CCNA Wireless 200-355

Video description

More than 21 hours of video training covering all of the objectives in the CCNA Wireless WIFUND 200-355 exam.

The CCNA Wireless 200-355 Complete Video Course is a unique video product that provides users with more than 21 hours of personal, visual instruction from wireless expert and instructor Jerome Henry. Video lessons cover all objectives on the CCNA Wireless; WIFUND 200-355 exam.

The unique video product contains a series of short instructional videos that demonstrates the process of designing, surveying, deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting Cisco Wi-Fi networks. The videos cover the full range of topics you need to understand Wi-Fi, manage a wireless network, and successfully prepare for the CCNA Wireless certification.

CCNA Wireless 200-355 Complete Video Course contains 12 modules, subdivided into 50 lessons and 210 sub-lessons, for a total of more than 21 hours of instruction. The videos consist of audio instruction and animations. Each video presents detailed objectives and video captures. Audio instruction throughout offers detailed explanations and tips.

About the Instructor

Jerome Henry is Technical Leader at Cisco, focusing on Wi-Fi products. Jerome has more than 12 years of experience teaching technical Cisco courses and products in more than 15 different countries and 4 different languages to audiences ranging from Bachelor degree students to networking professionals and Cisco internal system engineers. Focusing on his wireless experience, Jerome joined Cisco at the beginning of 2013. Before that time, he was consulting and teaching Heterogeneous Networks and Wireless Integration with the European Airespace team, which was later acquired by Cisco to become their main wireless solution. He then become a technology leader at a Cisco Learning and Solution Partner before joining Cisco. He is a certified wireless networking expert (CWNE #45), CCIE Wireless (#24750), CCNP Wireless, developed several Cisco courses focusing on wireless topics (IUWNE, IUWMS, IUWVN, CUWSS, IAUWS, LBS, CWMN lab guide, and so on) and authored several Wireless books (IUWMS, CUWSS Quick Reference, and so on). Jerome was also elevated to the grade of IEEE 802.11 group Senior Member. With more than 10,000 hours in the classroom, Jerome was awarded the IT Training Award best Instructor silver medal in 2009. He is based in Pittsboro, NC.

Coverage includes:

Module 1: RF Communications

Module 2: 802.11 Communications

Module 3: Wi-Fi Site Surveys

Module 4: Wi-Fi Security Fundamentals

Module 5: Cisco Wireless Architectures

Module 6: Autonomous AP Implementation

Module 7: Cloud Wi-Fi Implementation

Module 8: Centralized Wireless Implementation

Module 9: FlexConnect Wireless Implementations

Module 10: Converged Access Implementation

Module 11: Client Configuration

Module 12: Wireless Infrastructure Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Skill Level

Beginner to Intermediate

What You Will Learn

Learn about every objective in the CCNA Wireless 200-355 exam

Module 1: RF Communications

Module 2: 802.11 Communications

Module 3: Wi-Fi Site Surveys

Module 4: Wi-Fi Security Fundamentals

Module 5: Cisco Wireless Architectures

Module 6: Autonomous AP Implementation

Module 7: Cloud Wi-Fi Implementation

Module 8: Centralized Wireless Implementation

Module 9: FlexConnect Wireless Implementations

Module 10: Converged Access Implementation

Module 11: Client Configuration

Module 12: Wireless Infrastructure Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Who Should Take This Course

CCNA Wireless certification candidates, including administrators, technicians, and network engineers who are responsible for deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting 802.11 wireless networks.

Engineers involved in 802.11 wireless management

Any individual wishing to get a deeper understanding of 802.11 to better administrate and troubleshoot 802.11 wireless networks.

Table of Contents

Module 1: RF Communications

Wi-Fi networks use radio waves, and you cannot understand Wi-Fi without understanding radio waves. This module covers the fundamentals of radio communications: how waves are transmitted, what they look like, what can affect them as they travel between your AP and wireless clients, but also how you measure them in terms of frequencies and power, so as to know what kind of performances your Wi-Fi clients might be able to get. At the end of this module, you will know about the multiple frequency bands where Wi-Fi can operate, but also the differences in regulations from one country to the next. You will also be able to read an antenna radiation pattern chart; to understand where your signal is going to propagate. You cannot see RF, so we built this module to give you as many practical analogies as possible, to help you sense how waves operate, even if you can’t see them.

Lesson 1: Analyzing RF Propagation

Wi-Fi uses RF signals. As soon as these signals leave your antenna, they get affected by the environment. This lesson looks at RF propagation, how a wave moves from one place to another. To understand waves, we will first look at how a wave is described and its characteristics. We will then look at what happen to that wave as it moves. You will be able to use this information not only for Wi-Fi designs, but also to understand the characteristics of any radio transmissions, from cellular to radio or TV.

Lesson 2: Mastering Basic RF Math

Don’t fear, this is not a dry math lesson! Of course, math is the heart of physics, and Wi-Fi follows the laws of physics and you need to follow them to understand how much power your access point is allowed to inject into its antenna and how far your signal can go if you use this or that antenna. So this lesson aims at giving you mental math shortcuts that will prove useful when you need to compare antennas, compare cells, compare signals at different frequencies, or even compare the performances of clients.

Lesson 3: Measuring RF Signals

After you understand the basics of RF propagation, you soon realize that the energy the wireless clients receive is very faint. This lesson will help you understand how the received energy is measured, and how it is compared to the environmental noise. This will help you evaluate the possibilities of various Wi-Fi client types, from laptops to phones or tables. With this information in hand, you will be able to better build a wireless cell that provides an optimal signal for all the clients you intend to include.

Lesson 4: Connecting Antennas

Most access points come from a default antenna, that translate in a cell of a particular shape and size. But changing the antenna allows you to modify that shape, to provide coverage in specific areas, while isolating your system from neighboring signals. Choosing the right antenna implies understanding antenna types and characteristics. This lesson will help you master the radiation patterns used by antenna vendors to describe their antennas. This lesson will also help you choose the right antenna for the right type of coverage, while making sure that you respect the rules of maximum radiated signal strength.

Lesson 5: Understanding RF Transmission Regulations

ITU, IEEE, WI-FI Alliance, FCC, ETSI...many organizations have roles that influence what your access points and wireless clients can send and receive. This lesson will help you navigate the role of these organizations. At the end of this lesson, you will have a clear understanding of what frequencies and powers are allowed for Wi-Fi, who decided of these rules, and how these different organizations interconnect to determine what your Wi-Fi network can and cannot do.

Module 2: 802.11 Communications

Now that you understand radio waves, it is time to give a closer look at Wi-Fi-specific transmissions. There are multiple ways of transmitting 0s and 1s in a radio wave. In this module, you will learn the choices that the 802.11 designers have made for such transmissions. You will learn how Wi-Fi transmits data, but also all the accompanying frames and mechanisms behind these transmissions. This module will help you understand why Wi-Fi works, why (sometimes) it does not work, and the reasons behind Wi-Fi transmission possibilities and limitations.

Lesson 1: Describing Spread Spectrum Transmissions

You will read everywhere that Wi-Fi uses Spread Spectrum transmissions what does this mean? There are several ways to represent 0s and 1s in a radio wave, each with its advantages and limitations. In this lesson, you will learn the techniques that Wi-Fi uses. This knowledge will help you understand why and how data rates are related to distance, but also why Wi-Fi can bond channels together. You will be able to use this knowledge to decipher terms behind 802.11ac, such as MU-MIMO and channel reuse.

Lesson 2: Connecting Wi-Fi Devices

Now that you understand Wi-Fi transmission, it is time to connect devices to one another. In this lesson, we will explore the different Wi-Fi topologies: direct connections through ad-hoc and Wi-Fi direct, but also infrastructure mode and all its associated terms SSID, BSSID, MBSSID, DS, ESS. At the end of this lesson, you will also understand the various roles that access points and stations can play in a wireless choreography, including bridging, mesh, and repeater roles.

Lesson 3: Accessing the Wireless Medium

Access points and stations can send frames whenever they need, but Wi-Fi has some rules in place to avoid, as best as possible, frame collisions in the air. In this lesson, you will learn the access methods behind Wi-Fi transmissions, and the various frames in place to avoid smooth communications. You will also learn the challenges of implementing decentralized access methods, and why this implementation choice not only made the success of Wi-Fi, but also created fundamental incompatibilities with other technologies, for example with LTE.

Lesson 4: Describing 802.11 Speed and Channel Protocols

In the 15 years of Wi-Fi development, one primary effort was to increase transmission speeds. This is how amendments like 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11a, 802.11n, 802.11ac or 802.11ax were developed. In this lesson, you will learn what these amendments bring to Wi-Fi communication, but also what issues and limitations new protocols bring to the older ones. You will also learn other enhancement techniques, such as MIMO, MU-MIMO, MRC, spatial streams and beamforming.

Module 3: Wi-Fi Site Surveys

Site surveys are at the heart of Wi-Fi deployments. As a CCNA, you may not be expected to plan and design for large deployments without support, but you are definitely expected to understand what site surveys are and how (if) they are done. This module will give you the tools you need to be proficient with site surveys, covering the various techniques at your disposal, the various requirements for standard deployment types, and also browsing to the site survey tools available for offsite and onsite surveys.

Lesson 1: Understanding Wi-Fi Application Requirements

Each survey type typically follows a standard process, built over years of shared experience and best practices from thousands of professionals worldwide. But a survey is nothing if you do not have clear performance objectives for your Wi-Fi coverage. This lesson will help you determine the type of cell you want to build, if you are designing for simple data traffic, or for voice, high bandwidth real time applications, high user density, or even location-based services.

Lesson 2: Describing Wi-Fi Site Survey Methodologies

Do you actually need to perform a site survey? And if so, what kind of site survey would you perform? It all depends on the phase of the deployment you are addressing. In this lesson, you will learn about the various phases in Wi-Fi deployment, and you will learn, for each phase, what type of survey can be performed and to achieve what purpose. This will help you determine if your network requires a site survey, or if it was properly designed.

Lesson 3: Describing Wi-Fi Survey Tools

Once you understand the site survey techniques and cell performance requirements, you need to choose one or several site survey tools. This lesson will give you an overview of the various tools available for each type of survey. Each tool is typically built for a specific purpose, giving it strengths and also limitations. This lesson will help you choose the best tool(s), to provide the information you need for each phase of your deployment.

Module 4: Wi-Fi Security Fundamentals

At this point of your Wireless CCNA journey, you understand radio waves, the specifics of 802.11 transmissions. You understand how to build a Wi-Fi cell, from the antenna choice to powers and performance requirements for each type of deployments. You also know how to perform a site survey to achieve these performance goals. It is time to add wireless clients to your design. But before doing so, you need to make sure that your network is secure. Wi-Fi has long been plagued by a reputation of being insecure. This reputation is undue, if you take the proper steps to apply modern security techniques to your cell but your network can be a disaster if you apply techniques that are still available, but were designed for older networks. This module will provide you with the knowledge you need to apply proper Wi-Fi security, and make your Wi-Fi network more secure than most wired networks.

Lesson 1: Describing Wi-Fi Security Components

Security is achieved by applying a combination of factors that work together, from authentication to encryption, but also attack detection and prevention. Not all factors are needed for all networks. This lesson will guide you through the different elements of Wi-Fi security to help you chose the bricks you need to make your network secure, without gaps and also without any security excesses that create burden for your users or the wireless administrator, without adding a security layer that would be useful for the network you deployed.

Lesson 2: Describing Authentication Options

Authentication is the first phase you need to implement Wi-Fi security. However, it is quite a complex one, because there are many different possible techniques, each providing a different quality of security. To make things worse, not all clients and not all infrastructure support the same authentication techniques. This lesson will help you sort the various techniques, to understand how they work, what security confidence they can bring, and what support you can expect from the various types of clients and Cisco network deployments.

Lesson 3: Describing Encryption

Wi-Fi signals can travel far beyond the limits of your walls, and be captured by unwanted listeners. Therefore, a key to wireless security is to encrypt traffic. But just as computing technologies have evolved a lot over the last 15 years, Wi-Fi encryption technologies have also changed dramatically. This lesson will guide you through the modern encryption techniques that you need to implement, will help you recognize the obsolete technologies that should be avoided, and will also give you glimpse on what future technologies may bring to your network security.

Module 5: Cisco Wireless Architectures

It is now time to dive into Cisco wireless networks. Each network is a unique combination of needs, constraints and possibilities, and there are several wireless network types. As a CCNA Wireless, you are expected to be able to manage these networks, and also understand what deployment choice was made, and the reasons behind this choice. This module will help you navigate through the various components of wireless networks, and will also help you understand the various wireless architectures available today. You will also learn the common components of these architectures, in terms of management, security or protocols. You will also learn how to determine key elements of your deployment and configuration, such as channel plan, power or QoS management.

Lesson 1: Contrasting Wireless Architectures

There are all sorts of ways to build a wireless network, depending on the physical environment, the business requirements, the client types, the expected performances, but also the management needs. For these reasons, Cisco distinguishes 5 deployment types that you need to master. This lesson will guide you through these different types, and will also help you understand how these networks are managed and secured.

Lesson 2: Describing Wired Infrastructure Devices and Functions

Your wireless access points need to connect to switches. You may also implement Wireless LAN controllers to control these access points, creating an overlay to the wired infrastructure. You need to understand how the wireless infrastructure interacts with the wired infrastructure. This lesson will help you understand the various elements of the wireless infrastructure, from split MAC, control and data traffic, to Mobility Controller and Mobility Agent, and will also help you understand how switches and routers should be configured to interact with your wireless infrastructure.

Lesson 3: Describing Security Components

Security is key to wireless deployments, and this lesson will detail two security protocols that you need for your wireless networks management: TACACS and RADIUS. You will also learn the basics of Cisco Identity Services (ISE), the tool of choice to manage the secure access of your wireless users and devices.

Lesson 4: Describing Management Components

In small networks, you install access points. In larger networks, you also install Wireless LAN controllers to reduce the management touch points. When your network contains several Wireless LAN controllers, you may also need to centralize their management. This lesson will guide you through the principle of Cisco Prime Infrastructure, the management tool of choice for networks that use Wireless LAN controllers.

Lesson 5: Describing Radio Resource Management

RRM is one of the most central concepts in controller-based architectures, and you are expected to understand it well. In this lesson, you will learn what RRM does and why it is there. You will see how RRM controls AP channels and power, with DCA and TPC, but will also look more closely at the edge of the cell, where clients may be suffering, and will see how Coverage Hole Detection can help them.

Lesson 6: Describing Radio Enhancements

There are more enhancements to the RF side of the network than just RRM. So in this lesson, you will learn about three additional RF enhancement features that you want to know about: first CleanAir, to detect and mitigate sources of interference; then BandSelect, to push your clients to the best band; and last ClientLink, to improve the signal for your client at the edge of the cell.

Lesson 7: Roaming

Roaming seems to be easy: you take your BYOD, and move: as your BYOD jumps from one AP to the next, you are roaming. The process is more complicated if you want this roaming to happen without loss of connection, which is the focus of this lesson. You will see what happens when you roam between autonomous Aps. A few things can be done here to make the roaming experience seamless, but there are limitations. So this will bring us back to the controller-based networks, where we have more possibilities. There, you will learn the various ways APs, switches, and controllers can be grouped together to form areas where roaming has to be frequent, and therefore very efficient. Once you understand this grouping logic, all you will have to do is look at where roaming happens, and what names roaming receives depending on how and where it happens. You will use those names every day when managing Wi-Fi networks. You will also see the exchanges that happen when a wireless device first joins an AP. This will allow you to understand what additional exchanges are needed to bring seamlessly that device session from one AP to another.

Module 6: Autonomous AP Implementation

This module will focus on autonomous access point configuration. You will learn how to access and manage these APs, and you will also learn the steps needed to properly configure a WLAN, its various security options, the AP RF parameters and also some advanced options that are needed for optimal performance.

Lesson 1: Initializing the Access Point

In this lesson, you will learn the various possibilities to access and configure your access point, over the air or over the wired network. You will also learn the steps you need to perform an initial configuration.

Lesson 2: Configuring a WLAN

Configuring a WLAN on an autonomous access point is a series of steps that have to be performed in the right order if you want your configuration to work. The sequence is a bit different depending on the type of WLAN you need to configure. This lesson will guide you through the various configuration steps you need for different types of WLANs, from simple to complex.

Lesson 3: Configuring Advanced Options

Some advanced options are present in the autonomous AP interface. As a wireless CCNA, you do not need to be an expert, but you need to understand and be able to configure some of these options to optimize your access point performances, such as ClientLink or BandSelect. This lesson details these advanced options and shows you how to configure them.

Module 7: Cloud Wi-Fi Implementation

With the acquisition of Meraki, Cisco now offers Cloud-managed access points. Although the RF fundamentals are the same for all Wi-Fi networks, the Cloud management interface, the logic of the networks and the way they are managed is different from what you are used to, if your background is on-premise WLAN. This module will give you the information you need to face any Cloud Wi-Fi exam question or deployment case, and understand the interface and the options that were chosen.

Lesson 1: Initializing the Access Point

Cloud managed access points do not have console ports so how do you initialize the access point? What do you do if the AP does not appear on the cloud management interface? This lesson will guide you through the AP initialization steps, and will also help you navigate the Cloud Management tool.

Lesson 2: Configuring a WLAN

The Cisco Meraki access point has a lot of options for WLAN configuration. This lesson will guide you through the various choices for authentication and encryption. This lesson will also help you navigate through the different WLAN optimization options.

Lesson 3: Configuring RF Parameters

As the access points are managed from the Cloud, you can decide if power and channels should be statically defined or dynamically assigned from the Cloud as RF condition changes. Some access points also embark an additional radioed dedicated to RF monitoring and optimization. This lesson will guide you through the various RF parameters available on the cloud management tool to optimize your network RF performances.

Lesson 4: Configuring Advanced Options

The Cloud management tool offers many advanced features. Some of them only make sense for very specific deployment, but some others may be of interest for most deployments, and may help you bring additional control or enhance the services offered by your wireless infrastructure, like location tracking or presence analytics. This lesson will guide you through these more advanced options, to help you choose the ones that may help you better manage your network.

Module 8: Centralized Wireless Implementation

Centralized Wireless Implementations use WLAN controllers, and they are at the heart of the body of knowledge needed for the WLAN administrator. In the world of WLAN controllers, you may face appliances running the AireOS, and other running the IOS XE operating system. The items you configure may be the same for both operating systems, but the way you configure them may be different. This module will help you understand both platforms, then focus on AireOS to configure the controller, its access points, WLANs, mobility parameters, and also explore more advanced options for Wi-Fi network optimization.

Lesson 1: Initializing a WLC

The first step in your WLAN deployment is to configure a controller. The configuration steps will be different if you use an AireOS or an IOS XE controller. This lesson will show you how the initial setup is done on AireOS, how you can access the controller via CLI or web interface, and will also help you navigate the GUI that you may be facing while working with AireOS.

Lesson 2: Joining a Controller

How do APs find their controller? This is a key question to answer for any centralized system. There are in fact three distinct phases that you need to master well. So in this lesson, you will learn all the AP has to do in the discovery phase, to discover as many controllers as it can. You will then learn how an AP chooses and joins a controller, then how the AP receives its configuration from the controller.

Lesson 3: Describing AP Modes

An AP can be in different modes while on a controller. These modes have different functions, and different characteristics. This lesson will teach you these modes and what they do, starting with the local mode, and the monitor mode. You will also learn about the other modes: rogue detector, sniffer, and bridge, before spending a few minutes on the FlexConnect mode. This one is important, and this course an entire module dedicated to what happens when an AP is in this mode.

Lesson 4: Configuring RRM

At this point of the course, you should know about RRM, what it is, and what it does. This lesson will show you how you configure RRM on the AireOS controllers and will also show you the different extended options that are available to fine tune RRM behavior.

Lesson 5: Configuring a WLAN

One complexity of controllers is that the WLAN configuration menu contains many options, most of them also related to other parameters configured in other sub-menus of the controller. This lesson will help you navigate the WLAN configuration, and understand what options provides what feature. This lesson will help you make sure that your WLANS implement the right options, so as to provide a secure, but also stable coverage for your wireless clients.

Lesson 6: Configuring Mobility

Mobility is the action of moving from one AP to another, without loss of session or connection. This movement can imply complex interactions when it happens between access points connected to different controllers in different subnets. This lesson will introduce the concept of L2 roaming, L3 roaming, SPG, MA, MC, and mobility groups. You will learn the role that each of these elements play in the roaming choreography, and how to configure your controllers to isolate APs from one another, or to provide a seamless roaming experience where it is needed.

Lesson 7: Configuring Additional Options

Once your centralize controller is configured for WLAN, security and RF optimizations, you will realize that there are options left that provide an even finer control on your wireless cell and its client. For example, you can implement application visibility and control, to provide different bandwidth to your users based on the application they use. You can also recognize the client devices, and provide a different service to Android than Apple devices, or even different bandwidth to Windows 7 than to Windows 10 devices. This lesson will help you configure these advanced options.

Module 9: FlexConnect Wireless Implementations

FlexConnect access points offer a flexible compromise between centralization and autonomous settings. FlexConnect APs can be configured from a central controller while still behaving like autonomous APs whenever needed. This module will help you understand how FlexConnect APs behave, and configure them to communicate through the controller whenever needed, while saving bandwidth when controller communication is not needed.

Lesson 1: Describing FlexConnect Communication Options

FlexConnect APs, like all CAPWAP APs, have both a control plane and a data plane component. In this lesson, you will learn what communication modes are available for each plane.

Lesson 2: Configuring FlexConnect WLAN Options

Once you know what information FlexConnect APs transmit, and where they can transmit it, you are ready to move to the Configuration phase. This lesson will show you how to configure FlexConnect APs to send to the controller traffic that needs to be centrally monitored or managed, while keeping local traffic that needs to survive loss of connection to the main controller.

Lesson 3: Configuring FlexConnect Groups and Options

In some cases, several FlexConnect APs need to function together, to commonly manage client authentication or encryption parameters while roaming, or even coordinate actions such as image upgrade or rogue control. This lesson will show you how to configure FlexConnect groups, and will teach you the various parameters that can be shared at the scale of the group.

Module 10: Converged Access Implementation

In a converged access implementation, wireless and wired networking devices collapse, and your wired Layer 3 switch becomes a Wireless LAN controller for access points connected locally. In that case, the controller is a function of the Cisco IOS operating system. This module will provide the information you need to configure that function, but also ensure seamless roaming between access points connecting to different switches. You will also learns the specifics of converged access topologies, and the differences between Converged Access and Centralized modes.

Lesson 1: Initializing WCM and APs

Just like for centralized topologies, your first step in Converged Access management is to initialize the Wireless Controller Module (WCM) function on the switch. This lesson will show you how you can access the WCM on a switch, how the initial WCM configuration is performed, but will also show you how access points can be set to join the local controller or another controller. You will also learn about the AP license options, and the AP modes available on Converged Access switches.

Lesson 2: Configuring RF Management

Because each switch in your wiring closet can be a controller for wireless Access Point, RF management on Converged Access is a delicate exercise of balancing what has to be local to each switch with functions that should be common to all switches hosting APs in the same RF environment. This lesson will show you which functions are local and which functions are centralized, and will also teach you how to configure efficient RF management on Converged Access.

Lesson 3: Configuring a WLAN

Configuring a WLAN on Converged Access systems is close to the same configuration on Centralized controllers. However, there are some key differences. This lesson will guide you through the steps needed to configure, secure, and configure advanced WLAN options for your Converged Access controller.

Lesson 4: Configuring Mobility

Mobility is a key field where differences between Centralized and Converged Access architectures are striking. Converged Access introduces key different additional concepts to ensure efficient roaming. This lesson will help you navigate through the additional concepts related to roaming on Converged Access controllers, and will show you how to configure efficient roaming parameters.

Lesson 5: Configuring Additional Options

Just like on Centralized controllers, you will learn in this lesson how to configure additional options, such as Application Visibility and Control, local device profiling. You will also learn how to configure automatic options that are more specific to Converged Access controllers, like Lobby load balancing.

Module 11: Client Configuration

Once your wireless infrastructure is configured, wireless clients can connect. As a CCNA Wireless candidate, you are expected to be able to configure most common client operating systems for wireless connection. This module will show you most client interfaces and the configuration steps needed to associate to all types of wireless networks.

Lesson 1: Configuring WLAN Parameter Basics

Most operating systems offer common options for initial configuration choices: are you associating to a broadcasting SSID? Creating a profile for ad-hoc connections? Is it a Personal or Enterprise network? This lesson will show you the logic of these different initial configuration choices of most standard operating systems.

Lesson 2: Configuring OS Clients

This lesson will guide you through the steps needed to configure simple and advanced WLAN parameters on classical operating systems: Windows, MAC OS, Apple IOS, and Android.

Module 12: Wireless Infrastructure Maintenance and Troubleshooting

As a CCNA, you do not need to drill into complex troubleshooting tasks, but you are expected to know how to maintain your systems, managing image upgrades and configurations, and be on the front line when things go wrong. When clients can’t connect, when communications fail, when your APs are in trouble and can’t find their controller, you should know where to look and what to look for. This module will help you get started on this task. I will tell you about the various troubleshooting methods you can use, and also go through the common elements that easily go wrong in a wireless network. It won’t solve everything, but it will get you comfortable with most common cases.

Lesson 1: Maintaining Controllers and Access Points

In this lesson, you will learn to upgrade or downgrade the code of your wireless access points and controllers. The procedures are not identical for autonomous APs, cloud-based APs, IOS XE, or AireOS. This lesson will cover them all.

Lesson 2: Managing Configurations

As someone who is CCNA Wireless certified, you also need to be able to backup and restore the configurations of your systems. This lesson will show you the procedures for configuration management on autonomous APs, on cloud systems, on IOS XE, and AireOS controllers.

Lesson 3: Contrasting Troubleshooting Tools

When things go wrong, and access points or wireless clients display a problematic behavior, you have to know where to look, in order to find clues to solve the troubleshooting puzzle. This lesson will help you navigate the troubleshooting tools at your disposal, and understand what information each of these tools can bring.

Lesson 4: Troubleshooting Issues

Each issue is unique, but many common issues repeat from one network to the next. In this lesson, you will learn common approaches to troubleshooting. We will also examine together common issues that can prevent access points from properly joining controllers, wireless clients from authenticating or roaming.

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Table of contents

  1. Introduction
    1. CCNA Wireless 200-355: Introduction
  2. Module 1: RF Communications
    1. Module 1: RF Communications
  3. Lesson 1: Analyzing RF Propagation
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 1.1 RF Characteristics--Frequency, Amplitude, Phase, Wavelength
    3. 1.2 Changes in RF Wave--Absorption
    4. 1.3 Changes in RF Wave--Refraction
    5. 1.4 Changes in RF Wave--Scattering
    6. 1.5 Changes in RF Wave--Reflection
    7. 1.6 Changes in RF Wave--Free Path Loss and Slow Fading
    8. 1.7 Changes in RF Wave--Line of Sight and the Fresnel Zone
    9. 1.8 Changes in RF Wave--Concerns for Indoor Environments
  4. Lesson 2: Mastering Basic RF Math
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 2.1 Watts, Milliwatts, dBi, dBm
    3. 2.2 Comparing Antenna Power in Terms of dBi and dBd
    4. 2.3 Calculations with Laws of 3s and 10s
    5. 2.4 EIRP
  5. Lesson 3: Measuring RF Signals
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 3.1 Signal Strength
    3. 3.2 SNR
    4. 3.3 Noise vs. Interference
    5. 3.4 Device Capabilities
  6. Lesson 4: Connecting Antennas
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 4.1 Radiation Parameter Chart
    3. 4.2 Antenna Signal and Direction
    4. 4.3 Directional Antennas
    5. 4.4 Omnidirectional Antennas
    6. 4.5 Antenna Signal and Polarization
    7. 4.6 Antenna Effects on EIRP
  7. Lesson 5: Understanding RF Transmission Regulations
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 5.1 Spectrum
    3. 5.2 Regulatory Bodies
    4. 5.3 IEEE and the Wi-Fi Alliance
  8. Module 2: 802.11 Communications
    1. 802.11 Communications
  9. Lesson 1: Describing Spread Spectrum Transmissions
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 1.1 DSSS Transmission
    3. 1.2 DSSS Modulation
    4. 1.3 CCK Encoding
    5. 1.4 OFDM
    6. 1.5 Channels and Overlaps
  10. Lesson 2: Connecting Wi-Fi Devices
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 2.1 IBSS
    3. 2.2 Wi-Fi Direct
    4. 2.3 Infrastructure Mode
    5. 2.4 SSID, BSSID, MBSSID
    6. 2.5 Bridging, Autonomous, Repeater, WGB
    7. 2.6 Mesh, 802.11s
  11. Lesson 3: Accessing the Wireless Medium
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 3.1 CSMA/CA
    3. 3.2 Frame Content and Types
    4. 3.3 Management Frames
    5. 3.4 Control Frames
  12. Lesson 4: Describing 802.11 Speed and Channel Protocols
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 4.1 The Evolution of 802.11 and 802.11b
    3. 4.2 802.11a
    4. 4.3 802.11g
    5. 4.4 802.11n
    6. 4.5 MIMO
    7. 4.6 802.11ac, MU-MIMO
    8. 4.7 802.11 Amendments for Spectrum Efficiency
    9. 4.8 Spectrum Efficiency and Frame Speeds
  13. Module 3: Wi-Fi Site Surveys
    1. Wi-Fi Site Surveys
  14. Lesson 1: Understanding Wi-Fi Application Requirements
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 1.1 Data Coverage
    3. 1.2 Real Time Voice Coverage
    4. 1.3 Real Time Video Coverage
    5. 1.4 Location Services Coverage
  15. Lesson 2: Describing Wi-Fi Site Survey Methodologies
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 2.1 Site Survey Types
    3. 2.2 Offsite Planning
    4. 2.3 Onsite Passive Survey
    5. 2.4 Onsite Active Survey (AP on a Stick)
    6. 2.5 After Deployment: Verify
  16. Lesson 3: Describing Wi-Fi Site Survey Tools
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 3.1 Planning Tool Overview
    3. 3.2 Local Install Planning Tools
    4. 3.3 Server-based Planning Tools
    5. 3.4 Cloud-based Planning Tools
    6. 3.5 Onsite Mapping Tools
    7. 3.6 RF and 802.11 Tools
  17. Module 4: Wi-Fi Security Fundamentals
    1. Wi-Fi Security Fundamentals
  18. Lesson 1: Describing Wi-Fi Security Components
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 1.1 Authentication
    3. 1.2 Encryption
    4. 1.3 IDS/IPS
    5. 1.4 wIPS (Wireless Intrusion Prevention System)
  19. Lesson 2: Describing Authentication Options
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 2.1 Open, WEP, MAC
    3. 2.2 Web Authentication
    4. 2.3 PSK
    5. 2.4 802.1X/EAP
    6. 2.5 Certificates and PKI
    7. 2.6 802.1X/EAP Process
    8. 2.7 Common EAP Types
  20. Lesson 3: Describing Encryption
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 3.1 What Encryption Should You Use?
    3. 3.2 Key Management
    4. 3.3 4-Way Handshakes
  21. Module 5: Cisco Wireless Architectures
    1. Cisco Wireless Architectures
  22. Lesson 1: Contrasting Wireless Architectures
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 1.1 AP Control Options
    3. 1.2 Data and Control Separation
    4. 1.3 APs and Controllers
    5. 1.4 Architectures
  23. Lesson 2: Describing Wired Infrastructure Devices and Functions
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 2.1 Switches and VLANs
    3. 2.2 LAG
    4. 2.3 Split MAC and CAPWAP
    5. 2.4 MA and MC
    6. 2.5 Cisco Wi-Fi Portfolio
  24. Lesson 3: Describing Security Components
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 3.1 ISE Basics
    3. 3.2 TACACS+
    4. 3.3 ISE 1.3 Tour
  25. Lesson 4: Describing Management Components
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 4.1 PI Introduction
    3. 4.2 PI Tour
  26. Lesson 5: Describing Radio Resource Management
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 5.1 RRM Introduction
    3. 5.2 DCA and TPC
    4. 5.3 CHDM
  27. Lesson 6: Describing Radio Enhancements
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 6.1 CleanAir
    3. 6.2 BandSelect
    4. 6.3 ClientLink
  28. Lesson 7: Roaming
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 7.1 Autonomous
    3. 7.2 Groups
    4. 7.3 Roaming Types and Places
    5. 7.4 Initial Connection Choreography
    6. 7.5 Roaming Choreography
    7. 7.6 Tunnel Choreography
  29. Module 6: Autonomous AP Implementation
    1. Autonomous AP Implementation
  30. Lesson 1: Initializing the Access Point
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 1.1 Management Options
    3. 1.2 AP Initialization
  31. Lesson 2: Configuring a WLAN
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 2.1 VLANs
    3. 2.2 Encryption
    4. 2.3 Authentication
    5. 2.4 SSID
    6. 2.5 Radio
  32. Lesson 3: Configuring Advanced Options
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 3.1 ClientLink
    3. 3.2 BandSelect
    4. 3.3 Spectrum Expert Mode
    5. 3.4 IPv6
  33. Module 7: Cloud Wi-Fi Implementation
    1. Cloud Wi-Fi Implementation
  34. Lesson 1: Initializing the Access Point
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 1.1 Initial Setup
    3. 1.2 Cloud Management Overview
  35. Lesson 2: Configuring a WLAN
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 2.1 General Parameters
    3. 2.2 Authentication Options
  36. Lesson 3: Configuring RF Parameters
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 3.1 Channel and Power
    3. 3.2 RF Monitoring
  37. Lesson 4: Configuring Advanced Options
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 4.1 Location
    3. 4.2 Other Parameters
  38. Module 8: Centralized Wireless Implementation
    1. Centralized Wireless Implementation
  39. Lesson 1: Initializing a WLC
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 1.1 AireOS vs IOS XE
    3. 1.2 Access Methods
    4. 1.3 Setup Script: CLI and WLC Express Setup Overview
    5. 1.4 CLI Setup
    6. 1.5 WLC Express Setup
    7. 1.6 Licensing
    8. 1.7 GUI Overview
  40. Lesson 2: Joining a Controller
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 2.1 Discovery Phase
    3. 2.2 Join Phase
    4. 2.3 Configuration Phase
  41. Lesson 3: Describing AP Modes
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 3.1 Local Mode and Monitor Mode
    3. 3.2 Rogue Detector, Sniffer, and Bridge Modes
    4. 3.3 SE Connect Mode and FlexConnect Mode
  42. Lesson 4: Configuring RRM
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 4.1 DCA
    3. 4.2 TPC
    4. 4.3 CHDM
  43. Lesson 5: Configuring a WLAN
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 5.1 General Tab
    3. 5.2 Security Tab
    4. 5.3 QoS Tab
    5. 5.4 Advanced Tab
  44. Lesson 6: Configuring Mobility
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 6.1 Mobility Configuration
    3. 6.2 Mobility Groups
    4. 6.3 New Mobility
    5. 6.4 Anchoring
  45. Lesson 7: Configuring Additional Options
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 7.1 Local EAP
    3. 7.2 ClientLink, BandSelect
    4. 7.3 AVC
    5. 7.4 Local Profiling
  46. Module 9: FlexConnect Wireless Implementation
    1. FlexConnect Wireless Implementation
  47. Lesson 1: Describing FlexConnect Communication Options
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 1.1 Data Plane
    3. 1.2 Control Plane
  48. Lesson 2: Configuring FlexConnect WLAN Options
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 2.1 Local Switching
    3. 2.2 Authentication
  49. Lesson 3: Configuring FlexConnect Groups and Options
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 3.1 Why Use Groups
    3. 3.2 FlexGroup Creation
    4. 3.3 FlexGroup Authentication and Key Caching
    5. 3.4 Smart Upgrades
  50. Module 10: Converged Access Implementation
    1. Converged Access Implementation
  51. Lesson 1: Initializing WCM and APs
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 1.1 Access Methods
    3. 1.2 Setup Script
    4. 1.3 GUI Express Setup
    5. 1.4 Enabling Wireless
    6. 1.5 Licensing
    7. 1.6 GUI Overview
  52. Lesson 2: Configuring RF Management
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 2.1 RRM General Configuration
    3. 2.2 RRM: MC vs. MA Roles
  53. Lesson 3: Configuring a WLAN
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 3.1 General Tab
    3. 3.2 Security Tab
    4. 3.3 QoS and Advanced Tabs
  54. Lesson 4: Configuring Mobility
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 4.1 MA Configuration
    3. 4.2 MC, SPG Configuration
    4. 4.3 Mobility Group Configuration
  55. Lesson 5: Configuring Additional Options
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 5.1 Lobby Load Balance
    3. 5.2 802.1X/EAP
    4. 5.3 Local EAP
    5. 5.4 BandSelect, ClientLink
    6. 5.5 AVC
    7. 5.6 Local Profiling
  56. Module 11: Client Configuration
    1. Client Configuration
  57. Lesson 1: Configuring WLAN Parameter Basics
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 1.1 SSID: Broadcast or Hidden?
    3. 1.2 Operation Mode: Infrastructure or Ad Hoc?
    4. 1.3 Security: Home or Enterprise?
  58. Lesson 2: Configuring OS Clients
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 2.1 Windows: Ad Hoc
    3. 2.2 Windows: Infrastructure
    4. 2.3 Mac OS
    5. 2.4 Apple iOS
    6. 2.5 Android
  59. Module 12: Wireless Infrastructure Maintenance and Troubleshooting
    1. Wireless Infrastructure Maintenance and Troubleshooting
  60. Lesson 1: Maintaining Controllers and Access Points
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 1.1 Image Upgrade: Autonomous
    3. 1.2 Image Upgrade: Cloud
    4. 1.3 Image Upgrade: IOS XE
    5. 1.4 Image Upgrade: AireOS and FlexConnect
  61. Lesson 2: Managing Configurations
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 2.1 Config Backup and Restore: Autonomous
    3. 2.2 Config Backup and Restore: Cloud
    4. 2.3 Config Backup and Restore: IOS-XE
    5. 2.4 Config Backup and Restore: AireOS
  62. Lesson 3: Contrasting Troubleshooting Tools
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 3.1 OS-Based Utilities
    3. 3.2 Wi-Fi Scanners
    4. 3.3 Packet Analyzers
    5. 3.4 Spectrum Analyzers
    6. 3.5 WLC GUI: Monitor Pages
    7. 3.6 WLC GUI: Logs, SNMP Traps
    8. 3.7 WLC CLI: show Commands
  63. Lesson 4: Troubleshooting Issues
    1. Learning objectives
    2. 4.1 Techniques
    3. 4.2 AP Issues: Bottom-Up Approach
    4. 4.3 AP Issues: AP Join Problems
    5. 4.4 AP Issues: Country and Data and Time Settings
    6. 4.5 WLAN Issues: Common Problems
    7. 4.6 WLAN Issues: No Clients on an AP
    8. 4.7 WLAN Issues: Clients Disabled/Excluded
    9. 4.8 WLAN Issues: Interface/Security Settings
    10. 4.9 Mobility Issues
  64. Summary
    1. CCNA Wireless 200-355: Summary

Product information

  • Title: CCNA Wireless 200-355
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: November 2015
  • Publisher(s): Pearson
  • ISBN: 0134387775