Robert J. Bartz

Certifi ed Wireless Technology SpecialistOffi cial Study Guide

The Offi cial Study Guide for Exam PW0-070 from CWNP®

CWTS™

Includes Real-World Scenarios, Hands-On Exercises, and Leading-Edge Exam Prep Software Featuring:

• Hundreds of Sample Questions

• Electronic Flashcards

• Case Studies and Demo Software

Prepare for the Certifi ed Wireless Technology Specialist (PW0-070) exam with this new offi cial Study Guide from CWNP. This comprehensive resource covers everything you need to know about Wi-Fi technology: standards and certifi cations, infrastructure and client hardware and software, RF fundamentals,site surveying and installation, applications, support, troubleshooting, security, and compliance. Inside you’ll fi nd:

• Full coverage of all exam objectives in a systematic approach, so you can be confi dent you’re getting the instruction you need for the exam

• Practical hands-on exercises to reinforce critical skills

• Real-world scenarios that put what you’ve learned in the context of actual job roles

• Challenging review questions in each chapter to prepare you for exam day

• Exam Essentials, a key feature in each chapter that identifi es critical areas you must become profi cient in before taking the exam

• Case studies and demo software on the CD to further facilitate your learning

• A handy tear card that maps every offi cial exam objective to the corresponding chapter in the book, so you can track your exam prep objective by objective

Look inside for complete coverage of all exam objectives.

SERIOUS SKILLS.

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A B O U T T H E A U T H O R

Robert J. Bartz, CWNA, CWSP, CWNT, has more than 20 years of experience as a practitioner, mentor, and classroom instructor. He is a technical trainer, consultant, and founder of Eight-O-Two Technology Solutions, LLC, a CWNP Premier Learning Partner and a leading network training and consulting company. He has attained many technical certifi cations over the years, including Novell MCNE and MCNI and Microsoft MCSE and MCT.

SYBEX TEST ENGINE: Test your knowledge with advanced testing software. Includes all chapter review questions and bonus exams.

ELECTRONIC FLASHCARDS: Reinforce your understanding with electronic fl ashcards.

The CD also includes case studies and demo software.

Study anywhere, any time, and approach the exam with confi dence.

ABOUT THE CWNP PROGRAMCWNP is the industry standard for vendor-neutral, enterprise WLAN certifi cations. The focus is to educate IT professionals in the technology behind all enterprise WLAN products and to enable these profession-als to manage wireless LAN enterprise infrastructures, regardless of the vendor solution utilized. CWNP is a privately held corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit www.cwnp.com.

www.sybex.comCOMPUTERS/Certifi cation Guides

FEATURED ON THE CD

$49.99 US$59.99 CN

ISBN 978-0-470-43889-3

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CWTSTM

Certified Wireless Technology Specialist

Official Study Guide

Robert J. Bartz

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Acquisitions Editor: Jeff KellumDevelopment Editor: Stef JonesTechnical Editors: Bryan Harkins and Marcus BurtonProduction Editor: Rachel McConlogueCopy Editor: Lunaea HouglandProduction Manager: Tim TateVice President and Executive Group Publisher: Richard SwadleyVice President and Publisher: Neil EddeMedia Project Manager 1: Laura Moss-HollisterMedia Associate Producer: Angie Denny Media Quality Assurance: Josh FrankBook Designers: Judy Fung and Bill GibsonCompositor: Craig W. Johnson, Happenstance Type-O-RamaProofreader: Publication Services, Inc. Indexer: Nancy GuentherProject Coordinator, Cover: Lynsey StanfordCover Designer: Ryan Sneed

Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 978-0-470-43889-3

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warran-ties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales or promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent pro-fessional person should be sought. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom. The fact that an organization or Web site is referred to in this work as a citation and/or a potential source of further information does not mean that the author or the publisher endorses the information the organization or Web site may provide or recommendations it may make. Further, readers should be aware that Internet Web sites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read.

For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at (877) 762-2974, outside the U.S. at (317) 572-3993 or fax (317) 572-4002.

Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bartz, Robert J., 1959- CWTS : certified wireless technology specialist official study guide (PW0-070) / Robert J. Bartz. — 1st ed. p. cm. ISBN-13: 978-0-470-43889-3 (pbk.) ISBN-10: 0-470-43889-4 (pbk.) 1. Wireless LANs—Examinations—Study guides. 2. Telecommunications engineers—Certification—Study guides. I. Title. II. Title: Certified wireless technology specialist official study guide (PW0-070). TK5105.78.B37 2009 621.384076—dc22 2009010840

TRADEMARKS: Wiley, the Wiley logo, and the Sybex logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates, in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. CWTS is a trademark of CWNP, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respec-tive owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

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Dear Reader,

Thank you for choosing CWTS: Certified Wireless Technology Specialist Official Study Guide. This book is part of a family of premium-quality Sybex books, all of which are written by outstanding authors who combine practical experience with a gift for teaching.

Sybex was founded in 1976. More than thirty years later, we’re still committed to produc-ing consistently exceptional books. With each of our titles we’re working hard to set a new standard for the industry. From the paper we print on to the authors we work with, our goal is to bring you the best books available.

I hope you see all that reflected in these pages. I’d be very interested to hear your com-ments and get your feedback on how we’re doing. Feel free to let me know what you think about this or any other Sybex book by sending me an email at nedde@wiley.com, or if you think you’ve found a technical error in this book, please visit http://sybex.custhelp.com. Customer feedback is critical to our efforts at Sybex.

Best regards,

Neil Edde Vice President and Publisher Sybex, an Imprint of Wiley

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To my mother Kathryn, who taught me and my 11 brothers and sisters the

meaning of hard work, honesty, and loyalty. At 86 years young she is still a

great inspiration to me. I want to say thanks, Mom.

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AcknowledgmentsI would like to thank my wife, Jeannie, and two young adult children, Ashley and Jason, and to say how much I appreciate the support I received during the writing process of this book. This book was a huge task that took hundreds of hours and kept me locked away for days at a time. They made completing this project much easier for me because of their sup-port, patience, and understanding.

I would also like to thank all the people at Sybex who helped with the creation of this book, including Acquisitions Editor Jeff Kellum, Production Editor Rachel McConlogue, Copy Editor Lunaea Hougland, Editorial Assistant Connor O’Brien and Editorial Manager Pete Gaughan. I owe all these individuals a ton of gratitude for their patience while work-ing with me on this project, including having to deal with a few unexpected delays.

A very special thanks goes to the Development Editor Stef Jones for all her hard work in helping me with the editing, organization, and suggestions that allowed me to complete this book and still maintain my sanity. Her knowledge, expertise, and attention to detail were an enormous help to me.

The Technical Editor of this book is Bryan Harkins. I want to thank Bryan for his timely reviews, comments, and suggestions that helped make this book a valuable reference source for sales and technical support people. His years of experience as a technical trainer, engi-neer, and security specialist were a great contribution in creating a book I hope you will enjoy reading.

I would like to thank the thousands of students who have taken the time to attend the net-working classes I was given the opportunity to teach. Educating, mentoring, and entertaining so many of these individuals gave me the inspiration and motivation to author this book.

Of course, this book would not exist if it were not for the people at CWNP. This group of individuals I have known for many years includes Kevin Sandlin, Scott Williams, Devin Akin, and Scott Turner as well as some of the newer members of the team, Cary Chandler, Marcus Burton, Trish Bruce, Abbey Cole, and all the others. They have realized the need for vendor-neutral wireless LAN training and certification and have done a great job of building a brand over the years that is now known worldwide.

Finally, a thank you to all the manufacturers, vendors, organizations, and individuals that provided the subject matter, allowing me the technology and tools needed to write this book.

Aerohive – www.aerohive.com Stephen Philip and Adam Conway

AirMagnet – www.airmagnet.com Joe Kuo and Dilip Advani

Aruba Networks – www.arubanetworks.com Brad Day and Michael Tennefoss

Broadcom Corporation – www.broadcom.com

Cisco Systems – www.cisco.com

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CompactFlash Association – www.compactflash.org

CWNP – www.cwnp.com Devin Akin and Marcus Burton

HP ProCurve (Colubris Networks) – www.procurve.com

IEEE – www.ieee.org

Intel – www.intel.com

L-com Global Connectivity – www.l-com.com Jim Corcoran

Linksys – www.linksys.com

MetaGeek – www.metageek.net Mark Jensen and Ryan Woodings

Motorola – www.motorola.com Tim Brophy and Bryan Harkins

Netgear – www.netgear.com

Network Stumbler – www.netstumbler.com

PCI-SIG – www.pcisig.com

PCMCIA Association – www.pcmcia.org Mary Hain, Hain Communications

Proxim Wireless – www.orinocowireless.com

Psiber Data Systems – www.psiber.com Bruce Nelson

SD Association – www.sdcard.org

TamoSoft – www.tamos.com Michael Berg

TerraWave Solutions – www.terrawave.com Jennifer Haltom

Trapeze Networks – www.trapezenetworks.com

USB Implementers Forum, Inc. – www.usb.org

Wi-Fi Alliance – www.wi-fi.org

WildPackets – www.wildpackets.com

Xirrus – www.xirrus.com Douglas Haider

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About the AuthorRobert Bartz is a technical trainer and computer networking consultant. He is a graduate of California State University Long Beach, School of Engineering, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology. Prior to becoming a computer networking engineer and trainer, Robert was employed as an aerospace test engineer working with radar systems and satellite communications. He has attained many technical certifications over the years, including Master Certified Novell Engineer (MCNE), Certified Novell Instructor (CNI), Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA), Certified Wireless Security Profes-sional (CWSP), and Certified Wireless Network Trainer (CWNT), to name a few. He has been involved with the CWNP program since its inception and has taught this technology to thousands of people from various industries and markets across the United States and abroad.

Robert is the founder of Eight-O-Two Technology Solutions, LLC, a computer network-ing technical training and consulting services company providing education and services to various organizations both local and around the country. He spends his spare time learning new technology, working outside, and enjoying the beauty of his surroundings at his home in Monument, Colorado. Robert hopes one day to semi-retire and be the proprietor of a neighborhood eating and drinking establishment in a warm sunny beach community. He can be contacted by e-mail at robert@eightotwo.com.

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Contents at a Glance

Foreword xxi

Introduction xxiii

Assessment Test xxxvi

Chapter 1 Introduction to Wireless Local Area Networking 1

Chapter 2 Wireless LAN Infrastructure Devices 27

Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Client Devices 61

Chapter 4 Radio Frequency (RF) Fundamentals for Wireless LAN Technology 95

Chapter 5 Access Methods, Architectures, and Spread Spectrum Technology 131

Chapter 6 WLAN Antennas and Accessories 159

Chapter 7 WLAN Terminology and Technology 205

Chapter 8 Planning a WLAN Site Survey 249

Chapter 9 Performing a WLAN Site Survey 283

Chapter 10 WLAN Security 337

Chapter 11 Troubleshooting and Maintaining Wireless Networks 381

Appendix About the Companion CD 421

Glossary 427

Index 445

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ContentsForeword xxi

Introduction xxiii

Assessment Test xxxvi

Chapter 1 Introduction to Wireless Local Area Networking 1

Common WLAN Deployment Scenarios 3Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) 4Enterprise Deployments: Corporate Data Access

and End-User Mobility 4Extending Existing Networks with Wireless LAN 5Mobile Office and Public Wireless Hotspots 5Educational Institutions: Classroom Deployments 6Healthcare 7Last-Mile Data Delivery: Wireless ISP 7Industrial, Municipal, Law Enforcement, and

Transportation Networks 7Building-to-Building Connectivity 8

Radio Frequency Regulatory Domain Governing Bodies 9United States: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 10Europe: European Telecommunications Standards

Institute (ETSI) 11IEEE and Wireless LAN Standards 11

802.11 11802.11b 12802.11a 12802.11g 13802.11n 14Additional IEEE 802.11 Amendments 16

Interoperability Certifications 16Wi-Fi Alliance 17Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) Certification Overview 17Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA 2.0) Certification Overview 18Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) Certification Overview 18Wi-Fi Multimedia Power Save (WMM-PS) Certification

Overview 19Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) Certification Overview 19

Summary 20

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x Contents

Key Terms 20Exam Essentials 21Review Questions 22Answers to Review Questions 26

Chapter 2 Wireless LAN Infrastructure Devices 27

OSI Model Basics 28Access Points (AP) 29

Autonomous Access Points 31Lightweight Access Points 38Mesh Access Points 38Wireless LAN Routers 40Wireless Bridges 42Wireless Repeaters 42Wireless LAN Controller/Switch 43

Power over Ethernet (PoE) 47Summary 51Exam Essentials 52Key Terms 53Review Questions 54Answers to Review Questions 58

Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Client Devices 61

PCMCIA 62Features of PCMCIA Cards 63Installation and Configuration of PCMCIA Cards 64

ExpressCard 68Features of the ExpressCard 68Installation and Configuration of an ExpressCard 69

USB 1.0, USB 1.1, and USB 2.0 69Features of USB 70Installation and Configuration of USB Devices 71

CompactFlash (CF) Devices 73Features of CF Cards 73Installation and Configuration of a CF Card 74

Secure Digital (SD) 74Features of SDIO Cards 75Installation and Configuration of SDIO Cards 75

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) 75Features of PCI 76Installation and Configuration of PCI Cards 77

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Contents xi

Mini-PCI and Mini-PCIe (Mini-PCI Express) 79Features of Mini-PCI and Mini-PCIe Cards 79Installation and Configuration of Mini-PCI and

Mini-PCIe Cards 80Workgroup Bridges 81

Features of Workgroup/Client Bridges 82Installation and Configuration of Workgroup/Client Bridges 83

Client Device Drivers 83Client Utility Software 84

Manufacturer-Specific Client Utilities 85Third-Party Client Utilities 86

Summary 86Exam Essentials 87Key Terms 88Review Questions 89Answers to Review Questions 93

Chapter 4 Radio Frequency (RF) Fundamentals for Wireless LAN Technology 95

Understanding Radio Frequency (RF) 96Wavelength 98Frequency 99Amplitude 100Phase 100Frequencies Used for Wireless LANs 101

Coverage and Capacity 104Coverage 105Capacity 108Channel Reuse and Co-location 109

RF Range and Speed 110Line of Sight 111Interference 112Environment: RF Behavior 114

Basic Units of RF Measurement 118Absolute Measurements of Power 118Relative Measurements of Power 119

Summary 122Exam Essentials 122Key Terms 123Review Questions 124Answers to Review Questions 128

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xii Contents

Chapter 5 Access Methods, Architectures, and Spread Spectrum Technology 131

Network Access Methods 132Detecting Network Traffic Collisions with CSMA/CD 133Avoiding Network Traffic Collisions with CSMA/CA 134Reserving Time for Data Transmission Using

Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) 135Effects of Half Duplex on Wireless Throughput 135Narrowband vs. Spread Spectrum Communication 136

Spread Spectrum Technology 138Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) 138Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) 140High Rate/Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (HR/DSSS) 140DSSS and HR/DSSS Channels 141Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) 143OFDM Channels 144Multiple Input/Multiple Output (MIMO) 146MIMO Channels 147Co-location of HR/DSSS and ERP-OFDM Systems 147Adjacent-Channel and Co-channel Interference 148WLAN/WPAN Coexistence 148

Summary 150Exam Essentials 151Key Terms 152Review Questions 153Answers to Review Questions 157

Chapter 6 WLAN Antennas and Accessories 159

Basic RF Antenna Concepts 160RF Lobes 161Beamwidth 161Antenna Gain 163Passive Gain 164Active Gain 165Antenna Polarization 166

WLAN Antenna Types 167Omnidirectional Antennas 167Omnidirectional Antenna Specifications 168Semidirectional Antennas 170Highly Directional Antennas 181Highly Directional Antenna Specifications 182

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Contents xiii

RF Cables and Connectors 184Cable Types 184Cable Length 184Cable Cost 185Impedance and VSWR 186RF Connectors 186

Factors in Antenna Installation 187Addressing the Effects of Earth Curvature 187Antenna Placement 187Minimizing the Effects of Multipath Using

Antenna Diversity 188Combating Effects of Wind and Lightning on

Wireless Connections 190Lightning Arrestors 190Grounding Rods 191

Installation Safety 191Antenna Mounting 191

Pole/Mast Mount 192Ceiling Mount 193Wall Mount 194

Maintaining Clear Communications 194Visual Line of Sight 194RF Line of Sight 194Fresnel Zone 194

Summary 195Exam Essentials 196Key Terms 197Review Questions 198Answers to Review Questions 202

Chapter 7 WLAN Terminology and Technology 205

Wireless LAN Modes of Operation 206Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) 207Basic Service Set (BSS) 212Extended Service Set (ESS) 214

Connecting to a Wireless Network 216Frame Types 216Passive Scanning 217Active Scanning 218Authentication 219Association 223Deauthentication and Disassociation 224

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xiv Contents

Distribution System (DS) 225Data Rates 226Throughput 228Dynamic Rate Switching (DRS) 231WLAN Roaming 232Power Saving Operation 234

Active Mode (AM) 234Power Save (PS) Mode 234Automatic Power Save Delivery (APSD) 236

Protection Mechanisms 236Extended Rate Physical (ERP) Protection Mechanism 236High Throughput (HT) Protection Mechanism 237

Summary 239Exam Essentials 241Key Terms 242Review Questions 243Answers to Review Questions 247

Chapter 8 Planning a WLAN Site Survey 249

Wireless LAN Site Surveys 250Size of Physical Location 251Intended Use of the Network 251Number of Users 251Performance Expectations 252

Gathering Business Requirements 252General Office/Enterprise 253Manufacturing 254Warehousing 256Retail/Point of Sale (POS) 257Health Care/Medical 257Government/Military 259Education 260Public Access, Hotspots, Hospitality 261

Interviewing Managers and Users 262Manufacturer Guidelines and Deployment Guides 265

Defining Physical and Data Security Requirements 265Gathering Site-Specific Documentation 266

Floor Plans and Blueprints 266Furnishings 266Electrical Specifications 267

Documenting Existing Network Characteristics 267Identifying Infrastructure Connectivity and Power Requirements 268

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Contents xv

Understanding RF Coverage and Capacity Requirements 270Client Connectivity Requirements 270Antenna Use Consideration 271Summary 274Exam Essentials 275Key Terms 275Review Questions 276Answers to Review Questions 280

Chapter 9 Performing a WLAN Site Survey 283

The Physical Site Survey Process 285RF Spectrum Analysis 286

Wi-Fi and Non-Wi-Fi Interference Sources 289Wi-Fi Interference 294

Performing a Manual Site Survey 299Obtaining a Floor Plan or Blueprint 300Identifying Existing Wireless Networks 300Testing Access Point Placement 301Analyzing the Results 303Advantages and Disadvantages of Manual Site Survey 303Software Assisted Manual Site Survey 303Manual Site Survey Toolkit 306

Performing a Predictive Site Survey 307Protocol Analysis 312Documenting Existing Network Characteristics 318RF Coverage Requirements 319Infrastructure Hardware Selection and Placement 320Infrastructure Connectivity and Power Requirements 320Received Signal Strength 321Antenna Use Considerations 323

Testing Multiple Antenna Types 323Choosing the Correct Antennas 324

Channel Architectures 325Multiple Channel Architecture (MCA) 326Single Channel Architecture (SCA) 326

Installation Limitations 327Site Survey Report 328Summary 328Exam Essentials 329Key Terms 330Review Questions 331Answers to Review Questions 335

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xvi Contents

Chapter 10 WLAN Security 337

Introduction to Wireless Security 339Wireless LAN Threats and Intrusion 339IEEE 802.11 Standards Security 341

Open System Authentication 341Shared Key Authentication 342

Early WLAN Security Mechanisms 342Service Set Identifier (SSID) 343SSID Hiding 343Media Access Control (MAC) Address 344

Authentication and Encryption 346About Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) 346How to Use WEP 346

SOHO and Enterprise Security Solutions 348PIN-Based or Push-Button Configuration (PBC)

Wireless Security 348PIN-Based Security 348Push-Button Configuration (PBC) Security 348

Passphrase-Based Security 350Passphrase Features 351

User-Based Security 351802.1X 352EAP 353802.1X/EAP 353Remote Authentication Dial In User Service 354

Encryption: WEP/TKIP/CCMP 356WEP 356TKIP 357CCMP 359

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) 360Virtual Private Networking (VPN) 360

PPTP 362L2TP 363Components of a VPN Solution 363

Wireless Intrusion Prevention Systems (WIPS) 367Regulatory Compliance 369

PCI Compliance 369HIPAA Compliance 370Other Regulatory Compliances 370

Summary 371Exam Essentials 372Key Terms 373Review Questions 374Answers to Review Questions 378

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Contents xvii

Chapter 11 Troubleshooting and Maintaining Wireless Networks 381

Identifying Wireless LAN Problems 382Transmitters and Receivers 384No Connectivity 384Intermittent Connectivity 390Throughput 394Software and Hardware Upgrades 398

Optimizing Wireless Networks 404Infrastructure Hardware Selection and Placement 405Identifying, Locating, and Removing Sources

of Interference 405Client Load Balancing 406Analyzing Infrastructure Capacity and Utilization 407Multipath 408Hidden Node 408

Summary 412Exam Essentials 413Key Terms 413Review Questions 414Answers to Review Questions 418

Appendix About the Companion CD 421

What You’ll Find on the CD 422Demonstration Software Programs 422Demonstration Software Programs

Available for Download 423Case Studies 423Case Studies Available for Download 424Generic Floor Plan 424Applications 424Sensor Placement Site Survey Form 424Sybex Test Engine 424Electronic Flashcards 425

System Requirements 425Using the CD 425Troubleshooting 426

Customer Care 426

Glossary 427

Index 445

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Table of ExercisesExercise 3.1 PCMCIA Card Installation Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Exercise 3.2 Installing a USB 2 .0 Wireless LAN Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Exercise 3.3 PCI Card Installation Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Exercise 3.4 Mini-PCI and Mini-PCIe Installation Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Exercise 4.1 How to Demonstrate Fresnel Zone and Blockage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Exercise 6.1 Demonstrate Passive Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Exercise 6.2 Steps for Installing a Pole/Mast Mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

Exercise 7.1 How to Measure Throughput of a Wireless Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229

Exercise 9.1 Spectrum Analysis Demonstration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290

Exercise 9.2 PC Card Spectrum Analyzer Demonstration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294

Exercise 9.3 Predictive Site Survey Demonstration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309

Exercise 9.4 Protocol Analyzer Demonstration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314

Exercise 10.1 VPN Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364

Exercise 11.1 Upgrading a Device Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399

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Foreword Manufacturers, value added resellers (VARs), and end-user organizations are now seeing the value of training and certifying not only “techies,” but account managers, sales repre-sentatives, project managers, help desk professionals, and others with similar roles on Wi-Fi technology. For maximum ROI, it’s important that this Wi-Fi training and certification be appropriate to these specific job roles. The Wi-Fi landscape is continually changing, and keeping abreast of trends, terminology, and technology has never been more important.

With all of this change, how can an organization be sure to train and certify its people on relevant and position-appropriate material? How can an organization provide an upwardly mobile learning path should its people change positions? How can an organization be sure that the training being provided to its people will continue to be relevant should they decide to partner with a different or additional vendor? These are valid concerns faced by large organizations every day, and CWNP has the answer. CWNP’s new Certified Wireless Technology Specialist (CWTS™) certification has been targeted at these user groups with the modus operandi “what it is, not how it works.” For example, in most organizations it’s clear that a Wi-Fi account manager needs to understand what an RF site survey is and why it’s important in given circumstances, but it’s also clear why the account manager doesn’t need to understand every nuance of performing an RF site survey in order to accomplish his or her own sales functions. The same applies to a plethora of topics, from understanding Wi-Fi equipment types to Wi-Fi security.

Wi-Fi terminology is a world of confusion in and of itself, but the confusion can be greatly reduced with even a minimal amount of targeted education. It doesn’t help that marketing departments at various manufacturers create a new marketing term for every new technol-ogy offering, often changing their own terminology for the purpose of differentiation. Most technologies, devices, equipment features, architectures, and the like have industry-standard names. Such standardized naming conventions are facilitated by the IEEE, Wi-Fi Alliance, and by CWNP. For example, when implementing a single channel architecture (a term that also has various marketing terms in the industry) system, each channel is called a . This could be a span, stack, layer, blanket, channel, or perhaps something new in the near future. They all mean the same thing. How is the customer to compare apples-to-apples when Wi-Fi terminology is all over the map? This is where trained people make all the difference.

The book you now hold in your hand is an important step in studying for the CWTS certification. The CWTS: Certified Wireless Technology Specialist Official Study Guide covers the CWTS exam objectives step-by-step in a concise manner. It’s a no-nonsense approach to obtaining a certification that will differentiate you from your peers and help you wins sales, better support your customers, and most of all, grow in your career.

Robert Bartz has been part of the CWNP program since day 1, when in our very first class in November 2001 he sat front-left paying close attention while I was explaining RF behavior. Thereafter, he very quickly passed the CWNA exam and moved on to become one of our first instructors. He has participated in CWNP in a variety of ways over the

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xxii Foreword

years and has added significant value to the program as a whole. He has taught CWNP classes at every level and to diverse audiences around the globe since 2001, and it’s easy to give both Robert and his new book a big thumbs-up. I would also like to thank Sybex for producing such high-quality books for CWNP. They are a class act through and through, and we look forward to working with them more in the future. Now, what are you waiting for? Stop reading this foreword, and get on to Chapter 1. Your future in Wi-Fi awaits!

Devin AkinChief Technology OfficerThe CWNP Program

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Introduction xxiii

IntroductionThis book is intended to provide an introduction to the exciting and emerging world of wireless LAN technology. This technology continues to expand at a phenomenal pace with constant improvements in speed, reliability, and security. Reading this book will teach you the fundamentals of standards-based technology, giving you an overview of the design, communication, hardware components, and maintenance associated with wireless LAN technology, commonly referred to as Wi-Fi™.

In addition to providing an overview of the technology, this book will help you prepare for the Certified Wireless Technology Specialist (CWTS) certification exam available from the CWNP program. CWTS is an entry-level enterprise wireless LAN certification, and is recommended prior to the Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) certifica-tion. CWTS is designed as a replacement for the Wireless# Certification. This certification is geared specifically toward both wireless LAN (WLAN) sales and support staff for those in the enterprise WLAN industry.

Not only will this book help you prepare for the CWTS Certification exam, it will give you the fundamental knowledge, tools, and terminology to more effectively sell and support enterprise WLAN technologies. The main goal of this book is for you to learn “what it is,” not “how it works.” The “how” part comes later in other CWNP Study Guides and instructor-led courses. After reading this book and completing all the available practice exam tools included, you will have the knowledge needed to take the CWTS certification exam.

Finally, the CD included with this book contains evaluation software you can install in order to become familiar with RF spectrum analysis, perform some limited packet analysis, and explore site survey tools.

For more information about the CWTS and other vendor-neutral wireless LAN certifica-tions from the CWNP program, visit www.cwnp.com.

About CWNP®

CWNP is the abbreviation for Certified Wireless Network Professional and is the industry standard for vendor-neutral, enterprise wireless LAN certifications. CWNP currently offers five levels of enterprise WLAN certifications, from novice to expert. The goal of CWNP is to provide educational resources and certifications that are recognized worldwide to infor-mation technology (IT) and sales professionals in the field of wireless networking technol-ogy. By acquiring this knowledge, these professionals will be able to enter any business and sell, design, install, manage, and support the wireless LAN infrastructure regardless of which manufacturer’s solution is used.

In addition to CWTS, there are four other wireless certifications currently offered from CWNP:

CWNA®: Certified Wireless Network Administrator The CWNA® (Certified Wireless Network Administrator) certification is the foundation-level enterprise wireless LAN cer-tification for the CWNP program. The CWNA certification will validate one’s skills to

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successfully administer enterprise-class wireless LANs. Passing the CWNA exam will earn one credit toward the more advanced CWNP certifications. The CWNA exam measures one’s ability to understand the fundamentals of RF behavior and to describe the features and functions of various WLAN components. Passing the PW0-104, Wireless LAN Admin-istration certification exam will satisfy the requirement to become CWNA certified.

CWSP®: Certified Wireless Security Professional The CWSP® (Certified Wireless Security Professional) certification is an advanced-level WLAN certification offered by the CWNP program. Acquiring this certification will prove one’s ability to successfully apply the most up-to-date wireless LAN security solutions to an organization’s wireless LAN. This certifi-cation will ensure that the successful candidate understands the security weaknesses inher-ent in wireless LANs, the solutions available to address those weaknesses, and the steps necessary to implement a secure and manageable wireless LAN in an enterprise environ-ment. Successfully passing two exams is required to become CWSP certified:

Exam PW0-104 – Wireless LAN AdministrationNN

Exam PW0-200 – Wireless LAN SecurityNN

CWNE®: Certified Wireless Network Expert The CWNE® credential is the final certifica-tion step in the CWNP program. By successfully completing the CWNE requirements, one will have demonstrated that they have the most advanced skills available in today’s wire-less LAN market. CWNE assures that the skills mastered include the ability to administer, install, configure, troubleshoot, and design wireless network systems. Additional skills include protocol analysis, intrusion detection and prevention, performance and QoS analy-sis, spectrum analysis, and WLAN management.

In order to become CWNE certified, one must pass the PW0-104, PW0-200, and PW0-300 exams, and hold a valid CWSP certification at the time of application for CWNE. Success-fully passing these exams is not all that is required. To maintain CWNE certification, the following criteria must be met:

Pass all three exams, PW0-104, PW0-200, and PW0-300NN

Professional experience NN

Three letters of endorsement NN

60 points in the CWNE points schedule NN

Continuing education requirementNN

For additional information on the details required for CWNE certification, visit www.cwnp.com

CWNT®: Certified Wireless Network Trainer Certified Wireless Network Trainers (CWNT®) are qualified instructors certified by the CWNP program to deliver CWNP training courses to IT professionals. CWNTs are technical and instructional experts in

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Introduction xxv

wireless technologies, products, and solutions. CWNP Training Partners are required to use CWNTs when delivering training using Official CWNP Courseware.

To become a CWNT, the requirements include:

Attend an official class for the CWNP level to be taughtNN

Pass the appropriate level exam with a minimum score of at least 80%NN

A minimum of 12 months of documented IT industry training experienceNN

CWNP Learning ResourcesThere are a variety of resources available from CWNP to help one learn vendor-neutral wireless LAN technology. Listed are some of these resources:

Self-study materialsNN

Official study guides from SybexNN

Online practice exams from NN www.cwnp.com

Instructor-led trainingNN

Online trainingNN

Computer-based training (CBT)NN

CWNP websiteNN

CWNP forumsNN

CWNP blogNN

CWNP learning center, 1,000+ white papersNN

How to Become a CWTSTo become a CWTS, you must complete the following two steps:

Agree that you have read and will abide by the terms and conditions of the CWNP NN

confidentiality agreement

Pass the CWTS PW0-070 certification exam.NN

A copy of the CWNP confidentiality agreement can be found online at the CWNP website .

When you take the exam, you will be required to accept the confidentiality agreement before you can continue to complete the exam. After you have agreed, you will be able to continue with the exam. When you pass the exam with a score of 70 percent or higher, you will have met the requirements to become CWTS certified.

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xxvi Introduction

The information for the CWTS exam is as follows:

Exam name: Certified Wireless Technology SpecialistNN

Exam number: PW0-070NN

Cost: $125.00 (USD)NN

Duration: 90 minutesNN

Questions: 60NN

Question types: Multiple choice/multiple answerNN

Passing score: 70 percent (80 percent for instructors)NN

Available languages: EnglishNN

Renewal: None—lifetime certification. Recommended prior to CWNA.NN

Availability: Register at Pearson VUE (NN www.vue.com/cwnp)

When you schedule the exam, you will receive instructions regarding appointment and cancellation procedures, ID requirements, and information about the testing center loca-tion. In addition, you will receive a registration and payment confirmation e-mail. Exams can be scheduled weeks in advance or, in some cases, even as late as the same day.

After you have successfully passed the CWTS exam, the CWNP program will award you the lifetime certification. If the e-mail contact information you provided the testing center is correct, you will receive an e-mail from CWNP recognizing your accomplish-ment and providing you with a CWNP certification number. After you earn any CWNP certification, you can request a certification kit. The kit includes a congratulatory letter, a certificate, and a wallet-sized personalized ID card. You will need to log in to the CWNP tracking system, verify your contact information, and request your certification kit.

Who Should Buy this Book?This book is intended to provide an overview of wireless LAN technology for sales and technical support professionals. This book is written with the CWTS exam objectives in mind and “what it is,” not “how it works.” The exam objectives were designed based on the skill set the intended audience should need in order to perform their job functions or roles in an organization. One thing to keep in mind is that this book will introduce and teach you a technology, a combination of local area networking and radio frequency.

If you follow the exam objectives, perform the hands-on exercises, and utilize all the available exam questions and practice exams included with the CD and on www.cwnp.com, this book should be enough to effectively prepare you to pass the CWTS certification exam. It will also serve as a stepping-stone to more advanced books that teach the technology in more depth as well as a reference guide for the technology.

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How to Use this Book and the CDThis book includes a CD-ROM with exam questions and flashcards. These are designed to test your knowledge on the information you have learned from reading the book and per-forming the exercises. Although there is no guarantee you will pass the certification exam if you use this book and CD, you will have the tools necessary that effectively prepare you to do so.

Before you begin At the beginning of the book (right after this introduction) is an assess-ment test you can use to check your readiness for the certification exam. Take this test before you start reading the book; it will help you determine the areas you may need to brush up on. The answers to the assessment test appear on a separate page after the last question of the test. Each answer includes an explanation and describes why the other options are incorrect.

Chapter review questions To test your knowledge as you progress through this book, there are review questions at the end of each chapter. As you finish each chapter, answer the review questions and then check your answers—the correct answers appear on the page following the last review question. You can go back and revisit the section that deals with each question you answered wrong to ensure that you understand the material and answer correctly the next time you are tested on that topic.

Electronic flashcards You will find flashcard questions on the CD for on-the-go review. These are short questions and answers, just like other flashcards you may be familiar with. You can answer them on your PC or download them onto a Palm device for quick and con-venient reviewing.

Test engine The CD also contains the Sybex Test Engine. With this custom test engine, you can identify weak areas up front and then develop a solid studying strategy that includes each of the robust testing features described previously. The readme file on the CD will walk you through the quick, easy installation process.

In addition to the assessment test and the chapter review questions, you will find two bonus exams. Use the test engine to take these practice exams just as if you were taking the actual exam (without any reference material). When you have finished the first exam, move on to the next one to solidify your test-taking skills. After you get a high percentage of the answers correct, it is an indication you are ready to take the actual certification exam.

Labs and exercises Several chapters in this book have exercises that use evaluation soft-ware that is either provided on the CD-ROM included with this book or downloadable from the manufacturer’s website. These exercises will provide you with a broader learning experience by providing hands-on experience and step-by-step problem solving.

White papers Several wireless networking white papers are also provided on the CD-ROM included with this book or available for download. These white papers serve as addi-tional reference material for preparing for the CWTS or other CWNP certification exams.

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xxviii Introduction

The CWTS Certification Exam (PWO-070) Is Based on the Exam Objectives

It is important to note that in order to pass the certification exam you should study from the currently posted exam objectives . Use this book as an learning aid to understand the exam objectives . For the most up-to-date certification exam objectives, visit the CWNP website at www.cwnp.com .

Exam ObjectivesThe Certified Wireless Technology Specialist (CWTS) certification, covering the current objectives, will certify that successful candidates know the fundamentals of RF behavior, can describe the features and functions of wireless components, and have the skills needed to install and configure wireless network hardware components. A typical candidate should have a basic understanding of data networking concepts.

The skills and knowledge measured by this examination are derived from a survey of wireless networking experts and professionals. The results of this survey were used in weighing the subject areas and ensuring that the weighting is representative of the relative importance of the content.

The following chart provides the breakdown of the exam, showing you the weight of each section:

Subject Area % of Exam

Wi-Fi Technology, Standards, and Certifications 15%

Hardware and Software 25%

Radio Frequency (RF) Fundamentals 15%

Site Surveying and Installation 15%

Applications, Support, and Troubleshooting 15%

Security and Compliance 15%

Total 100%

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