The invention discloses an authentication network and an authentication method for performing an authentication via an 802.1 protocol. The authentication network comprises a client, a device and a server, wherein the client is accessed to a local area network to start an 802.1x authentication, and sends an EAP identity authentication response message including a subscriber name and hardware information to the device; the device encapsulates the EAP identity authentication response message to an RADIUS access request message and sends to the server; and after receiving the RADIUS access request message, the server analyzes to obtain the subscriber name and the hardware information and compares the hardware information, and then, obtains a password from the client and determines an authentication result according to the subscriber name, the password and the hardware information. The authentication service method has the technical effects that the security is improved and the operation is simple.