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Course Length:
5 Days
Course Description:
The Wireless LAN Administration course provides the networking professional a complete foundation of knowledge for entering into or advancing in the wireless networking industry. From basic RF theory to 802.11 frame exchange processes, this course delivers hands on training that will benefit the novice as well as the experienced network professional.
Who Should Attend:
This course is for novice as well as experienced networking professionals.
Benefits of Attendance:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
  • Enter into or advance in the wireless networking industry.
Prerequisites:
Students should have basic networking knowledge, including OSI model and IP subnetting.
Course Outline:
  • Introduction to 802.11 WLANs
    1. Discuss the standards organizations responsible for shaping the 802.11 Wireless LAN protocol
    2. Learn how standards compliance is enforced for 802.11 WLAN vendors
    3. Examine the 802.11 standard and various amendments
    4. Discuss additional networking standards that are commonly used to enhance 802.11 WLANs
  • Radio Frequency Fundamentals
    1. Physical aspects of RF propagation
    2. Types of losses and attenuation that affect RF communications
    3. Types of modulation used for wireless communications
    4. How channels and bandwidth are related to each other in wireless networks
    5. Three types of Spread Spectrum used in wireless networking
  • RF Math and System Operating Margin
    1. RF units of measure
    2. Basic RF mathematics
    3. RF signal measurements
    4. Understand link budgets
    5. Define and calculate System Operating Margin (SOM)
  • 802.11 Service Sets
    1. Explain three types of service sets defined for use within 802.11 WLANs
    2. Roaming within a WLAN
    3. Load-balancing as a method to improve congestion in WLANs
  • RF Power Output Regulations
    1. Understand international, regional, and local RF spectrum management organizations
    2. Understand RF channels in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency ranges
    3. How power output limitations are enforced by the FCC for Point-to-Multipoint (PtMP) and Point-to-Point (PtP) wireless connections
  • Power over Ethernet
    1. Recognize the two types of devices used in Power over Ethernet (PoE)
    2. Recognize the differences between the two types of Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE)
    3. Understand the two ways in which power can be delivered using PoE
    4. Understand the importance of planning to maximize the efficiency of Power over Ethernet
  • Wireless LAN Operation
    1. Ad Hoc networks
    2. Infrastructure networks
    3. Bridged networks
    4. Repeater networks
    5. Mesh networks
    6. WLAN switched networks
    7. Enterprise Wireless Gateway networks
    8. Enterprise Encryption Gateway networks
    9. Virtual AP networks
    10. Evolution of WLAN architectures
    11. WLAN Management
  • WLAN Security
    1. Security Policy and Procedures
    2. Legacy 802.11 Security Components
    3. 802.11i Security Components
    4. WPA-Personal
    5. WPA-Enterprise
    6. WPA2-Personal
    7. WPA2-Enterprise
    8. Baseline Security Practices (SOHO, SMB, Enterprise)
  • 802.11 Analysis and Troubleshooting
    1. Introduction to 802.11 Protocol Analysis
    2. 802.11 Data Frames
    3. 802.11 Control Frames
    4. 802.11 Management Frames
    5. Frame Fragmentation
    6. Power Saving operations
    7. Transmission Rates
  • Coordinating 802.11 Frame Transmissions
    1. Differences between CSMA/CD and CSMA/CA
    2. Distributed Coordination Function (DCF)
    3. Quality of Service in 802.11 WLANS
  • Antennas
    1. Antenna characteristics and behaviors
    2. Types of antennas commonly used with WLANs
    3. Advanced antenna systems
    4. Antenna placement and mounting
    5. Antenna safety
    6. Types of antenna cables, connectors, and accessories
  • Site Surveying
    1. Understanding the need for a site survey
    2. Defining business requirements and justification
    3. Facility analysis
    4. Interviewing network management and users
    5. Identifying bandwidth requirements
    6. Determining contours of RF coverage
    7. Documenting installation problems
    8. Locating interference
    9. Reporting methodology and procedures
    10. Understanding specifics of each vertical market
    11. Understanding the customer's network topology
    12. Creating appropriate documentation during and after the site survey
    13. Understanding safety hazards
    14. Using appropriate hardware and software to perform the survey
    15. Understanding the need for spectrum analysis
    16. Manual RF site surveys
    17. Predictive site surveys
    18. Dense AP deployment