Computer Networks/Wireless

This lesson introduces wireless networking concepts.

Objectives and Skills

Objectives and skills for the wireless networking portion of Network+ certification include:

• Given a scenario, deploy the appropriate wireless standard
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
  • 802.11ac
• Install and configure wireless LAN infrastructure and implement the appropriate technologies in support of wireless capable devices
  • Small office/home office wireless router
  • Wireless access points
    • Device density
    • Roaming
    • Wireless controllers
      • VLAN pooling
      • LWAPP
  • Wireless bridge
  • Site surveys
    • Heat maps
  • Frequencies
    • 2.4 Ghz
    • 5.0 Ghz
  • Channels
  • Goodput
  • Connection types
    • 802.11a-ht
    • 802.11g-ht
  • Antenna placement
  • Antenna types
    • Omnidirectional
    • Unidirectional
  • MIMO/MUMIMO
  • Signal strength
    • Coverage
    • Differences between device antennas
  • SSID broadcast
  • Topologies
    • Adhoc
    • Mesh
    • Infrastructure
  • Mobile devices
    • Cell phones
    • Laptops
    • Tablets
    • Gaming devices
    • Media devices
• Given a scenario, troubleshoot and resolve common wireless issues
  • Signal loss
  • Interference
  • Overlapping channels
    • Mismatched channels
  • Signal-to-noise ratio
  • Device saturation
  • Bandwidth saturation
  • Untested updates
  • Wrong SSID
  • Power levels
  • Open networks
  • Rogue access point
  • Wrong antenna type
  • Incompatibilities
  • Wrong encryption
  • Bounce
  • MIMO
  • AP placement
  • AP configurations
    • LWAPP
    • Thin vs thick
  • Environmental factors
    • Concrete walls
    • Window film
    • Metal studs
  • Wireless standard related issues
    • Throughput
    • Frequency
    • Distance
    • Channels

Readings

1. Wikipedia: Wireless network
2. Wikipedia: Wi-Fi
3. Wikipedia: Wireless router
4. Wikipedia: Wireless access point
5. Wikipedia: Wireless LAN controller

Multimedia

1. YouTube: 802.11 Wireless Standards - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 5.3
2. YouTube: Wireless Network Devices - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 2.7
3. YouTube: Wireless LAN Controllers - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 1.2
4. YouTube: Wireless Connections - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 2.7
5. YouTube: Wireless Antenna Technologies - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 2.7
6. YouTube: Using Wireless Networks - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 2.7
7. YouTube: Troubleshooting Wireless Signals - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 4.3
8. YouTube: Troubleshooting Wireless Configurations - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 4.3

Activities

1. Set up and configure a basic wireless router using either a router emulator or your home router:
   • Use a SOHO router emulator to set up and configure a basic wireless router:
     • Change the default administrator password for the device.
     • Configure wireless security by setting a new SSID name and setting the security mode to WPA2 with a strong password.
     • Research current firmware releases for the device. Locate the router's firmware upgrade page and review instructions from the router's Help page on how to update the firmware.
   • Review settings for your home router:
     • Verify that the administrator password has been changed from the default.
     • Verify that the SSID security mode is set to WPA2 with a strong password.
     • Research current firmware releases for the device and determine whether a firmware update is required.
2. Set up and configure a wireless access point using either an access point emulator or an available access point:
   • Use an Cisco: Wireless Access Point Emulator or your own device to set up and configure a wireless access point.
     • Change the default administrator password for the device.
     • Configure wireless security by setting a new SSID name and setting the security mode to WPA2 with a strong password.
     • Research current firmware releases for the device. Locate the router's firmware upgrade page and review instructions from the router's Help page on how to update the firmware.
     • Compare options and interface settings with the wireless router configuration above.
3. Review Wikipedia: Wardriving. Use a free wireless scanner and scan your environment for wireless networks:
   • Windows:
     1. Review Archive: BitDreamers: Improve WLAN Signal Without Additional Tools on Windows.and Wikipedia: NetSpot.
     2. Use the netsh wlan show networks mode=bssid command or download and install NetSpot and scan for wireless networks.
   • macOS:
     1. Review AppStorm: How to Discover Any Network with iStumbler and Wikipedia: NetSpot.
     2. Download and install iStumbler or NetSpot and scan for wireless networks.
   • Linux:
     1. Review TuxMobil.org: Linux Wireless Sniffer.
     2. Download and install a wireless scanner and scan for wireless networks.
   • Android:
     1. Review Google: farproc Wifi Analyzer.
     2. Download and install Wifi Analyzer and scan for wireless networks.
   • iOS:
     1. Review WLANBook: Free WiFi Scanner for iPhone and iPad Without Jailbreak.
     2. Download and install the Apple AirPort Utility and scan for wireless networks.
4. Review Wikipedia: Wireless ad hoc network. Set up a wireless ad hoc network.
   • Windows:
     1. Review Microsoft: Set up a Computer-to-Computer Ad Hoc Network.
     2. Set up an ad hoc network.
   • macOS:
     1. Review MacObserver: How to Create and Use an Ad Hoc Network on Your Mac.
     2. Set up an ad hoc network.
   • Linux:
     1. Review ArchLinux: Ad Hoc Networking.
     2. Search the Internet for specific ad hoc networking instructions for your Linux distribution.
     3. Set up an ad hoc network.