CWNA: CWNA – Certified Wireless Network Administrator

Become an EPIC Affiliate

To view the class schedule you need to become an Affiliate

  • Largest “Guaranteed To Run” public technical training schedules available
  • Easy to become an Affiliate – no charge or fee
Become an EPIC Affiliate

already an Affiliate?  Login

About this Course

Get a head start right out of the gate with a Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) certification. It is the base certification for Enterprise Wi-Fi within the CWNP family of certifications and a springboard toward earning your security, design, analysis, and network expert certifications. Achieving it enhances your networking career profile, providing evidence that you have sought after Wi-Fi knowledge and skills.

 

The goal of this course is to add Wi-Fi expertise to a networking professional’s skillset while covering all CWNA-108 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.

Audience Profile

  • Administrators: network, systems, infrastructure, security, and LAN/WLANs
  • Support professionals: technical assistance and field support
  • Designers: network, systems, and infrastructure
  • Developers: wireless software and hardware products
  • Consultants and integrators: IT and security
  • Decision-makers: infrastructure managers, IT managers, security directors, chief security officers, and chief technology officers
  • CCNA's

At Course Completion

Outline

WLAN and Networking Industry Organizations

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

RF Characteristics and Behavior

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

RF Mathematics and Measurements

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

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

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

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

802.11 MAC Operations

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

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

WLAN Network Architectures

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

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

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

Site Surveys, Network Design, and Validation

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

WLAN Troubleshooting

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

 

Classroom Live Labs

Remote Lab Familiarization

  • Overview
  • Task 1: Navigate the GigaWave Remote Lab
  • Task 2: Navigate the Interactive Diagram Page
  • Task 3: Closing the Lab

Lab 1: Visualizing RF Principles

  • Activity Objective
  • Visual Objective
  • Required Resources
  • Task 1: Prepare the Client Laptop in the Remote Lab
  • Task 2: Use Ekahau to visualize Free Space Path Loss
  • Task 3: Use Ekahau to Visualize Attenuation
  • Task 4: Closing the Lab

Lab 2: RF Mathematics

  • Activity Objective
  • Required Resources
  • Task 1: Complete These Power Conversions
  • Task 2: Calculate EIRP
  • Task 3: Calculate a Link Budget

Lab 3: Visualizing Antenna Patterns

  • Activity Objective
  • Required Resources
  • Task 1: Open the FSPL File in Ekahau
  • Task 2: Use Various 2.4 Antenna and Observe the Change in RF Coverage
  • Closing the Lab

Lab 4: 802.11 Basics

  • Activity Objective
  • Task 1: Analyze Wireless Frames
  • Task 2: Closing the Lab

Lab 5: Initialize an Autonomous WLAN Deployment

  • Activity Objective
  • Task 1: Configure an Autonomous AP via CLI
  • Task 2: Configure Your Standalone AP from the GUI
  • Task 3: Closing the Lab

Lab 6: Configure Security on Autonomous AP WLAN Deployment

  • Activity Objective
  • Task 1: Configure the Autonomous AP for PSK
  • Task 2: Configure Windows 7 Client to Connect to the Pod-X-Auto Using PSK
  • Task 3: Add a Local Radius Client to the Autonomous AP
  • Task 4: Configure Local RADIUS Server on the Autonomous AP
  • Task 5: Configure an SSID for Local EAP on the Autonomous AP
  • Task 6: Configure the Windows Supplicant
  • Task 7: Closing the Lab

Lab 7: Configuring the WLC Central Switch WLAN Deployment

  • Activity Objective
  • Task 1: Prepare the Client Laptop in the Remote Lab
  • Task 2: Review and Modify Management Access
  • Task 3: Review AP Status
  • Task 4: Configure a WLAN
  • Task 5: Associate the Client
  • Task 6: Disassociate the Client
  • Task 7: Closing the Lab

Lab 8: Configuring Security in a Centralized WLAN Deployment

  • Activity Objective
  • Task 1: Configure the Data WLAN for PSK
  • Task 2: Configure the Wireless Client to Connect to the PSK WLAN
  • Task 3: Modify the WLAN to Support WPA2 with 802.1X Authentication
  • Task 4: Configure the Client and Access the Network
  • Task 5: Modify the WLAN to Support WebAuth
  • Task 6: Create a Local Net User
  • Task 7: Connect the Client to the WebAuth WLAN
  • Task 8: Closing the Lab

Lab 9: Implement a WLC Local Switch WLAN Deployment

  • Activity Objective
  • Task 1: Configure the Controller
  • Task 2: Connect to the WLAN
  • Task 3: Closing the Lab

Lab 10: Configure Security on a Cloud WLAN Deployment

  • Activity Objective
  • Task 1: Implement PSK Authentication on a Cloud WLAN Deployment
  • Task 2: Implement Local EAP-PEAP on a Cloud WLAN Deployment
  • Task 3: Implement WebAuth on a Cloud WLAN Deployment
  • Task 4: Disable SSIDs on the Cloud WLAN Deployment

Lab 11: Perform Wi-Fi Scanning

  • Activity Objective
  • Topology
  • Task 1: Enable Metageek insider
  • Task 2: Review 2.4 GHz Activity
  • Task 3: Review 5 GHz Activity
  • Task 4: Close the Lab

Lab 12: Perform a Predictive WLAN Design

  • Activity Objective
  • Task 1: Familiarization with Ekahau Site Survey Pro + Planner
  • Task 2: Perform a Basic Predictive WLAN Design using a Single Floor Layout
  • Task 3: Closing the Lab

Lab 13: Perform Passive Site Survey

  • Activity Objective
  • Task 1: Configure AP for Spectrum Expert AP Mode of Operation
  • Task 2: Configure Cisco Spectrum Expert – Spectrum Analyzer Software
  • Task 3: Closing the Lab

Prerequisites

The CWNA exam has no prerequisites; however, the following are recommended before attempting the CWNA exam:

  • Basic knowledge of networking (routers, switches, cabling, etc.)
  • Basic knowledge of TCP/IP
  • At least 1 year of work experience with wireless LAN technologies