Microsoft KB Archive/883659

= Internet Authentication Service takes a long time to authenticate a wireless connection in Windows Server 2003 =

Article ID: 883659

Article Last Modified on 7/24/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)

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SYMPTOMS
When a user tries to connect to your network by using a wireless connection, and when that user's connection request is authenticated and authorized by Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Internet Authentication Service (IAS), you may experience all the following symptoms:  It takes a long time to complete the user's connection.  The following event appears in the System log on the computer that is running IAS: Event Type: Error

Event Source: IAS

Event Category: None

Event ID: 3

Date:

Time:

User: N/A

Computer:

Description: Access request for user  was discarded. Fully-Qualified-User-Name = NAS-IP-Address =  NAS-Identifier = Called-Station-Identifier =   Calling-Station-Identifier =   Client-Friendly-Name =   Client-IP-Address =   NAS-Port-Type = Ethernet NAS-Port = 50109 Proxy-Policy-Name = Use Windows authentication for all users Authentication-Provider = Windows Authentication-Server = Reason-Code = 97 Reason = The authentication request was not processed because it contained a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) message that was not appropriate for the secure authentication transaction.  If you view the contents of the IAS log file, you notice information that is similar to the following:

[516] 08-04 16:36:58:614: NT-SAM EAP handler received request. [516] 08-04 16:36:58:614: State attribute is present, but unrecognized By default, the IAS log file is named Iaslog.log. This file is located in the following folder:

%WINDIR%\System32\LogFiles





CAUSE
This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:
 * The user connects to the network through a wireless access point by using Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP).
 * When the wireless access point submits the user's credential to IAS, that authentication request contains a Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) state attribute.

In this scenario, if the access point tries to start an EAP session that contains state information, IAS ignores the authentication request. Therefore, the client times out the connection attempt, and the connection takes a long time.

Note The state attribute is a value that permits both systems to keep track of the connection conversation. IAS provides new state information to each connected session. The access point should not send state information during the initial connection request. The access point should only return the state information that it receives from IAS. However, in this scenario, IAS should reject a connection request that contains state information instead of ignoring this request. This would permit the connection to be reestablished more quickly than if the connection attempt has to time out.



Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required to install this hotfix.

Restart requirement
You must restart your computer to apply the changes after you install this hotfix. However, you do not have to restart the computer immediately after you install this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003, 32-bit editions
  Date         Time   Version       Size     File name 25-Aug-2004 07:46  5.2.3790.206  101,888  Iassam.dll

Windows Server 2003, 64-bit editions
  Date         Time   Version       Size     File name    Platform 25-Aug-2004 07:46  5.2.3790.206  335,360  Iassam.dll      IA-64 25-Aug-2004 07:46  5.2.3790.206  101,888  Wiassam.dll     x86



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, configure your wireless access point or device so that it does not send state information during the connection request.

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STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.

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MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about the terminology that is used in this article, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Keywords: kbqfe kbhotfixserver kbenv kbbug kbfix kbwinserv2003presp1fix KB883659

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