Connect802 has worked closely with the Planet3 Wireless group in support of the CWNP program. Our certification extends beyond our WLAN expertise and includes certification to teach the CWNP courses. Connect802 makes contract instructors available for course delivery. An example of the scope and depth of the CWNA training program is provided in the course outline below.

The Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) Certification Training Program

Overview: The Wireless LAN Administration course, whether in an academic format or a 5-day fast-track format, provides the networking professional a complete foundation of knowledge for entering into or advancing in the wireless networking industry. From basic RF theory to link budget math, including topics from troubleshooting to performing a site survey, this course delivers hands on training that will benefit the novice as well as the experienced network professional.

Audience: This course targets both novice and experienced networking professionals who wish to gain a solid understanding of wireless networking to complement their knowledge of traditional wired networking.

Course Duration: The Wireless LAN Administration course consists of 40 hours of material, incorporating both lecture and hands-on labs. The class may be taught in a 5-day period, over the course of a semester, or in other variations, depending on the training organization.

Certification: This course may be used - and is the ideal track - for preparing students for the CWNA exam (exam PW0-100).

Prerequisites: It is recommended that all students have at least a basic knowledge of networking (as exhibited in Net+, CCNA®, CNA, or MCP) prior to enrolling in the course.

Hands-on Lab Exercises

Lab 1 - Infrastructure Mode Connectivity

This exercise demonstrates wireless client devices connecting to an access point. Students configure the access point, wireless stations, and view the association table in the access point in order to understand the process a client goes through to become connected to the network. RF output power is explained and client utilities are viewed to show RF signal quality and strength. Access point features, authentication, association, and encryption are all discussed and demonstrated. 802.11a/b/g technologies are each shown independently to demonstrate channel usage and spread spectrum technologies.

Lab 2: Infrastructure Mode Throughput Analysis

This exercise demonstrates the expected throughput achievable from a wireless station to a wired station and a wireless station to a wireless station using FTP and throughput measuring software. The point of this lab is for the student to understand the half-duplex nature of wireless LANs and how the data rate relates to actual throughput in a real-world scenario. Access point frame relay is proven and explained.

Lab 3: Ad Hoc Connectivity and Throughput Analysis

In this exercise, wireless clients will connect to each other without use of an access point. Beaconing and channel configuration in an Ad Hoc environment will be explained and throughput will be analyzed and compared against an infrastructure environment. Use of SSIDs, WEP/WPA, channels, and other connectivity factors will be discussed and demonstrated.

Lab 4: Cell Sizing and Automatic Rate Selection (ARS) in an Infrastructure Environment

In this exercise, RF cell sizing and ARS will be demonstrated. Cell sizing is important for seamless connectivity while roaming and for security purposes. ARS is the wireless LAN client's ability to increase or decrease the data rate of the wireless connection in order to maintain optimum connectivity with the access point. Environmental factors will be analyzed. A basic site survey will be performed during this lab exercise using 802.11a/b/g technologies.

Lab 5: Co-Channel and Adjacent Channel Interference

In this exercise, the effects of co-channel and adjacent channel interference are demonstrated and explained. Throughput tests using FTP and throughput measurement software are performed using fully-overlapping, partially-overlapping, and non-overlapping channels. Effects are analyzed and compared for DSSS and OFDM environments.

Lab 6: Rudimentary Security Features

In this exercise, the security features that are specified in the IEEE 802.11 standard and the new WPA 1.0 interoperability standard are demonstrated in a mobile environment. Wireless clients attempt roaming between access points while using like and different Service Set Identifiers (SSIDs), MAC filters, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) using Pre-shared Keys (WPA-PSK). Configuration, use, and security issues are discussed, explained, and demonstrated in 802.11a/b/g environments.

Lab 7: Dynamic WEP Keys and Mutual Authentication using 802.1x/EAP and RADIUS

The need for wireless security stronger than that which is available in static WEP or WPA-PSK is explained. Port-based access control with EAP authentication is also demonstrated and explained. Cisco's proprietary Lightweight EAP is used with RADIUS for scalability of authentication. The 802.1x/LEAP association process is analyzed and rotating unicast and broadcast keys are explained. User-based authentication is demonstrated and compared to MAC-based authentication used in the 802.11 standard.

Lab 8: Wireless VPNs using PPTP tunnels and RADIUS

In this exercise, the access point is the VPN tunnel server and the PPTP VPN client software built into Microsoft Windows is used to establish an encrypted VPN tunnel from the wireless client to the access point. The access point then sends the authentication request to a RADIUS server and a tunnel is established. Use of the PPTP protocol with encryption in a wireless environment is discussed and explained.