Final answer:
In wireless networking, administrators rarely observe the authentication step as it occurs very quickly and devices progress to association or connection status. Authentication is automated and not typically monitored manually, with focus instead on network traffic and secure connections.
Step-by-step explanation:
As a wireless local area network (LAN) administrator, you will rarely see the "authenticated" step on the access point due to the way most wireless devices and access points handle the connection process. Typically, when a device attempts to connect to a wireless network, there are two main stages: authentication and association. The authentication process is where the device and access point establish their identities to each other, proving that they have the credentials to form a network. However, this happens very quickly and often seamlessly, so by the time an administrator observes the network, the devices have usually progressed to the association step or are already connected.
The authentication is primarily handled by the devices and access points automatically, which is why it's uncommon for administrators to intercept this stage manually. Instead, focus is often placed on monitoring network traffic, ensuring secure connections, and troubleshooting connectivity issues. Network management tools and access point logs typically provide information on the association stages, signal strength, and other metrics rather than the brief authentication handshake.