CWNA: Enterprise Wi-Fi Administration

The CWNA certification is the foundation-level enterprise Wi-Fi certification for the CWNP Program. Achieving it enhances your networking career profile, providing evidence that you have sought after Wi-Fi knowledge and skills.

The goal of the five-day Enterprise Wi-Fi Administration (CWNA) course is to add Wi-Fi expertise to a networking professional’s skill-set, while covering all CWNA-107 exam topics. The course begins with discussion topics and hands-on lab exercises covering the basic operation of 802.11 Wi-Fi technology. Once a base of Wi-Fi knowledge is established, enterprise relevant topics such as Wi-Fi design, security, and troubleshooting are covered. You will use enterprise-class hardware and software tools during live lab exercises, all accessible remotely for any instructor-led or virtual class.

Exam Number:
CWNA-107
Exam Name:
Certified Wireless Network Administrator
Certifications:
CWNA

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What's Included

  • Comprehensive study materials, including official CWNP courseware
  • Remote lab access

Prerequisites

  • Knowledge of wireless networks and wireless networking terminology (equivalent to a CCNA Wireless certification)
  • Foundational knowledge of 802.11 wireless network technologies

Course Objectives

After completing this course, you will know:
  • Background and roles of Wi-Fi governing bodies, including the IEEE and Wi-Fi Alliance
  • Radio frequency properties and behaviors
  • Wireless signal fundamentals, including measurement principles
  • Antenna information, including types and installation best practices
  • Wi-Fi standards, including 802.11 extensions ac, ad, af, and ah
  • Wi-Fi device types and infrastructure options
  • Wi-Fi communications processes, including connection, roaming, and data transfer
  • General troubleshooting tips to common real-world 802.11n issues
  • Wi-Fi architecture best practices, including both network and wireless design
  • Similarities, differences, and peculiarities about Wi-Fi deployments in differing environments (offices, K-12 education, health care facilities, and more)
  • Security standards, best practices, known vulnerabilities, and remediation techniques for Wi-Fi networks
  • Site surveying, including requirements gathering, design, installation, and validation
  • Troubleshooting methodology, tools, and techniques, along with common issues

Course Outline

Module 1: WLAN and Networking Industry Organizations

  • Wi-Fi Related Organizations
  • The IEEE
  • PHY Amendments
  • 802.11 Amendments
  • Wi-Fi Alliance
  • PoE (802.3)

Module 2: RF Characteristics and Behavior

  • Electromagnetic Spectrum
  • Wavelength, amplitude and other RF characteristics
  • Reflection, refraction and other RF behavior
  • RF Propagation
  • Basic Types of Modulation

Module 3: RF Mathematics and Measurements

  • RF units of measure
  • Basic RF mathematics
  • RF signal measurements
  • Understand link budgets

Module 4: RF Antennas and Hardware

  • RF Units of Measure
  • Types of Antennas and Antenna Systems Commonly Used With 802.11 WLANs
  • Antenna Polarization and Gain
  • Antenna Implementation
  • Types of Antenna Cables, Connectors, and Other Accessories

Module 5: 802.11 PHYs and Network Types

  • 802.11 PHYs and Network Types
  • 802.11 Frequency Bands
  • 802.11 Channels Explained
  • OSI Model Layers and Wi-Fi
  • 802.11 Physical Layers (PHYs)
  • Throughput vs. Data Rate
  • RF Modulation Methods
  • 802.11 Use Case Scenarios
  • WLAN Operating Modes including BSS. ESS and Roaming

Module 6: 802.11 Network Devices

  • Access Point Features and Capabilities
  • AP and WLAN Management Systems
  • Wireless Monitoring Systems (Analytics)
  • WLAN Controller Functionality
  • Network Architecture Planes
  • WLAN Bridging
  • Client Devices
  • Client Device OS Configuration
  • Power over Ethernet (PoE) Functionality

Module 7: 802.11 MAC Operations

  • 802.11 Frames
  • Frame Aggregation
  • Guard Interval
  • General Frame Format
  • PHY Preamble
  • Management, Control and Data Frames
  • Locating WLANs

Module 8: 802.11 Channel Access Methods

  • Differences between CSMA/CD and CSMA/CA
  • Distributed Coordination Function (DCF)
  • Network Allocation Vector (NAV)
  • Clear Channel Assessment (CCA)
  • Interframe Spacing (IFS)
  • Contention Window (CW)
  • Quality of Service in 802.11 WLANs
  • Hybrid Coordination Function (HCF)
  • Additional Control Frames and Protection Modes

Module 9: WLAN Network Architectures

  • Control, Management and Data Planes
  • WLAN Controller Solutions
  • Network Architectures
  • RF Channel Planning
  • Service Set Configurations
  • Cell Sizing and Interference

Module 10: WLAN Requirements and Solutions

  • Explore WLAN Deployment Scenarios
  • BYOD and Guest Access
  • Mobile Device Management
  • Radio Resource Management (RRM) and other automatic RF management solutions
  • Additional Management Features

Module 11: Security Solutions for WLANs

  • Additional Authentication Features
  • Deprecated Standard Security
  • Weak Security Mechanisms
  • Pre-shared Key and IEEE 802.1X/EAP
  • Wireless Intrusion Prevention Systems (WIPS)
  • Protocol and Spectrum Analysis for Security
  • Using Secure Protocols

Module 12: Site Surveys, Network Design and Validation

  • Survey Processes
  • Understanding Requirements
  • Verify Design Requirements
  • Documentation
  • Locating Interference
  • Spectrum Analysis
  • Application and Throughput Testing
  • Protocol Analysis

Module 13: WLAN Troubleshooting

  • CWNP Troubleshooting Methodology
  • Protocol Analysis Troubleshooting Features
  • Spectrum Analysis Troubleshooting Features
  • RF Interference
  • Hidden Nodes
  • Connectivity Problems

Labs

  • Lab 1: WLAN Infrastructure Connection
    • Access the remote lab environment
    • Configure the Ruckus WLAN controller
    • Connect the Student PC via Wi-Fi
    • View Wi-Fi connection information
  • Lab 2: WLAN Channels
    • Access and configure Metageek Chanalyzer, a spectrum analyzer
    • Create Wi-Fi traffic and view channel activity
  • Lab 3: Radio Frequency Math
    • View client RSSI and Ruckus AP transmit power settings
    • Use RF math to convert power values between dBm and mW
  • Lab 4: Site Surveys
    • Prepare an electronic floorplan in Ekahau Site Survey Pro, a predictive site survey application
    • View estimated RF propagation differences through objects
    • View estimated RF propagation differences from differing antenna types
  • Lab 5: WLAN Standards
    • Access and configure Acrylic Wi-Fi, a Wi-Fi scanner/discovery utility
    • View standards information via Wi-Fi scanning
  • Lab 6: Client Settings
    • Access Wi-Fi client properties via the Windows Device Manager
    • Access Wi-Fi client settings via the Windows client utility
  • Lab 7: Connection Analysis
    • Access and configure Savvius OmniPeek, a protocol analyzer
    • Analyze station data rates
    • Capture and analyze the Student PC Wi-Fi connection
  • Lab 8: QoS Testing
    • Access Savvius Omnipeek, a protocol analyzer
    • View QoS information from captured Wi-Fi traffic
  • Lab 9: WLAN Controller Monitoring
    • Access the Ruckus WLAN controller
    • View Wi-Fi network and device information
  • Lab 10: Rogue AP Management
    • Access and configure Netscout AirMagnet Wi-Fi Analyzer, a Wi-Fi network analyzer
    • Configure an access list for authorized APs
    • Identify a rogue AP and access the rogue finder tool
  • Lab 11: WPA2 Enterprise
    • Access the Windows 2012 Domain Controller and view Active Directory user information
    • Access and view Microsoft Network Policy Server RADIUS authentication settings
    • Configure the Ruckus WLAN controller for a WPA2 Enterprise Wi-Fi network
    • Connect the Student PC to the WPA2 Enterprise Wi-Fi network
    • View WPA2 Enterprise Wi-Fi connection information
  • Lab 12: Device Roaming
    • Capture 802.11 Discovery frames using Savvius OmniPeek, a protocol analyzer
    • Change the channel of the Ruckus AP to trigger client Discovery
    • View and analyzer client device Discovery behavior
  • Lab 13: WLAN Channel Analysis
    • Create heavy Wi-Fi traffic
    • View Wi-Fi performance metrics using Netscout AirMagnet Wi-Fi Analyzer, a Wi-Fi network analyzer