Advanced Wireless Technology

Review of Core Concepts

 Topic & Structure of the lesson
Review of Core Concepts

•WLAN Terminology and Technology

•WLAN Infrastructure Devices

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Learning Outcomes
Review of Core Concepts

At the end of this module, YOU should be able to:

• Explain the wireless LAN modes of operation.

• Explain the different categories of Wireless Access Points.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Key Terms you must be able to use
Review of Core Concepts

If you have mastered this topic, you should be able to use the
following terms correctly in your assignments and exams:

• Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS)

• Basic Service Set (BSS)
• Extended Service Set (ESS)
• Service Set Identifier (SSID)
• Infrastructure Mode
• Wireless Access Point
• Autonomous Access Points
• Controller-Based Access Points

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Main Teaching Points
Review of Core Concepts

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• Wireless LAN Modes of Operation

• The Independent Basic Service Set IBSS
• This wireless LAN operation mode uses no access points
and consists of only wireless devices or client computers.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• Certain parameters must be set on the devices that wish to

participate in an IBSS.
• These parameters must be the same on all the devices in
order for them to effectively communicate with one
another.
• Three common parameters set on devices that belong to
the same IBSS are:
• Service set identifier (SSID)
• Radio frequency channel
• Security configuration

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• Every device that wishes to be part of the same wireless LAN

IBSS, BSS, or ESS will use a common network name, the SSID.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• The SSID name should be unique and should not divulge who
you are or the location of the wireless LAN devices, unless
you are trying to create a wireless hotspot or a public
accessible IEEE 802.11 wireless network.
• It is important to understand if the proper wireless LAN
security is enabled, the SSID name should not be an issue,
but there is no point in broadcasting certain types of
information.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• Three common parameters set on devices that belong to the

same IBSS are:
• Service set identifier (SSID)
• Radio frequency channel
• Security configuration
• The IBSS wireless network configuration requires a user to set
the specific radio frequency channel that will be used by all
devices that are part of the same IBSS network.
• It is important to understand that all wireless devices in any
common IBSS must be communicating on the same radio
frequency channel.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts
• Three common parameters set on devices that belong to
the same IBSS are:
• Service set identifier (SSID)
• Radio frequency channel
• Security configuration

• With IBSS networks, there is no centralized control and no

security management features.
• Security is left up to the individual user or wireless device.
• If a user inadvertently shares a resource, it could expose
sensitive information and pose security threats.
• This can be a concern for many enterprise installations, and
therefore the use of an IBSS is against corporate security
policy in many organizations.
CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology
 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• An IBSS is usually identified by one of three terms:

– Independent basic service set (IBSS)
– Ad hoc
– Peer-to-peer
• Regardless of the terminology , it comes down to wireless
LAN devices connecting to each other without the use of an
access point or other wireless infrastructure device
• All devices in an IBSS network work independently of one
another, and there is no centralized management or
administration capability.
• This type of connection may be useful in homes or small
offices for ease of installation but is rarely if at all used with
enterprise or corporate wireless networks.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• Advantages of an IBSS
• Easy to Configure
• No Investment in Access Point Hardware

• Disadvantages of IBSS
• Limited Radio Frequency Range:.
• No Centralized Administration Capability
• Not Scalable
• Difficult to Secure

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• The basic service set (BSS) is the foundation of the wireless

network.
• This mode consists of an access point connected to a network
infrastructure and its associated wireless devices.

This is considered
the foundation
because it may be
one of many
access points that
form a wireless
network.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• Just as in an IBSS configuration, several parameters need to

be configured for a BSS.
• These include the SSID or name of the network, the radio
frequency channel to be used, and any security parameters
• The access point will broadcast these and other parameters
about the wireless network to devices that want to connect to
the BSS, thus requiring minimal configuration on the wireless
client side.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• Advantages of BSS
• Uses intelligent devices with a large feature set to provide
users with consistent, reliable, and secure communications to
a wireless network.
• Useful in a variety of situations: homes, SOHO, and small to
large businesses.
• Centralized administration and control.
• Security parameters and specific access can be set centrally.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• Disadvantages of a BSS
• additional hardware costs compared to IBSS.
• Usually will require a site survey to determine radio frequency
coverage and capacity requirements.
• Must be connected to a network infrastructure known as the
distribution system, either wired or wireless.
• Additional knowledge required for configuration and
deployment.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• The Extended Service Set

• In basic terms, this can be one or more access points
connected to a common wired or wireless distribution system.
• An ESS is a common configuration in most wireless LAN
deployments for small to medium businesses as well as large
enterprise organizations.
• An ESS can be thought of as several basic service sets
(BSSs) that must have matching parameters, such as SSID
and security settings.
• In most cases, the basic service area for each BSS will
overlap to allow roaming (transition) from one BSS to another.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• It is the distribution system connecting these together and a common

network name (SSID) that makes up the ESS.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless Terminology and
Technology
Review of Core Concepts

• Roaming between access points is a critical component of

wireless LAN technology in most wireless network
deployments.
• This is because the wireless LAN is now a major part of
every corporate network.
• Roaming is so important that the IEEE added the 802.11r
amendment to provide a standardized methodology for client
station roaming and fast secure transition within the wireless
LAN.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless LAN Infrastructure
Devices
Review of Core Concepts

• The Wireless Access Point

• The wireless access point (AP) is an integral component
of a wireless LAN infrastructure.
• Wireless access points are what allow a variety of
wireless devices access to any network resources that the
device or user may have permissions for.
• When a wireless device is connected to an access point, it
is said to be in infrastructure mode.
• In this operation mode, all wireless data traffic is
passed through the access point to the intended
destination, whether that is a file server, a printer, the
Internet, or anything else.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless LAN Infrastructure
Devices
Review of Core Concepts

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless LAN Infrastructure
Devices
Review of Core Concepts

• The Wireless Access Point

• Wireless access points are available in three common
types—autonomous, controller-based, and
cooperative
• Autonomous access points are self-contained units
and can function as independent network
infrastructure devices.
• Controller-based access points, by contrast, function
in conjunction with the wireless LAN controller.
• Cooperative access points provide a wireless
infrastructure without the use of a hardware
controller.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless LAN Infrastructure
Devices
Review of Core Concepts

• Autonomous Access Points

• Autonomous access points are self-contained units with all the
intelligence necessary to provide devices with wireless access
to a wired network infrastructure and access to the resources
the devices have permission to use.
• There are two popular types of autonomous access points—
small- office home-office (SOHO) and enterprise.
• Not surprisingly, the enterprise type offers generally more
robust features.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless LAN Infrastructure
Devices
Review of Core Concepts

• The SOHO Access Point

• SOHO or consumer-grade access points are best used in the
SOHO or home environment and usually have a limited
number of connections for computers and devices.

Common Features
•IEEE 802.11 standards support
•Wi-Fi Alliance certifications
•Removable antennas
•Static output transmit power
•Advanced security options
•Wireless bridge functionality
•Wireless repeater functionality
•Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server
•Configuration and settings options

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless LAN Infrastructure
Devices
Review of Core Concepts

• The Enterprise Access Point can

include additional features:
• Removable or expandable antennas
• Adjustable output transmit power
• Advanced security options
• Multiple operation modes, including
root access point, wireless bridge,
and wireless repeater capabilities
• outdoor use, plenum ratings,
industrial environment ratings,
• more memory and faster processors
to help handle the load and various
environmental conditions.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Wireless LAN Infrastructure
Devices
Review of Core Concepts

Controller-Based Access Points

•Controller-based access points differ from
autonomous access points in that they are
used with wireless LAN controllers and not
as standalone devices.
•Controller-based access points are centrally
managed from the wireless LAN controller.
•Depending on the manufacturer, they may
have a more extensive feature set than
autonomous access points, while also
including many of the features of those
devices.
•One of these features is Layer 3 VPN
connectivity for computers and other devices.

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Follow Up Assignment
Review of Core Concepts

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Summary of Main Teaching Points
Review of Core Concepts

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Question and Answer Session
Review of Core Concepts

Q&A

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology

 Next Session
Review of Core Concepts

Topic and Structure of next session:

•RF Components
•Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP)
•Units of Power and Comparison
•RF Mathematics
• Rule of 10s and 3s
• Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI)
• System Operating Margin (SOM) / Link Budget

CT064-3-3-Advanced Wireless Technology