Wireless standards

Unit objective Compare and contrast different

wireless standards Install and configure a wireless

network Implement appropriate wireless

security measures

Topic A

Topic A: Wireless standards Topic B: Install and configure wireless

networks Topic C: Implement wireless security

The 802.1x standard

Frequency band divisions – Military– Broadcasters– Amateur radio operators

Broadcast signal is a security issue IEEE 802.1x

– Port-based authentication framework for access to Ethernet networks

– Designed for wired Ethernet networks– Applies to 802.11 WLANs

continued

802.1x, continued

Requires three roles in authentication process– Device requesting access– Authenticator– Authentication server

Allows multiple authentication algorithms

Is an open standard

The 802.11 standard

Operates in 2.4–2.5 GHz band Used for wireless networks OSI Data Link layer Two ways to configure a network

– Ad hoc – Infrastructure

Places specifications on Physical and MAC layers

Access point

Transparent bridge between wireless clients and wired network

Includes– At least one interface to connect to wired

network– Transmitting equipment to connect with

wireless clients– IEEE 802.1D bridging software

Major wireless protocols

Standard Speeds Frequency Indoor distance

Outdoor distance

Interference

802.11b <= 11 Mbps

2.4 GHz 45 m 90 m Yes

802.11a <= 54 Mbps

5 GHz 15 m 30 m No; Not compatible with 802.11b

802.11g 20+ Mbps

Advertised 54 Mbps

2.4 GHz 45 m 90 m Yes; Compatible with 802.11b

802.11n <= 600 Mbps

2.4 or 5 GHz

70 m 250 m No; Compatible with 802.11g, b, a

802.16 <= 11 Mbps

10–66 or 2–11 GHz

31 miles No

Device compatibility

802.11a not compatible with 802.11b– Some devices equipped to support either

802.11a or 802.11b

802.11n backward-compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g– Many modern access points support

multiple standards

Channels

802.11g and b use 2.4–2.5 GHz with 11 channels 5 MHz apart

Most routers default to channel 6 Closely located wireless networks

using the same or adjacent channels can interfere with one another

Can change the default channel on the wireless AP to decrease interference– Apply to both AP and its clients

Channel bonding

Allows devices to use two adjacent channels at once

Doubles bandwidth Primary or control channel Secondary or extension channel Works with both 2.4 and 5 GHz

frequencies Works best in 5 GHz band with

802.11n standard

MIMO

Multiple-input and multiple-output Pronounced my-moh or me-moh Uses multiple antennas at both

transmitter and receiver Increases data throughput and

wireless link range Available in 802.11n and 802.11g Not suitable for long-range point-to-

point links using external antenna

Activity A-1

Comparing wireless networking standards

Topic B

Topic A: Wireless standards Topic B: Install and configure wireless

networks Topic C: Implement wireless security

802.11 networking

Wireless NICs Access point

– Speeds– Placement

Configuration options

Encryption Firmware updates Change default administrator accounts Change default SSID Disable SSID RADIUS DMZ Disable DHCP MAC filtering 802.1X

Activity B-1

Configuring a wireless access point (instructor demo)

Configuring wireless clients

Windows Zero Configuration Options 802.1X

RADIUS

Authentication RADIUS client requests from APs Shared keys

Activity B-2

Configuring a wireless client (instructor demo)

Topic C

Topic A: Wireless standards Topic B: Install and configure wireless

networks Topic C: Implement wireless security

Wireless security

Access control Encryption Authentication Isolation

Transmission encryption

WEP WPA Personal WPA2 WPA Enterprise RADIUS 802.11i EAP, LEAP, PEAP

Activity C-1

Discussing wireless security measures

Unit summary

Compared and contrasted different wireless standards

Installed and configured a wireless network

Implemented appropriate wireless security measures