CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Questions and Answers

The most likely cause of higher airtime utilization on the first 20 MHz of the 80 MHz channel is non-Wi-Fi interference. Non-Wi-Fi interference can prevent an AP from using its full channel width, as it will degrade the signal quality and increase the noise floor on some parts of the channel. This will force the AP to fall back to a narrower channel width, such as 20 MHz or 40 MHz, to maintain communication with its clients. The waterfall plot can help identify non-Wi-Fi interference by showing spikes or bursts of RF energy on specific frequencies or sub-channels. The other options are not correct, as they do not explain why only the first 20 MHz of the channel has higher airtime utilization. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide], Chapter 3: Spectrum Analysis, page 74-75

The difference between a Data frame and a QoS-Data frame is that QoS Data frames include a QoS control field. A Data frame is a type of data frame that is used to carry user data or upper layer protocol data between STAs and APs. A QoS Data frame is a type of data frame that is used to carry user data or upper layer protocol data between STAs and APs that support QoS (Quality of Service) features. QoS features allow different types of traffic to be prioritized and handled differently according to their QoS requirements, such as delay, jitter, throughput, etc. QoS Data frames include a QoS control field in their MAC header, which contains information such as traffic identifier (TID), queue size (TXOP), acknowledgment policy (ACK), etc., that are used for QoS purposes. The other options are not correct, as they do not describe the difference between Data and QoS Data frames. QoS Data frames do not include a DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point) control field, which is part of the IP header in the network layer, not the MAC header in the data link layer. QoS Data frames do not include a QoS information element (IE), which is part of some management frames that indicate QoS capabilities or parameters, not data frames. QoS Data frames do not include an 802.1Q VLAN tag, which is part of some Ethernet frames that indicate VLAN membership or priority, not wireless frames. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 5: 802.11 MAC Sublayer, page 118-119

The function of the PHY preamble is to allow the receiver to detect and synchronize with the signal. The PHY preamble is a part of the PPDU that is transmitted before the PHY header and the PSDU. The PHY preamble consists of a series of training fields that help the receiver to adjust its parameters, such as frequency, timing, and gain, to match the incoming signal. The PHY preamble also helps the receiver to estimate the channel conditions and noise level. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 4: 802.11 Physical Layer, page 99-100

The beamformee transmits a Feedback Matrix within the Compressed Beamforming frame to the beamformer. The Feedback Matrix contains information about the channel state between the beamformee and each spatial stream of the beamformer. This information is used by the beamformer to adjust its transmit weights and optimize its signal for the beamformee34. References: CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter 11: 802.11n/ac/ax PHYsical Layer Frame Exchanges, page 4033; CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter 11: 802.11n/ac/ax PHYsical Layer Frame Exchanges, page 4064.

Observing the problem is the most important step in the WLAN troubleshooting methodology among those listed. This step involves capturing and analyzing the relevant data from the wireless network, such as packets, frames, spectrum, and performance metrics. Observing the problem helps to verify the existence and scope of the issue, identify the root cause and possible solutions, and validate the results of any actions taken. The other steps are also important, but they are not as critical as observing the problem12 References:

• CWAP-404 Study Guide, Chapter 1: Troubleshooting Methodology, page 15
• CWAP-404 Objectives, Section 1.2: Observe the problem

The function of the PHY layer is to convert PSDUs to PPDUs for transmissions and PPDUs to PSDUs for receptions. A PSDU (PHY Service Data Unit) is the data unit that is passed from the MAC layer to the PHY layer for transmission, or from the PHY layer to the MAC layer for reception. A PPDU (PHY Protocol Data Unit) is the data unit that is transmitted or received over the wireless medium by the PHY layer. A PPDU consists of a PSDU and a PHY header, which contains information such as modulation, coding, and data rate. The PHY layer adds or removes the PHY header to or from the PSDU during the conversion process. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 4: 802.11 Physical Layer, page 97-98

The STA is discovering a list of available BSSs by sending a Probe Request with an empty SSID element. This is also known as a broadcast Probe Request, as it does not specify any particular SSID to probe for. Any AP that receives this Probe Request will respond with a Probe Response containing its own SSID and other information about its BSS. This way, the STA can learn about all the BSSs in its vicinity and choose which one to associate with . References: CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter 6: MAC Sublayer Frame Exchanges, page 191; CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter 6: MAC Sublayer Frame Exchanges, page 193.

The To DS and From DS flags should be set to 0 in an Association Response frame. An Association Response frame is a type of management frame that is transmitted by an AP to accept or reject an association request from a STA. The To DS (To Distribution System) and From DS (From Distribution System) flags are two bits in the Frame Control field of the MAC header that indicate whether a frame is destined for or originated from the DS (Distribution System), which is a system that connects multiple BSSs together. The To DS and From DS flags can have four possible combinations: 00, 01, 10, or 11. For an Association Response frame, which is sent from an AP to a STA within a BSS, both flags should be set to 0. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 5: 802.11 MAC Sublayer, page 121-122

The best way to test the theory of microwave interference from the New York office is to use a remote spectrum analyzer. By placing one of the London APs into spectrum analyzer mode, you can capture and analyze the RF spectrum in the London office over lunch time. You can then look for any signs of microwave interference, such as high duty cycle, high amplitude, or frequency hopping on the 2.4 GHz band. This method does not require any physical access tothe microwave or any changes to its frequency. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide], Chapter 3: Spectrum Analysis, page 64

The default 802.11 authentication method for a STA when using Pre-RSNA is Open System. This is the simplest and most common authentication method, which does not provide any security or encryption. In Open System authentication, the STA sends an Authentication Request frame to the AP, and the AP responds with an Authentication Response frame with a status code of success. After this, the STA can proceed to association with the AP . References: CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter 6: MAC Sublayer Frame Exchanges, page 181; CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter 6: MAC Sublayer Frame Exchanges, page 183.

One of the information that is communicated by bits in the PHY header is data rate. Data rate is the speed at which data is transmitted or received over the wireless medium. Data rate depends on factors such as modulation, coding, channel width, spatial streams, and guard interval. Data rate is indicated by bits in different fields of the PHY header, depending on the type of PPDU (e.g., OFDM, HT, VHT, HE). The receiver uses these bits to determine how to decode and demodulate the rest of the PPDU. The other options are not correct, as they are not communicated by bits in the PHY header. SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio), noise, and signal strengthare measured by the receiver based on its own capabilities and environment. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 4: 802.11 Physical Layer, page 101-105

Two frames are exchanged for 802.11 authentication in the 6 GHz band when WPA3-Enterprise is not used, and a passphrase is used instead. Authentication is a process that establishes an identity relationship between a STA (station) and an AP (access point) before joining a BSS (Basic Service Set). There are two types of authentication methods defined by 802.11: Open System Authentication and Shared Key Authentication. Open System Authentication does not require any credentials or security information from a STA to join a BSS, and it consists of two frames: an Authentication Request frame sent by the STA to the AP, and an Authentication Response frame sent by the AP to the STA. Shared Key Authentication requires a shared secret key from a STA to join a BSS, and it consists of four frames: two challenge-response frames in addition to the request-response frames. However, Shared Key Authentication uses WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) as its encryption algorithm, which is insecure and deprecated. In the 6 GHz band, which is a newly available frequency band for WLANs, Shared Key Authentication is prohibited by the 802.11 standard, as it poses security and interference risks for other users and services in the band. The 6 GHz band requires all WLANs to use WPA3-Personal or WPA3-Enterprise encryption methods, which are more secure and robust than previous encryption methods such as WPA2 or WEP. WPA3-Personal uses a passphrase to derive a PMK (Pairwise Master Key), while WPA3-Enterprise uses an authentication server to obtain a PMK. Both methods use SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) as their authentication protocol, which replaces PSK (Pre-Shared Key) or EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol). SAE consists of two frames: an SAE Commit frame sent by both parties to exchange elliptic curve parameters and nonces, and an SAE Confirm frame sent by both parties to verify each other’s identities and generate a PMK. Therefore, when WPA3-Enterprise is not used, and a passphrase is used instead in the 6 GHz band, only two frames are exchanged for 802.11 authentication: an SAECommit frame and an SAE Confirm frame. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 8: Security Analysis, page 220-221

Real-time packet decodes are not a consideration when configuring a long-term, forensic packet capture and saving all packets to disk. Real-time packet decodes are useful for live analysis and troubleshooting, but they consume CPU and memory resources that could affect the performance of the capture process. For a long-term, forensic packet capture, it is more important to consider the analyzer location, the total capture storage space, and the individual trace file size. These factors affect the quality and quantity of the captured packets and the ease of post-capture analysis34 References:

• CWAP-404 Study Guide, Chapter 2: Protocol Analysis, page 49
• CWAP-404 Objectives, Section 2.1: Configure protocol analyzers

The interframe space that would be expected between a CTS (Clear to Send) and a Data frame is SIFS (Short Interframe Space). A SIFS is the shortest interframe space that is used for high-priority transmissions, such as ACKs (Acknowledgements), CTSs, or data frames that are part of a fragmentation or aggregation process. A SIFS is a fixed value that depends on the PHY type and channel width. A CTS and a Data frame are part of a virtual carrier sense mechanism called RTS/CTS (Request to Send/Clear to Send), which is used to avoid collisions and hidden node problems in wireless transmissions. When a STA (station) wants to send a data frame, it first sends an RTS frame to the intended receiver, indicating the duration of the transmission. The receiver then responds with a CTS frame, also indicating the duration of the transmission. The other STAs in the vicinity hear either the RTS or the CTS frame and update their NAV (Network Allocation Vector) timers accordingly, deferring their access to the medium until the transmission is over. The sender then sends the data frame after waiting for a SIFS, followed by an ACK frame from the receiver after another SIFS. The other options are not correct, as they are not used between a CTS and a Data frame. A PIFS (PCF Interframe Space) is used for medium access by the PCF (Point Coordination Function), which is an optional and rarely implemented polling-based mechanism that provides contention-free service for time-sensitive traffic. An AIFS (Arbitration Interframe Space) is used for medium access by different ACs (Access Categories), which are logical queues that correspond to different QoS (Quality of Service) levels for different types of traffic. An AIFS is a variable interframe space that depends on the AIFSN (Arbitration Interframe Space Number) value of each AC. A DIFS (Distributed Interframe Space) is used for medium access by the DCF (Distributed Coordination Function), which is the default and mandatory contention-based mechanism that provides best-effort service for normal traffic. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 6: 802.11 Frame Exchanges, page 166-167; Chapter 7: QoS Analysis, page 194-195

If the SSID element has a length of 0 in a Beacon frame decode, it means that the beacon is from a BSS configured to hide the SSID. The SSID element is a part of the Beacon frame that contains the name or identifier of the BSS. The SSID element has two fields: length and value. The length field indicates how many bytes are used for the value field, which contains the actual SSID string. If the length field is 0, it means that there is no value field or SSID string in the element. This is a common technique used by some APs to hide their SSID from passive scanning clients or potential attackers. However, this technique does not provide much security, as there are other ways to discover or reveal the hidden SSID, such as active scanning or capturing probe response or association frames. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 5: 802.11 MAC Sublayer, page 122-123