Wireless

• When a connection between source and destination is established through radio

frequency signal is termed as Wireless Network. In wireless communication data
travels in air.
• Communication without any physical connectivity.
o Wired –IEEE- 802.3
o Wireless- 802.11

Requirement of wireless media:-

1) Mini Devices:- Smart Phone , Remote Controller

2) Mobility :- Those can carry any where
a. Example :- laptop
• Wireless data is travel in form of Frequency

o Radio Frequency: The RF (Radio Frequency) is the combination of

Electromagnetic waves (electric and magnetic signals). Electromagnetic
waves don’t travel in straight direction. Waves are expanded and travel in all
directions.

▪ When one wave completes one up and one down circle so it is known
as one Cycle. It can also be represented in from where one wave
starts from one peak and finishes at next peak so, one complete circle
or one sequence is called cyclic pattern.
▪ Frequency = 4 cycle / second
▪ Frequency = 4 hertz
.

▪ Its means that when a wave complete for 4 cyclic circle per second it
complete one Frequency.
 ▪ As distance increase limit of wireless network also increase and range
of numbers is also depends on increasing distance. To memories unit
with large numbers is hard for user, so we modified unit name to keep
it simple way.

• Table – Frequency Unit Name

Unit Meaning Abbreviation

Hertz Cycles per Second Hz

Kilohertz 1000 Hz kHz

Megahertz 1,000,000 Hz MHz

Gigahertz 1,000,000,000 Hz GHz

o The Frequency range between 3 kHz to 300 GHz is terms called Micro wave
and Radder .The micro wave category also contains the two main frequency
ranges that are used for wireless LAN communication: 2.4 and 5GHz.
o Wave length = Length of wave
▪ It is directly proportional to distance
▪ 2.4 GHz = 2.4 * 10^9 cycle/sec (wavelength more means number of
cycles is more)
▪ 5GHz= 5*10^9 cycle/sec

• Amplitude: - It is use to increase power of Frequency.

Wireless Bands and channels

A range of IP address is representing by Network ID. Just like “A group of frequency is

known a Wireless Band”.

There are two types of bands commonly LAN wireless Network use that are:

a) 2.4 –GHz Band: The range of this band lies between 2.400 and 2.4835 GHz is
represent by 2.4-GHz. Example: 2.412, 2.417, 2.442, 2.452, 2.484 all frequency are
part of one band that represent is 2.4–GHz Band. Total 14 frequencies in 2.4 GHz.
b) 5-GHz : The range of this band lies between 5.150 and 5.825 GHz. In this band
contain four separate bands:
i) 5.150 to 5.250 GHz
ii) 5.250 to 5.350 GHz
iii) 5.470 to 5.725 GHz
iv) 5.725 to 5.825 GHz

Note: - You do not need to learn the name of particular frequency. You just aware with
name of bands name 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz.

o Non over lapping

o Over lapping

• AP(Access-Point)
It is a wireless network device which is used to connect different devices like Computer,
Laptop, Switch, etc. to make communication possible and Share data.

There are some parameters by which we identify an Access point

a) SSID: It is a short form for Service Set Identifier. Every AP (Access point) uses a
unique name or logical name as an identity, so that the devices can find it and
connect to it. One AP can have Multiple SSIDs. It is locally unique ID but could be
same in different network.
• Example: NB Network

b) BSSID: It is a sort form for Basic Service Set Identifier. The term which is used to
represent Access point Mac Address is called BSSID.
• Example: a2:e4:r5:8u:9r:50

c) BSS: It stands for Basic Service Set. Every access point have range or radius called
Basic Service Set. Any device that wants to connect to the AP must fall in the BSS.
 The Access Point is like the heart of BSS. In a BSS devices are directly connected to
AP with help of SSID (NB Network) and BSSID (a2:e4:45:76:d6:r6).

o Let’s suppose host A wants to connect with host B so it must first connect
with Access Point

1) Host A cannot directly get connected with host B. They both can communicate
via AP.
2) It not possible to Host A directly connect with host B. Why? Because then the
whole idea to create and maintain the BSS is debatable.

IBSS (Independent Basic Service Set)

• As the name suggests this basic services set is independent of the AP, that is, two
wireless clients can communicate with each other directly without getting connect to
AP. This is also known as Ad-HOC Wireless Network.
• One of the wireless clients behave like an AP as it advertises the network name and
the required radio parameters. The other devices can then join as required.

a) Unidirectional Communication

• When a sender and a receiver communicate only in one direction through radio
frequency (or channel) then this type of communication is called unidirectional
Communication. A device can only be either a sender or a receiver.
o Example: Simplex Mode

b) Bidirectional Communication

• When a two device communicate in both the ways but one at a time through
frequency (or channel) is called Bidirectional Communication. A device cannot be a
sender as well as a receiver simultaneously.
o Example: half Duplex

DSS( Distribution System):-

In BSS multiple devices are directly connected to AP with the help of radio frequency, AP
also manages BSS, but this is not the sole work of AP. The devices which are connected to
AP also need Internet connectivity. AP has both wireless and wired capabilities. With the
help of wired (Ethernet Media) AP connect with uplink networks and that uplink network is
called Distribution System (DS) .This standard is refers by 802.11 to connect with upstream
with wireless BSS.

The AP holds the responsibility of mapping a VLAN to a SSID. The AP map the VLAN 10
to the wireless LAN which is using SSID- NB NETWORK

Clients who are associated with the SSID (NB NETWORK) will be connected to VLAN 10.

Also, multiple vlan can be mapped to multiple SSID. TO achieve this AP must be connected
to the switch with the trunk link that will be caring the VLAN. The AP looks like multiple
logical AP, one per BSS having a unique BSS ID for each.

In the case of cisco AP it is done by incrementing the last digit of the mac address for each
SSID.

ESS (Extended Service Set)

One AP cannot cover the entire geographical area where the wireless clients are located. So,
in order to cover the entire geographical area we need to add more AP’s so that the entire
wireless client could join the available BSS. In this way we are extending the services set for
the client.

Types of AP (Access-Point)

1) Autonomous Access Point :-

a. This are stand alone AP
b. Everything is configured on AP
c. Acl , DHCP , MAC-Filtering
• There are three different layers in Architecture.
1) Core layer
a. Multilayer Switch→ (4500,6500)
b. ASA, Router
2) Distribution Layer → Provide connectivity between Core layer and Access
layer
a. Switches L3 → (3850 , 3750)
b. Routing , L2 switches , etherchannel
c. Server connectivity
3) Access layer
a. Normal layer 2 switches
b. 2450 , 3550 , 3560 , 2460
c. Host connectivity
• Lightweight AP
o Those are managed by Wireless LAN Controller.
o Split Mac Architecture

• WLC (Wireless LAN Controller)

o It is a device that is use to control and manage the APs. All the management
function like specifying Channel, maintaining the association tables, creating
SSID etc. is performs by the WLC. The remaining data plane work is carried
out by the AP itself. The messages between the WLC and the AP is exchanged
through a tunnel named CAPWAP (Control and Provisioning of Wireless
Access Points)
 • Summary of WLC Deployment Models

Deployment WLC APs Clients Typical Use

Location(DC,Access,Central,AP) Supported
Model

Unified Central 6000 64,000 Large

enterprise

Cloud DC 3000 32,000 Private

Cloud

Embedded Access 200 4000 Small

campus

Mobility Other 100 2000 Branch

Express location

• CAPWAP Control plane tunnel→ UDP 5246

• CAPWAP Data Plan Tunnel → UDP 5247

Wireless Security

• Security Provide some parameters

o Authentication: - To authenticate the user (who are you).
o Message Integrity: - Calculate a Hash value over data to check data
is real or not. (Like checksum).
o Encryption: - To convert plain text into Cipher Text.
• To Authenticate User
o Open Authentication
o Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
o 802.1x/EAP:- Username / password
o MAB:- Mac address
o LEAP
o EAP-FAST
• To encrypt the data
o WPA
o WPA2
o WPA3
▪ TKIP

MIC → Hashing Algorithm