A supplicant on a first computing system authenticating the first computing system to an authenticator on a second computing system in a manner that is independent of the underlying data link and physical layer protocols. The first computing system establishes a data link layer connection with the second computing system using specific data link and physical layer protocols. The supplicant on the first computing system and the authenticator on the second computing system then receive an indication that the data link layer connection has been established. The supplicant determines that authentication is to occur with the authenticator, and vice versa. The supplicant (and the authenticator) then instructs that authentication is to occur in a manner that is independent of the underlying data link and physical layer protocols used to establish the connection.