The #1 selling Wi-Fi networking reference guide in the world
The CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Study Guide is the ultimate preparation resource for the CWNA exam. Fully updated to align with the latest version of the exam, this book features expert coverage of all exam objectives to help you pass the exam. But passing the exam is just a first step. For over 16 years, the CWNA Study Guide has helped individuals jump-start their wireless networking careers. Wireless networking professionals across the globe use this book as their workplace reference guide for enterprise Wi-Fi technology.
Owning this book provides you with a foundation of knowledge for important Wi-Fi networking topics, including:
- Radio frequency (RF) fundamentals
- 802.11 MAC and medium access
- Wireless LAN topologies and architecture
- WLAN design, troubleshooting and validation
- Wi-Fi networking security
The book authors have over 40 years of combined Wi-Fi networking expertise and provide real-world insights that you can leverage in your wireless networking career. Each of the book’s 20 chapters breaks down complex topics into easy to understand nuggets of useful information. Each chapter has review questions that help you gauge your progress along the way. Additionally, hands-on exercises allow you to practice applying CWNA concepts to real-world scenarios. You also get a year of free access to the Sybex online interactive learning environment, which features additional resources and study aids, including bonus practice exam questions.
The CWNA certification is a de facto standard for anyone working with wireless technology. It shows employers that you have demonstrated competence in critical areas, and have the knowledge and skills to perform essential duties that keep their wireless networks functioning and safe. The CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Study Guide gives you everything you need to pass the exam with flying colors.
Table of Contents
Foreword xxxv
Introduction xxxvii
Assessment Test lvi
Chapter 1 Overview of Wireless Standards, Organizations, and Fundamentals 1
History of Wireless Local Area Networks 3
Standards Organizations 5
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 8
Core, Distribution, and Access 22
Communications Fundamentals 24
Summary 33
Exam Essentials 33
Review Questions 34
Chapter 2 IEEE 802.11 Standard and Amendments 39
Original IEEE 802.11 Standard 42
IEEE 802.11-2020 Ratified Amendments 44
IEEE 802.11 Draft Amendments 63
Defunct Amendments 66
IEEE Task Group m 68
Summary 69
Exam Essentials 69
Review Questions 70
Chapter 3 Radio Frequency Fundamentals 75
What Is a Radio Frequency Signal? 77
Radio Frequency Characteristics 78
Radio Frequency Behaviors 87
Summary 103
Exam Essentials 103
Review Questions 104
Chapter 4 Radio Frequency Components, Measurements, and Mathematics 109
Components of RF Communications 112
Units of Power and Comparison 115
RF Mathematics 123
Noise Floor 130
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 130
Received Signal Strength Indicator 131
Link Budget 135
Summary 140
Exam Essentials 142
Review Questions 143
Chapter 5 Radio Frequency Signal and Antenna Concepts 147
Azimuth and Elevation Charts (Antenna Radiation Envelopes) 150
Interpreting Polar Charts 152
Beamwidth 155
Antenna Types 157
Visual Line of Sight 169
RF Line of Sight 169
Fresnel Zone 170
Earth Bulge 174
Antenna Polarization 175
Antenna Diversity 176
Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output 177
Antenna Connection and Installation 179
Antenna Accessories 187
Regulatory Compliance 192
Summary 194
Exam Essentials 194
Review Questions 195
Chapter 6 Wireless Networks and Spread Spectrum Technologies 199
Throughput vs. Bandwidth 201
Narrowband and Spread Spectrum 202
Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum 205
Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum 208
Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing 211
Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Bands 218
5 GHz Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure Bands 220
60 GHz for Wi-Fi 223
Below 1 GHz 224
2.4 GHz Channels 224
5 GHz Channels 227
6 GHz Channels 232
Summary 239
Exam Essentials 239
Review Questions 240
Chapter 7 Wireless LAN Topologies 245
Wireless Networking Topologies 247
802.11 Stations 251
802.11 Service Sets 255
802.11 Configuration Modes 267
Summary 269
Exam Essentials 269
Review Questions 271
Chapter 8 802.11 Medium Access 275
CSMA/CA vs. CSMA/CD 276
Collision Detection 277
Distributed Coordination Function 278
Hybrid Coordination Function 286
Wi-Fi Multimedia 288
Airtime Fairness 290
Summary 292
Exam Essentials 292
Review Questions 293
Chapter 9 802.11 MAC 297
Packets, Frames, and Bits 299
Data-Link Layer 300
Physical Layer 301
802.11 and 802.3 Interoperability 302
802.11 MAC Header 303
802.11 Frame Body 315
802.11 Trailer 316
802.11 State Machine 317
Management Frames 318
Control Frames 333
Data Frames 341
Power Management 344
Summary 350
Exam Essentials 350
Review Questions 352
Chapter 10 MIMO Technology: HT and VHT 357
MIMO 360
Multi-User MIMO 371
Channels 376
Guard Interval 382
256-QAM Modulation 384
802.11n/ac PPDUs 388
802.11n/ac MAC 390
HT/VHT Protection Mechanisms 399
Wi-Fi Alliance Certification 400
Summary 403
Exam Essentials 403
Review Questions 405
Chapter 11 WLAN Architecture 409
WLAN Client Devices 411
Management, Control, and Data Planes 421
WLAN Architecture 423
Specialty WLAN Infrastructure 437
Cloud Networking 445
Application Programming Interface 448
Infrastructure Management 451
Summary 456
Exam Essentials 457
Review Questions 458
Chapter 12 Power over Ethernet (PoE) 463
History of PoE 464
PoE Devices 467
Planning and Deploying PoE 484
Summary 490
Exam Essentials 491
Review Questions 492
Chapter 13 WLAN Design Concepts 497
WLAN Coverage Design 499
Roaming Design 505
Channel Design 512
Capacity Design 534
Voice vs. Data 546
Dual 5 GHz and Software-Defined Radios 548
6 GHz WLAN Design 551
Physical Environment 557
Antennas 558
Outdoor Design 562
Summary 563
Exam Essentials 564
Review Questions 565
Chapter 14 Site Survey and Validation 569
WLAN Site Survey and Design Interview 572
Vertical Market Considerations 582
Legacy AP-on-a-Stick Survey 585
Hybrid Survey 595
Validation Survey 599
Site Survey Tools 604
Documents and Reports 609
Summary 614
Exam Essentials 615
Review Questions 616
Chapter 15 WLAN Troubleshooting 621
Five Tenets of WLAN Troubleshooting 623
Layer 1 Troubleshooting 629
Layer 2 Troubleshooting 636
Security Troubleshooting 648
Roaming Troubleshooting 661
Channel Utilization 665
Layers 3-7 Troubleshooting 667
WLAN Troubleshooting Tools 671
Summary 679
Exam Essentials 679
Review Questions 680
Chapter 16 Wireless Attacks, Intrusion Monitoring, and Policy 687
Wireless Attacks 688
Intrusion Monitoring 706
Wireless Security Policies 712
Summary 716
Exam Essentials 717
Review Questions 718
Chapter 17 802.11 Network Security Architecture 723
802.11 Security Basics 725
Legacy 802.11 Security 729
Robust Security 736
Management Frame Protection 757
WPA 2 757
WPA 3 758
Enhanced Open 761
6 GHz Wi-Fi Security 762
Traffic Segmentation 763
VPN Wireless Security 766
Summary 770
Exam Essentials 770
Review Questions 772
Chapter 18 Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and Guest Access 777
Mobile Device Management 780
Company-Issued Devices vs. Personal Devices 781
Self-Service Device Onboarding for Employees 795
Guest WLAN Access 798
Hotspot 2.0 and Passpoint 811
Network Access Control 816
Summary 824
Exam Essentials 825
Review Questions 826
Chapter 19 802.11ax: High Efficiency (HE) 831
802.11ax = Wi-Fi 6 833
Wi-Fi Traffic Congestion 834
HE Overview 836
Multi-User 837
OFDMA 838
MU-MIMO 851
BSS Color and Spatial Reuse 855
Target Wake Time 861
Additional 802.11ax PHY and MAC Capabilities 862
Wi-Fi 6 Key Questions 867
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 873
Summary 874
Review Questions 875
Chapter 20 WLAN Deployment and Vertical Markets 879
Deployment Considerations for Commonly Supported WLAN Applications and Devices 881
Corporate Data Access and End-User Mobility 885
Network Extension to Remote Areas 886
Bridging: Building-to-Building Connectivity 887
Wireless ISP: Last-Mile Data Delivery 888
Small Office/Home Office 888
Temporary Office Networking 889
Branch Offices 890
Teleworker Wi-Fi 890
Educational/Classroom Use 891
Industrial: Warehousing and Manufacturing 892
Retail 892
Healthcare 894
Municipal Networks 895
Hotspots: Public Network Access 895
Stadium Networks 897
Transportation Networks 897
Law Enforcement Networks 898
First-Responder Networks 899
Managed Service Providers 900
Fixed Mobile Convergence 900
WLAN and Health 901
Internet of Things 901
WLAN Vendors 902
Summary 904
Exam Essentials 904
Review Questions 905
Appendix A Answers to Review Questions 909
Chapter 1: Overview of Wireless Standards, Organizations, and Fundamentals 910
Chapter 2: IEEE 802.11 Standard and Amendments 911
Chapter 3: Radio Frequency Fundamentals 914
Chapter 4: Radio Frequency Components, Measurements, and Mathematics 915
Chapter 5: Radio Frequency Signal and Antenna Concepts 918
Chapter 6: Wireless Networks and Spread Spectrum Technologies 919
Chapter 7: Wireless LAN Topologies 922
Chapter 8: 802.11 Medium Access 924
Chapter 9: 802.11 Mac 926
Chapter 10: MIMO Technology: HT and VHT 929
Chapter 11: WLAN Architecture 932
Chapter 12: Power over Ethernet (PoE) 934
Chapter 13: WLAN Design Concepts 937
Chapter 14: Site Survey and Validation 940
Chapter 15: WLAN Troubleshooting 943
Chapter 16: Wireless Attacks, Intrusion Monitoring, and Policy 946
Chapter 17: 802.11 Network Security Architecture 948
Chapter 18: Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and Guest Access 951
Chapter 19: 802.11ax: High Efficiency (HE) 954
Chapter 20: WLAN Deployment and Vertical Markets 957
Appendix B Abbreviations and Acronyms 961
Certifications 962
Organizations and Regulations 962
Measurements 963
Technical Terms 964
Index 981
