Network Access Control

If you do not see the 'Authentication' tab to enable IEEE 802.1x Authentication on a Windows 7 Client - there is not even a slightest reson to worry/ponder.

This is because Windows 7 (enterprise builds ofcourse) bydefault fully supports IEEE 802.1x Authentication for both wired and wireless access. The better part is that you could turn either one (between wired and wireless) or both (wired and wireless) ON in terms of IEEE 802.1x Authentication, as per your requirement.

Bydefault this is disabled on Windows 7 systems & it requires us to enable the below services either manually or through a group policy/systems' management tool in your environment.

Please see below for detailed steps:

For Wired - Enable Wired AutoConfig on your Computer

1. Click the Start button and type services.msc into the search box.
    
2. In the services window locate the service named Wired AutoConfig.
   
   
    
3. Right click on this service and click on properties.
    
4. Select the Startup Type Automatic and press OK.
   
   
    
5. Reboot your computer for the changes to take effect.

For Wireless - Enable WLAN AutoConfig on your Computer

1. Click the Start button and type services.msc into the search box.
    
2. In the services window locate the service named WiLAN AutoConfig.
    
3. Right click on this service and click on properties.
    
4. Select the Startup Type Automatic and press OK.
    
5. Reboot your computer for the changes to take effect.

NOW, after Enabling Wired/WLAN AutoConfig -->