1. Transmitter load is an indication of how busy the access point radio is.

Not applicable—access point transmitter loadinformation is Cisco element in beacons. Client stationsthat do not have Cisco Aironet extension capabilitycannot read the Cisco beacon element.


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• Client listens to avoid a collision

• Client transmits a probe frame

• Client waits for probe responses or beacon frames

Fast Secure Roaming Channel Scanning Improvements

Improvements to the Cisco channel scanning algorithm introduced with Cisco IOS Software release

12.2(11)JA includes:

• Re-associating clients now communicate information to the new access point such as the length of time since

they lost association with the previous access point, channel number, and SSID.

• Using the information from client associations, an access point builds a list of adjacent access points and the

channels these access points were using. If the client reporting an adjacent access point was disassociated from

its previous access point for more than 10 seconds its information is not added to the new access points list.

• Access points store a maximum list of 30 adjacent access points. This list is aged out over a one-day period.

• When a client associates to an access point, the associated access point sends the adjacent access point list to

the client as a directed unicast packet.

The communication between client and access point is shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7 Client and Access Point Communication During Association

When a client needs to roam, it uses the adjacent access point list it received from its current access point to reduce

the number of channels it needs to scan. How the client uses the adjacent access point list depends upon how busy

the client is. There are three types of client roams:

• Normal Roam: The client has not sent or received a unicast packet in the last 500ms.

– The client does not use the adjacent access point list obtained from the previous access point. Instead it scans

all channels valid for the operating regulatory domain.

• Fast Roam: The client has sent or received a unicast packet in the last 500ms.3

– The client scans the channels on which it has been told there is an adjacent access point.

– If no new access points are found after scanning the adjacent access point list, the client reverts to scanning

all channels.

3. A typical IP telephony call generates a single packet in each direction every 20ms

Access PointsChannel 1 Channel 6 Channel 11

Roaming Client

AdjacentChannel is 1

AdjacentChannels are 1 and 11


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– The client limits its scan time to 75ms if it is able to find at least 1 better4 access point.

• Very Fast Roam: the client has sent or received a unicast packet in the last 500ms,5 and the client is

contributing a non-zero percentage to the load of the cell.

– Identical to a Fast Roam except the scan is ended as soon as a better6 access point is found.

If the client did not receive an adjacent access point list from its previous access point, and it wants to fast roam

or very fast roam, then it will use the list of channels on which access points were found during its last full scan.

Improved Cisco LEAP Authentication

Besides fast 802.11 channel scanning, the fast secure roaming feature provides a fast rekey capability for clients using

Cisco LEAP as their 802.1X authentication protocol.

Improved Cisco LEAP authentication introduces the new CCKM protocol that is a component of the Cisco Wireless

Security Suite.

Cisco LEAP Authentication Prior to Fast Secure Roaming

A Cisco LEAP client using Cisco IOS Software version 12.2(8)JA or earlier needs to perform a full Cisco LEAP

reauthentication each time it roams. A Cisco LEAP reauthentication requires:

• A minimum of 100ms

• An average of ~600ms

• Up to 1.2seconds +

The timeframes above are in addition to the channel-scanning portion of the L2 roam. Cisco LEAP authentication

takes this much time because it requires three roundtrips to a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)

server using the following process:

• Client sends identity, Cisco Secure Access Control Server (ACS) or RADIUS Server sends challenge

• Client sends challenge response, Cisco Secure ACS sends success

• Client sends challenge, Cisco Secure ACS sends challenge response

In addition to network transit times, each of these roundtrip transactions requires time-consuming cryptographic

calculations, hence the total times quoted above.

Improved Reauthentication Using Fast Secure Roaming Advanced Key Management

Industry standards such as Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and 802.11i require 802.1X and also introduce a new key

hierarchy to WLAN security. Cisco fast secure roaming is based on this new key hierarchy. Cisco fast secure roaming

is a WDS feature.

Cisco fast secure roaming requires 802.1X authentication of access points and clients to a RADIUS server.

This authentication uses a dedicated RADIUS server, or the local authentication service running on a Cisco

Aironet access point.

4. As defined in the section on roam processes

5. A typical IP telephony call generates a single packet in each direction every 20ms

6. As defined in the section on roam processes


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About Wireless Domain Services

Wireless Domain Services (WDS) act as a central authentication entity that supports a fast client rekey, rather than

requiring a full RADIUS reauthentication each time the client roams. All access points and clients in a L2 domain

802.1X authenticate to a RADIUS server via the WDS that performs the role of 802.1X authenticator. Because all

clients and access points authenticate via the WDS, the WDS is able to establish shared keys between itself and every

other entity in the L2 domain. These shared keys enable CCKM fast secure roaming. Figure 8 illustrates access points

and clients authenticating to WDS.

Figure 8 Access Points and Clients Authenticating to WDS

The WDS function is written in Cisco IOS Software and initially runs on Cisco IOS Software on Cisco Aironet access

points only. In the future, WDS be available in Cisco router and switch infrastructure products.

At least one WDS is required per L2 domain. The CCKM architecture supports WDS redundancy via a MAC-layer

multicast primary WDS election process. If redundant WDS are configured, the WDS with the highest priority is

elected to be the primary WDS. If equal or no priorities are configured, a primary is dynamically determined.

Redundancy provides a cold backup. If the primary WDS fails, all authenticated clients continue to operate, until a

roaming event occurs, at which point the client completes a full initial authentication to the RADIUS server, via the

backup WDS. All access points in a L2 domain dynamically learn the address of the active WDS via an L2 multicast.

The address of the WDS is not configured in any access point.

The WDS supports a single L2 domain with up to 30 access points supported per L2 domain. The 30 access point

limit is not a physical limit, but is the maximum recommended by Cisco, and the maximum number supported by

Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC).

Comparing Cisco Fast Secure Roaming with 802.11i or WPA Security Protocols

While the CCKM protocol is very closely aligned to the 802.11i and WPA security specifications, it adds additional

steps to perform fast secure roaming. Currently, 802.11i and WPA have no equivalent fast secure roaming capability.

Cisco access points support both WPA and CCKM concurrently. However, only CCKM clients can perform fast

secure roaming. Figure 9 provides a high-level overview of the differences between 802.11i or WPA key management

schemes and CCKM.

802.1XSupplicant

802.1XAuthenticator/Supplicant

802.1XAuthenticator

802.1XAuthentication Server

Client RADIUSAccess Pointwith WDS

Access Point

Clients Authenticatevia the WDS

Access Points Authenticatevia WDS


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Figure 9 Comparing CCKM Initial Key Establishment with Industry Standard WPA/802.11i Key Management

Figure 9 outlines the key similarities and differences between 802.11i/WPA and CCKM. The additional steps

performed (during initial client authentication only) by CCKM are circled. CCKM derives different, additional keys

and introduces WDS between the access points and the RADIUS server.

Fast Secure Roaming Stages

There are three stages in Cisco fast secure roaming:

1. Infrastructure authentication—All of the access points in a L2 domain 802.1X authenticate, via the WDS, to a

RADIUS server.

2. Initial authentication—When a WLAN client first associates to an access point in a new L2 domain, it performs

a full 802.1X authentication, via the WDS, to the RADIUS server. This initial authentication has the same latency

characteristics as non-CCKM (Cisco LEAP) authentication. Fast secure roaming applies when the client moves

to subsequent access points in the same L2 domain.

3. Fast secure roaming—When a client roams to another access point in the same L2 domain, it uses CCKM to

perform fast rekeying, without contacting the RADIUS server.

Infrastructure Authentication

During the infrastructure authentication phase, all Cisco Aironet access points, including any running WDS,

authenticate using Cisco LEAP7 via the WDS, to a RADIUS server as shown in Figure 10.

Supplicant AuthenticatorAuthentication

ServerWDS

AuthenticatorAuthenticator/

Supplicant

InfrastructureAuthentication

Discovery

Authentication

KeyManagement

Data Protection

SupplicantAuthentication

Server

WPA/802.11i CCKM

Beacon/probe RSNIE

EAPAuthentication

Cisco LEAPAuthentication

Cisco LEAPAuthentication

WLCCPEncapsulation

WLCCPEncapsulation

PMK NSK4-way Handshake

(nonces)4-way Handshake

(nonces)

2-way Handshake 2-way Handshake

PTK - Unicast Data

GTK - Multicast Broadcast

PTK - Unicast Data

GTK - Multicast Broadcast

Beacon/probe RSNIE

EAPCredential

EAPCredential

EAPCredential

StaticPassword

EAPCredential

DerivePMK

DeriveNSK

DerivePMK

DerivePTK

DeriveBTK/KRK PTK

DeriveBTK/KRK

DecryptGTK

DecryptGTK

DerivePTK

DerivePTK

DeriveCTK

StaticPassword

DeriveCTKCTK

BTK


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Figure 10 Infrastructure Authentication Phase

All Cisco infrastructure devices in the L2 domain must authenticate to the WDS during the infrastructure

authentication phase as noted in Figure 10 above. This allows each access point to establish a shared key with the

WDS. This shared key is called the context transfer key (CTK) and is used to pass key material from the WDS to the

new access point during a fast secure roam.

Initial Authentication

When a WLAN client first associates to an access point in a new L2 domain, it performs a full 802.1X authentication,

via the WDS, to the RADIUS server. This initial authentication has the same latency characteristics as a non-CCKM

Cisco LEAP authentication.

Initial authentication consists of the following three sub-stages:

• Discovery stage

• Authentication stage

• Key management stage

Fast secure roaming occurs after the initial authentication, when the client moves to subsequent access points in the

same L2 domain.

Initial Authentication—Discovery stage

The discovery phase is the same whether WPA/802.11i or CCKM is used (Figure 11) to authenticate the client.

Figure 11 Initial Authentication – Discovery Stage

7. Currently CCKM supports only Cisco LEAP authentication.

Authenticator/Supplicant Authenticator

AuthenticationServer


Access Point

Layer 2or Layer 3Layer 2

Cisco LEAPAuthentication RADIUS

StaticPassword

DeriveCTK

StaticPassword

DeriveCTKCTK


Access Point


Beacon/Probe response RSNIE


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The access point advertises its security capabilities via the Robust Security Network Information Element (RSNIE)

in the access point’s beacons and probe responses.

CCKM capability is communicated by a MAC organizationally unique identifier (OUI) value of 00:40:96 and a type

value of 0 in the Authenticated Key Management (AKM) suite selector of the RSNIE.

Initial Authentication—Authentication Stage

In CCKM, the 802.1X Cisco LEAP authenticator functionality is split between the access point to which the client

is associated and the WDS. The access point the client is authenticating to blocks all client data traffic until Cisco

LEAP authentication is complete–per the standard authentication process. Instead of communicating directly with

the RADIUS server to perform the Cisco LEAP authentication, the access point puts a wireless LAN context control

protocol (WLCCP) header on the packets, and sends them to the WDS. The WDS communicates with the RADIUS

server to complete the Cisco LEAP authentication.

A network session key (NSK) is mutually derived on the RADIUS server and the client following successful

authentication. (Figure 12).

Figure 12 Initial Authentication – Authentication Stage

Initial Authentication—Key Management Stage

In the key management stage, the process for CCKM authentication differs significantly from WPA/802.11i

authentication. In this stage, an additional key—the base transient key (BTK)—is established on the WDS. In the

CCKM scheme, the BTK is used for fast secure roaming. For WPA/802.11i, the BTK does not exist and a full

reauthentication is required for roaming WPA/802.11i clients (Figure 13).


Access Point


Cisco LEAPAuthentication WLCCP Encapsulation RADIUS

EAPCredential

EAPCredential

DeriveNSK


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Figure 13 Initial Authentication – Key Management Stage

For CCKM clients, the RADIUS server forwards the NSK it derived from the Cisco LEAP authentication process to

the WDS (because from the RADIUS server’s viewpoint, the WDS was the 802.1X authenticator). The NSK is used

as the basis for deriving all subsequent keys for the lifetime of the client’s association with this extended basic service

set (EBSS)8, or until the RADIUS server’s rekey interval changes it.

The WDS and the client derive a BTK and a key request key (KRK) by combining the NSK with random numbers

(nonces) obtained via a process known as the four-way handshake. The four-way handshake appears to the client to

be between the client and the access point it is authenticating to, but the access point puts a WLCCP header on the

frames in the four-way handshake, and forwards them to the WDS.

After the four-way handshake is complete, WDS forwards the BTK, and a rekey number (RN) to the access point to

which the client is authenticating (since this is the initial authentication the WDS sets the RN to one). The access

point the client is authenticating to uses the BTK, RN, and basic service set identifier (BSSID)9 to derive a pairwise

transient key (PTK) which includes a shared session key for unicast traffic.

After the PTK has been successfully derived, the access point sends the group transient key (GTK) that is used for

multicast and broadcast traffic to the client, encrypted by an element of the PTK. The process of sending the GTK to

the client is called the two-way handshake. The BTK and KRK are used when the client roams to quickly establish a

new PTK.

Fast Secure Roaming

The third phase, fast secure roaming, occurs after the client has performed its initial Cisco LEAP authentication. Any

subsequent roams to an access point in the same L2 domain will utilize the preestablished key hierarchy to perform

a very fast rekey.

Comparing a WPA/802.11i Roam with a CCKM Roam

8. The EBSS is equivalent to the L2 domain

9. The BSSID is equivalent to the access point’s MAC address


Access Point


WLCCP Encapsulation

NSK4-way Handshake

(nonces)

2-way Handshake

DeriveBTK/KRK

DeriveBTK/KRK

ReceiveGTK

DeriveGTK

DerivePTK

DerivePTK

ECTK (BTK RN=1)

NSK

BSSIDRN=1

NSK


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The advantage of CCKM becomes apparent when the WLAN client roams. In Figure 14, the WPA client is shown

completing a reauthentication when it roams (including 802.1X re-authentication to a central RADIUS server).

In contrast, the CCKM client sends a single reassociate-request frame to the access point and the access point sends

a single frame to a local WDS and receives a single frame reply. Table 5 compares a CCKM roam re-establishment

with industry standard key management.

Figure 14 Comparing a CCKM Roam Establishment with Industry Standard WPA/802.11i Key Management

Table 5 Comparing a CCKM Roam Establishment with Industry Standard Key Management

When a CCKM client roams, it sends a reassociation request message to the new access point. The reassociation

request includes:

WPA/802.11i Cisco CCKM

When a WPA/802.11i client roams, it completes a fullreauthentication, just as it did in the initialauthentication. This includes:

• A full Cisco LEAP reauthentication with a centralRADIUS server

• The complete four-way handshake to derive the PTK

• The complete two-way handshake to determinethe GTK

When a CCKM client roams, it sends a reassociaterequest to its new access point.

• The new access point forwards the reassociate requestto the WDS

• The WDS sends the new access point the client’s BTK

• The new access point and the client mutually derive anew PTK

• The GTK, encrypted by the PTK, is sent to the client

Supplicant AuthenticatorAuthentication

ServerWDS

AuthenticatorAuthenticator/

Supplicant

WLCCPInfrastructure

Discovery

Authentication

KeyManagement

Data Protection

SupplicantAuthentication

Server

WPA/802.11i CCKM

Beacon/Probe RSNIE

EAPAuthentication

PMK4-way Handshake

(nonces)Reassociate-

Request

2-way Handshake

PTK - Unicast Data

GTK - Multicast/Broadcast

PTK - Unicast Data

GTK - Multicast/Broadcast

Beacon/Probe RSNIE

EAPCredential

EAPCredential

DerivePMK

DerivePMK

DerivePTK

DerivePTK

DecryptGTK

DerivePTK

DerivePTK

BTK


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• A message integrity check (MIC) using the KRK

• A sequentially incrementing RN

Immediately after sending the reassociation request, the client is able to calculate its next PTK. It does this by

performing a cryptographic hash of the BTK, the RN, and the BSSID. Figure 15 shows the CCKM key management

phase in more detail.

The access point passes the reassociation request to the WDS by encapsulating it in the WLCCP protocol. The WDS

verifies the MIC. The WDS then encrypts the BTK and the RN with the CTK shared by the WDS and the new access

point, and passes the encrypted message to the new access point. The new access point then hashes the BTK, RN and

BSSID to calculate the same new PTK as the client. After the PTK has been mutually derived by the access point and

the client, the access point uses an element of the PTK to encrypt the GTK. The access point then passes the GTK to

the client.

Figure 15 CCKM Fast Rekey

Note: CCKM roaming requires one roundtrip to a subnet-local WDS. An equivalent Cisco LEAP authentication

requires three roundtrips to a RADIUS server located on the network core.

Layer 2 Design Recommendations

This section provides design guidance for architecting and deploying L2 roaming considerations on a network.

Detailed campus wireless LAN design guidance is provided on the Cisco Solution Reference Network Design Guides

home page, available at http://www.cisco.com/go/srnd

Cisco AVVID Design

Cisco provides comprehensive campus network architecture guidance with Cisco AVVID. For wireless LANs used in

existing networks as a wireless overlay or as freestanding all-wireless networks, the existing Cisco AVVID Layer 3

architecture should be maintained where possible, with the WLAN deployed as an additional, dedicated, wireless

subnet per wiring closet. Figure 16 shows a typical Cisco AVVID architecture to which a WLAN subnet has been

added to each access layer switch.


Access Point


WLCCP EncapsulationReassociation Request

(MICKRK, RN=(RN+1))

EPTK(GTK)

Verify MIC

ReceiveGTK

DerivePTK

DerivePTK

ECTK (BTK, RN=(RN+1))

BTK (KRK) BTK (KRK)

BSSID



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Figure 16 Adding WLAN to Cisco AVVID Architecture

Sizing the Layer 2 Domain

In Figure 17, each access layer switch represents a separate wiring closet. A dedicated VLAN for each wireless LAN

access points is added to each switch. Access points are connected to a dedicated VLAN to minimize the broadcast

domain since WLANs are a shared half-duplex media and broadcasts have a bigger impact on access points than on

most devises connected to switch ports.

Some customers may decide to forgo a L3 architecture, and instead extend the L2 network to provide L2 mobility

across a larger section of the enterprise. For these customers, advanced spanning tree features such as Rapid Per

VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (Rapid PVST+) are useful.

Roaming

Cisco Aironet IAPP provides seamless mobility within a single subnet only. In the absence of mobile IP, when a

WLAN client moves to an access point on a different subnet, the IP address must be renewed. Windows 2000 and

Windows XP automatically renew IP addresses.

Renewing the IP address breaks application sessions that are using IP address. Some applications, such as e-mail, and

Web-based applications, may recover and continue to operate normally when their IP address is changed (either

automatically by Windows 2000 or XP, or manually if using a different operating system). Other applications such

as Telnet, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and other connection-based applications will fail when their IP address is

changed and will need to be manually restarted. Mobile IP or proxy mobile IP (PMIP) is the solution for this

application problem as it maintains a constant IP address for host applications across L3 subnet boundaries.

Configuring Fast Secure Roaming

This section illustrates the minimum steps required to configure CCKM fast secure roaming in a lab environment.

For more complete configuration details, please refer to the Cisco Aironet installation and configuration guides or

the Cisco Aironet release notes at:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/prod_category_positioning_paper0900aecd8009298f.html

Note: The graphical user interface (GUI) screen configuration will likely change with different Cisco IOS Software

releases. However, the Cisco IOS Software command line interface (CLI) configuration remains consistent across

releases.

Layer 3HSRP Active

VLAN 20, 41, 140

10.1.20.010.1.21.0

10.1.120.0

HSRP ActiveVLAN 40, 21, 120

VLAN 20 DataVLAN 21 WLANVLAN 120 Voice

10.1.40.010.1.41.0

10.1.140.0

VLAN 40 DataVLAN 41 WLANVLAN 140 Voice

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/prod_category_positioning_paper0900aecd8009298f.html


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Enable Encryption

All access points, including the WDS need to enable encryption. CCKM requires the selection of the cipher radio

button and one of the cipher modes in the Cisco Aironet access point set-up screen (Figure 17).

Figure 17 Enabling Encryption on Cisco Aironet Access Points

Enable Cisco LEAP for Your SSID

All access points, including the WDS require enabling Cisco LEAP for a particular SSID (Figure 18).

In the Cisco Aironet access point set-up screen, perform the following steps:

1. Check the “Network EAP” check box (this is the authentication type used by Cisco LEAP)

2. Select the CCKM radio button and choose “Optional” or “Mandatory” from the drop-down menu.

(It is possible to choose “Optional” if a mix of CCKM and non-CCKM enabled devices are associating to the VLAN.

This option is useful when migrating clients to CCKM.)

Web GUICisco IOS Softwarecommand line

interface Dot11Radio0encryption mode ciphersckip-cmic


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Figure 18 Enabling Cisco LEAP on Cisco Aironet Access Points

Configuring Access Points with Username/Password to Use when Authenticating to the

RADIUS Server Via WDS

All access points in the subnet (including the access point running the WDS) authenticate to WDS using Cisco LEAP.

To perform this Cisco LEAP authentication, the access points must be statically configured with a Cisco LEAP user

name and password (and a matching user name and password must be configured on the RADIUS server).

Each access point in a subnet must authenticate to the WDS for that subnet. The username and password are

configured as shown in Figure 19. The configuration example uses Cisco as a password. Please ensure a more secure

password is chosen for your production deployments.


Interface dot11 0ssid <insert SSID>authentication network-eapeap_methodsauthentication key-management cckm


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Figure 19 Configuring Access Points with User Name and Password for Authentication to WDS

Configuring an Access Point as a WDS

To configure an access point as a WDS (Figure 20):

1. Select the “Use this access point as Wireless Domain Services” check box, and configure a priority (to

deterministically elect a primary WDS if redundant WDS’s are configured; 9 is arbitrarily chosen in this example.

The highest priority number will be elected the active WDS.)

2. Type the RADIUS server IP address into the server text-entry box. Ensure that the server type is RADIUS.

Type your password into the shared secret text-entry box. For this example “Cisco” is used. (The WDS must be

configured as a network access server (NAS) in the RADIUS server with a matching password.)

3. Check the “Infrastructure Authentication” and “Client-Cisco LEAP Authentication” check boxes.

Figure 20 Configuring Access Point1 as WDS


wlccp ap username <apusername> password 0Cisco

!

wlccp ap username <apusername> password 0Cisco


wlccp wds priority 9interface BVI1

!

aaa group server radiuswlccp_rad_infra

server <Radius IP address>auth-port 1645 acct-port1646

!

aaa group server radiuswlccp_rad_leap

server <Radius IP address>auth-port 1645 acct-port1646

Cisco

Cisco


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Verifying and Debugging Fast Secure Roaming Operation

Verify the WDS is operational and that the access points are correctly registered to the WDS.

The following commands verify the state of the WDS and the access point.

The most useful WDS monitoring command is the following command on the WDS:

Figure 21 shows a sample output from an access point running the WDS.

Figure 21 Monitoring WDS and Access Point Registration State

Testing Roaming

Configuring Client

There are no specific client configuration changes needed in order to use Cisco fast secure roaming. When testing

fast secure roaming, ensure the client has installed the Aironet Client Utility, firmware, and driver software releases

included in Cisco Aironet Client Adaptor Installation Wizard version 1.1 or greater.

Testing Fast Secure Roaming

Open a Telnet window to two different access points. Enter the terminal monitor command to direct syslog output

to the Telnet screen. Use the show dot11 association all command to see which access point your CCKM client is

associated to. On the access point your client is associated to, enter the following commands:

Int dot11 0ShutNo shut

Observe the message on the other access point that indicates the client has roamed, using CCKM fast roaming, as

shown in Figure 22.

• show wlccp wds On access points running WDS only

• show wlccp ap On access point running CCKM key management

• show wlccp wds ap On access points running WDS only


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Figure 22 Fast Roaming Message

Debugging Fast Secure Roaming

Trouble Associating

If the client is having trouble associating to the access point, use the Aironet Client Utility debugging feature added

in Aironet Client Utility release 5.0 or greater to determine where it is failing (Figure 23).

Figure 23 Starting Aironet Client Utility Troubleshooting


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Trouble Authenticating

The Cisco IOS Software show dot11 association all command provides information about client associations. Figure

24 highlights the client state, key-management type, and encryption type as shown in the output from this command.

• show dot11 association all

Figure 24 Client Association Information

Troubleshooting WDS Operation

In addition to the Cisco IOS Software commands shown above, the following debug commands are useful:

• debug wlccp wds state

• debug dot11 aaa dot1x state

• debug dot11 mgmt interface

Installing Fast Secure Roaming Software

Fast secure roaming requires upgrades of Cisco Aironet client adapter and access point software. Cisco IOS

Software release 12.2(11)JA (or greater) must be installed on Cisco Aironet 1200 and 1100 Series access points.

Cisco Aironet Client Adaptor Install Wizard version 1.1 (or greater) must be installed on applicable Cisco Aironet

WLAN client adapters.

Installing Cisco Aironet Client Adaptor Installation Wizard to Enable Fast Secure Roaming

To install the Cisco Aironet Client Adaptor Installation Wizard to enable fast secure roaming, follow the steps below

(Figure 25)

1. Ensure your 802.11a or 802.11b NIC is inserted or available on your laptop.

2. Downloaded the client installation program.

3. Double-click the “InstallWizard.exe” self-extracting install file.

4. Select the Unzip button from the WinZip pop-up application.


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Figure 25 Installing Cisco Aironet Client Adaptor Installation Wizard

5. All required files will be automatically extracted and the install program shown in Figure 26 will be launched.

Figure 26 Selecting Cisco Aironet Client Adaptor Installation Wizard Installation Type

6. After the installation is complete, restart the client PC.

7. When the PC has restarted, launch the Aironet Client Utility, then click the status icon, and confirm that the

firmware version is V5.20.17 or greater as shown in Figure 27.


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Figure 27 Checking the Firmware Version for the Aironet WLAN Client Adapter

Loading the Fast Secure Roaming Cisco Aironet Access Point Software

This section describes how to use the Cisco IOS Software command line to upgrade Cisco Aironet 1200 and 1100

Series access points to Cisco IOS Software release 12.2(11)JA or later. The firmware can also be upgraded via the

access point GUI. The Cisco IOS Software command line is used here to highlight the difference between Cisco IOS

Software upgrades on Cisco Aironet access points and Cisco IOS Software upgrades Cisco routers and switches.

1. Telnet to the access point.

2. Use the following command to install the fast secure roaming software from a TFTP/FTP server. This example

uses a FTP server at IP address 10.50.1.50.

• Archive download-sw /overwrite /reload ftp://<FTP server IP address>/<image> (where image= the appropriate

.tar file for your access point.)

A software upgrade in progress is shown in Figure 28. Once the access point finishes loading, it will automatically

reboot with the new software.


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Figure 28 Loading Cisco IOS Software on the Cisco Aironet 1100 Series Access Point

References

Cisco Structured Wireless-Aware Network Overview

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/prod_brochure09186a0080184925.html

WLAN Design Guide


VLAN Deployment Guide

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/prod_technical_reference09186a00801444a1.html

Quality of Service (QoS) Deployment Guide

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/prod_technical_reference09186a0080144498.html

SAFE White Papers

http://www.cisco.com/go/safe

Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Security Overview

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/prod_brochure09186a00801f7d0b.html

802.11 Wireless LAN Security White Paper

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/products_white_paper09186a00800b469f.shtml

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/prod_brochure09186a0080184925.html


http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/prod_technical_reference09186a00801444a1.html

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/prod_technical_reference09186a0080144498.html

http://www.cisco.com/go/safe

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/prod_brochure09186a00801f7d0b.html

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/products_white_paper09186a00800b469f.shtml


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