Network Access Identifier

In computer networking, the Network Access Identifier (NAI) is a standard way of identifying users who request access to a network. The standard syntax is "user@realm". Sample NAIs include (from RFC 4282):

          bob
          joe@example.com
          fred@foo-9.example.com
          fred.smith@example.com
          fred_smith@example.com
          fred$@example.com
          fred=?#$&*+-/^smith@example.com
          eng.example.net!nancy@example.net
          eng%nancy@example.net
          @privatecorp.example.net
          \(user\)@example.net
          alice@xn--tmonesimerkki-bfbb.example.net

Network Access Identifiers were originally defined in RFC 2486, which has been superseded by RFC 4282. The latter RFC is the current standard for the NAI. NAIs are commonly found as user identifiers in the RADIUS and Diameter network access protocols and the EAP authentication protocol.

See also

• Diameter
• EAP
• RADIUS
• RFC

The Network Access Identifier (NAI) is the user identity submitted by the client during network access authentication.

It is used mainly for two purposes:-

• 1) The NAI is used when roaming, to identify the user.
• 2) To assist in the routing of the authentication request to the user's authentication server.

External links

• RFC 4282