1-4 
Figure 1-3 The format of an EAPoL packet 
 
 
In an EAPoL packet: 
z  The PAE Ethernet type field holds the protocol identifier. The identifier for 802.1x is 0x888E. 
z  The Protocol version field holds the version of the protocol supported by the sender of the EAPoL 
packet. 
z  The Type field can be one of the following: 
00: Indicates that the packet is an EAP-packet, which carries authentication information. 
01: Indicates that the packet is an EAPoL-start packet, which initiates the authentication. 
02: Indicates that the packet is an EAPoL-logoff packet, which sends logging off requests. 
03: Indicates that the packet is an EAPoL-key packet, which carries key information. 
04: Indicates that the packet is an EAPoL-encapsulated-ASF-Alert packet, which is used to 
support the alerting messages of Alerting Standards Forum (ASF). 
z  The Length field indicates the size of the Packet body field. A value of 0 indicates that the Packet 
Body field does not exist.  
z  The Packet body field differs with the Type field. 
Note that EAPoL-Start, EAPoL-Logoff, and EAPoL-Key packets are only transmitted between the 
supplicant system and the authenticator system. EAP packets are encapsulated by RADIUS protocol to 
allow them successfully reach the authentication servers. Network management-related information 
(such as alarming information) is encapsulated in EAPoL-Encapsulated-ASF-Alert packets, which are 
terminated by authenticator systems. 
The format of an EAP packet 
For an EAPoL packet with the value of the Type field being EAP-packet, its Packet body field is an EAP 
packet, whose format is illustrated in 
Figure 1-4. 
Figure 1-4 The format of an EAP packet 
 
 
In an EAP packet: 
z  The Code field indicates the EAP packet type, which can be Request, Response, Success, or 
Failure. 
z  The Identifier field is used to match a Response packet with the corresponding Request packet.