Introduction to Wireless LANs
- The Wireless Network industry
- The Wireless LAN market
- Wireless LAN applications
- Wireless terminology
Radio Frequency (RF) fundamentals
- RF behaviour
- Reflection, Refraction, Diffraction, Scattering and Absorption.
- The Fresnel zone
- Principles of antennas
- Gain and loss
- Understanding dB,dBi,dBd,dBm,
- Understanding power output requlations
- Systems Operating Margin (SOM)
- RF maths calculations.
Spread Spectrum technologies
- Uses of Spread Spectrum
- Frequency Hopping (FHSS)
- Direct Sequencing (DSSS)
- Barker Coding
- Packet Binary Convolutional Coding
- Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM)
- Comparing DSSS,FHSS,PBCC, and OFDM.
- Co-location and throughput analysis.
- Chipping code, processing gain, and spreading functions.
- Channels, data rates, ranges and comparisons.
- Channel reuse in pure and mixed environments.
Access Points, Service Sets, and the Distribution System.
- Access Points
- SSID, BSSID, ESS and ESSID.
- Wireless Distribution System (WDS)
- Wireless Domain System (WDS)
- Client devices and accessories
- SOHO networks
- Wireless Residential gateways
- Wireless repeaters
- Power over Ethernet (PoE)
- PoE Switches and patch panels
- Wireless LAN switches
- Wireless Routers
- Enterprise wireless gateways
- VoWiFi systems
Wireless Bridges
- Point-to-Point bridging
- Point-to-Multipoint bridging
- Increasing bridge link distance
- Bridge link calculations
- Wireless workgroup bridges
Wireless Ad Hoc Networks
- Ad Hoc WLAN concepts
- The IBSS
- IBSS Process
- IBSS Coalescence
Antennas and Accessories - Omni-directional
- Semi-directional
- Highly-directional
- Determining coverage areas
- Proper mounting and safety
- Performing outdoor and indoor installations
- Power over Ethernet (802.3af and proprietary implementations)
- Cables and connector usage requirements
- Amplifiers, attenuators, lightning arrestors and splitters.
RF Propagation - Fresnel Zones
- Calculating 1FZ Size and Minimum Clearance
- Free Space Path loss (FSPL)
- Free Space Path Loss Calculation
- Co-location and throughput analysis
- Interference
- Common causes of RF Interference
- Fading
- Multipath
- Signal Range
- Delay Spread
- Reducing Reflections
- Site Monitoring tools
Wireless network Organisations and Standards - FCC and ETSi rules for RF.
- Worldwide frequency ranges and channels
- IEEE 802.11 family of standards
- Wireless LAN organizations
- Wi-Fi Alliance standardization
- HomeRF, Bluetooth and Infrared.
802.11 Network Architecture
- Joining a wireless LAN
- Authentication
- Open System Authentication
- Shared Key Authentication
- Association
- Beacons
- Passive Scanning
- Active Scanning
- Probe Frames
- Reassociation Process
- Roaming in a wireless LAN
- Inter-Access Point Protocol (IAPP)
- IEEE 802.11f
Physical and Mac Layers
- Differences between 802.11 wireless and Ethernet frames
- Arbitration
- Carrier Sense
- Acknowledgement.
- Collision handling
- Using RTS/CTS
- Throughput and dynamic rate selection
- Interframe spacing
- Understanding DCF and PCF
- Effects of packet fragmentation
- Setting the Fragmentation Threshold
- 802.11 protocol analysis
Bandwidth Control, Network Management and AAA
- Bandwidth Control Unit
- Enterprise Wireless Gateways with Bandwidth Management
- Wireless LAN Management Appliances and software
- Placing Wireless LAN Management Devices in the Network
- Authentication, Authorisation and Accounting.
- AAA Server Software and Appliances
- Placing AAA Servers in the Network
Routers, Gateways, Switches and VoWi-Fi.
- Describe the components of a simple VOIP system operating over a WLAN.
- Describe problems associated with VOIP over a WLAN
- Wireless Routers
- Using Wireless Routers
- Enterprise Wireless gateway ( Vernier Neworks)
- Using Enterprise Wireless Gateways
- Wireless LAN Switch System (Trapeze Networks)
- Placing Wireless LAN Switches in the Network
- Wireless Antenna Switch
- Using Wireless LAN Antenna Switches and bridges
- Wireless LAN VoIP Phones (a.k.a VoWiFi Phones)
- Complete VoIP System with Secure 802.11b mobility
- Cisco Fast Securing Roaming
- Hand-free VoWiFi Communcation System (Vocera)
Troubleshooting Wireless LANs
- Understanding multipath effects.
- Identifying and resolving Hidden nodes
- Identifying ad resolving Near/Far issues
- Identifying and resolving interference problems
- Maximizing system and co-location throughput
- Channel re-use for roaming
- Range considerations
Wireless LAN Security
- Types of network attacks
- Analysis of 802.11 security
- Understanding Wired Equivalence Privacy (WEP)
- Configuring WEP
- The insecurity problems with WEP
- Cracking WEP security
- Understanding access point security
- Practical War Driving
WLAN Security solutions
- Available Security solutions
- IEEE802.1x
- EAP
- TKIP
- Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) v1
- Configuring WPA v1
- Using Cisco LEAP,TKIP,MIC,
- Using RADIUS authentication 802.1x, EAPOL, EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, PEAP
- Secure wireless LANs using generic 802.1x/EAP
- Using 802.1x/EAP on Proxim, Symbol, D-Link and Buffalo access points.
- IEEE 802.11i security enhancements
WLAN Security solutions
- Available Security solutions
- IEEE802.1x, EAP, TKIP
- Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) v1
- Configuring WPA v1
- Using Cisco LEAP,TKIP,MIC,
- Using RADIUS authentication 802.1x, EAPOL, EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, PEAP
- Secure wireless LANs using generic 802.1x/EAP
- Using 802.1x/EAP on Proxim, Symbol, D-Link and Buffalo access points.
- IEEE 802.11i security enhancements
- Employing Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
VPN-based security solutions
- Using VPNs over WLANs:
- Access point-based VPN solutions
- Security regulations
- Protecting the network from attacks
- Security recommendations
RF Site Surveys - The Administrative perspective
- The Technical Perspective
- Defining business requirements
- Facility analysis
- Interviewing network management and users
- Supporting Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN)
- Identifying bandwidth requirements
- Determining contours of RF coverage
- Documenting installation problems
- Locating Interference
- Site Survey using AirMagnet