Wireless Networks Flashcards
What is the difference between home network devices and corporate network devices ?
Home are bundled, which include a switch, modem, router, and firewall into one device and corporate separate them into dedicated devices for specific network functions.
What are WiFi channels ?
Subdivisions of the frequency bands used for wireless communication
Are all channels available and allowed internationally?
Channels vary by country due to regulatory impacts
What are regulatory impacts?
Rules or regulations set by governmental or international bodies that govern the use of wireless
What is a frequency?
A specific part of the electromagnetic spectrum used for WiFi
What are typical frequencies we use ?
2.4 GHz and 5GHz bands
Why do frequencies vary in the number of channels they have?
Certain frequencies can be broken down into more channels than others
What is channel width?
The frequency span of a wireless channel
What do wider channels offer? What is a downside of wider channels?
More bandwidth and increase data transmission, but also the likelihood of interference in congested areas
What are the frequency options in wireless networking?
2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz
What does 2.4 GHz offer?
Broad coverage and device compatability
What does 5 GHz offer?
Higher data speeds and reduced congestion
What does 6 GHz offer?
Greater capacity and speed in dense environments
What are non-overlapping channels?
Channels that do not interfere with each other
In what environments are non-overlapping channels crucial?
Environments with multiple WAPs
Which channels do not overlap in the 2.4 GHz frequency band?
1,6, and 11 in the US
Which frequency band is widely used for wireless networking, offering a good balance between range and bandwidth?
2.4 GHz
What does the long range for the 2.4 GHz band do better?
Penetrates through barriers better
What are the two cons of the 2.4 GHz frequency band?
Slowed data rates and higher rate of interference due to longer range
What two things can the 5 GHz frequency band provide?
Faster data rates at shorter distances and less interference from other household devices
Does short range or long range penetrate barriers better?
Long range
What does the 6 GHz band do to the bandwidth for wireless networks?
Expands it by doubling the spectrum available
What type of situation and environment is 6 GHz ideal for?
High demand applications and environments
What WiFi technologies is 6 GHz beneficial for?
WiFi 6E
What does band steering do?
Automatically detects wireless devices capable of dual-band operations and steers them to less congested bands
What is band steering?
Network management technologly
What does band steering do to wireless networks in high density areas?
Enhances the efficiency and reliability of wireless networks
What does the 802.11h standard enhance compared to 802.11?
Dynamic frequency selection (DFS) and Transmit Power Control (TPC)
What does DFS help with?
Avoiding interference with radar systems and other devices using 5 GHz band
What does TCP manage?
Power output of devices to reduce interference and ensure efficient use of the frequency spectrum
What does a basic service set (BSS) refer to?
A group of wireless devices operating with the same AP
What is BSSID?
The physical MAC address of the AP
Where is the BSSID included in?
The packets
How is the extended service set (ESS) created?
By adding more APs to one service set
What is the service set identifier (SSID), also known as?
The network name used to identify an AP
What is the network name for the extended set?
Extended service set identifier (ESSID)
What do all APs in an ESS broadcast?
The same SSID to users
What is the wireless NIC required for?
To connect to a wireless network or host
What standards does wireless NIC support?
802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/axe
Does a wireless NIC support wireless encryption?
Yes
Do all devices have an integrated NIC?
Most but not all
What topology does an AP create?
Star
What frequency type does an AP use to provide connections for wireless hosts?
RF (Radio Frequency)
What domains does an AP create?
A single broadcast and collision domain
How does an AP manage collisions?
With CSMA/CA (carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance)
What does an AP require for configuration and administration?
An IP address
How does an autonomous AP operate?
Independently, managing all aspects of networking
In what environment is an autonomous AP ideal?
Straightforward and smaller networks
How is the lightweight AP (LAP) managed?
Via a wireless LAN controller (WLC)
How is the LAP used?
To increase coverage, availability, and performance
Can a LAP be managed directly?
No
In what direction does an omni-directional antenna transmit?
In all directions
Which wireless antenna is most common in consumer and business wireless?
Omni-directional
Which of the two antennas has a short range transmission distance?
Omni-directional
Where does a directional antenna transmit a signal?
In one direction
How far does the Yugi-Uda antenna focus a wireless signal?
Up to a mile
Which antenna focuses a wireless signal up to 8 miles?
Parabolic antenna
Where is a point-to-point network commonly used?
Linking two locations in a WAN or to provide consistent and reliable connectivity
What do mesh networks consist of?
Nodes that directly connect and dynamically to as many other nodes as possible
What does a mesh configuration create?
Multiple pathways for data to travel between points
What do multiple pathways in a mesh network enhance
Reliability and redundancy
What are two characteristics of mesh networks?
Self-healing and scalable
Where are mesh networks ideal?
Smart cities and IoT applications
How do nodes in an ad hoc network communicate?
Directly without the use of a router or a network server
What structure do ad hoc networks use?
Decentralized without relying on pre-existing infrastructure
In what situation is an ad hoc network suitable?
For temporary setups such as emergency responses or military operations
What is the most common type of network?
Infrastructure networks
What do infrastructure networks rely on?
Fixed routers or APs that manage traffic to and from wireless devices
Which setup is infrastructure networks used for?
Commercial and residential setups
What is WPA2?
A secuirty protocols developed to secure wireless computer networks
What kind of authentication is used in WPA2?
Alpha numberic passports (PSK) via CCMP
How is WPA2 encrypted?
AES (Advance encryption standard)
What is the latest and more secure security protocol for wireless networks?
WPA3
Why was WPA3 introduced?
To address vulnerabilities found in WPA2
How does a user authenticate with WPA3?
SAE (Simultaneous authentication of equals)
What does WPA3 use to encrypt?
AES
What is a pre-shared key (PSK)?
A single, shared key known to all users of the network
What does a PSK offer home and small office environments?
Ease of setup but lower security
How do enterprises authenticate?
Employing a RADIUS server
What does a RADIUS server manage?
Each users authentication individually
What are guest networks?
Separate access networks allow limited internet access without exposing the main network
Why are guest networks used?
Isolate guest user traffic from critical internal resources
How are captive portals used when a user connects to a public or semi-public WiFi network?
Automatic web page that requires certain interactions before network access is granted
What interactions can be asked from captive portals?
Authentication, terms of service agreements, or payment information
