A Scalability and Performance Analysis of Preauthentication Algorithms for Wireless Networks

Secure wireless networks strive to maintain continuity of service while its subscribers move among fixed access points. In vehicular networks, handovers may happen rapidly, and the service continuity from Mobile IPv6 services provides a distinct advantage. Unfortunately, the requirement to authenticate each subscriber as it is passed to each new access point results in a time delay that translates into breaks in connectivity and undesirable retransmission of packets. To provide continuity of service in secure wireless networks, preauthentication algorithms have been proposed that accomplish the authentication process before the user is officially serviced by the access point. We are particularly interested in preauthentication algorithms that efficiently provide preauthentication to likely “next” access points. This paper compares the performance of three different preauthentication algorithms integrated into Fast Mobile IPv6 using signals from the IEEE 802.21 media independent handover framework. Through analysis and simulation, we compare different alternative preauthentication options using four measures of effectiveness as the basis of comparison.