Free Practice Questions for CWNP CWNA-109 Exam

It is a channel that may require DFS when used is an important fact that should be considered about channel 128. Channel 128 is a 5 GHz frequency band 20 MHz channel that has a center frequency of 5.64 GHz. Channel 128 is one of the channels that are subject to DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) rules, which require Wi-Fi devices to monitor and avoid using channels that are occupied by radar systems or other primary users. DFS is a feature that is defined in the IEEE 802.11h amendment and is mandated by some regulatory bodies, such as the FCC and the ETSI, to protect the licensed users of the 5 GHz band from interference by unlicensed Wi-Fi devices. DFS works by using a mechanism called channel availability check (CAC), which requires Wi-Fi devices to scan a channel for a certain period of time before using it. If a radar signal is detected during the CAC or while using the channel, the Wi-Fi devices must switch to another channel that is free from radar interference.

When configuring an access point to use channel 128, it is important to consider the implications of DFS rules, such as:

The access point must support DFS and comply with the local regulations and standards that apply to DFS channels.

The access point may experience delays or interruptions in its operation due to CAC or channel switching.

The access point may have limited channel selection or availability due to radar interference or other Wi-Fi devices using DFS channels.

The access point may have compatibility or interoperability issues with some client devices that do not support DFS or use different DFS parameters.

The access point may have performance or quality issues due to co-channel or adjacent-channel interference from other Wi-Fi devices using non-DFS channels.

Therefore, it is advisable to use channel 128 only when necessary and after performing a thorough site survey and spectrum analysis to determine the best channel for the access point. References: 1, Chapter 3, page 117; 2, Section 3.2

SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) is required when operating 802.11ax APs in the 6 GHz band using passphrase-based authentication. SAE is a secure and robust authentication method that is defined in the IEEE 802.11s amendment and is also known as WPA3-Personal or WPA3-SAE. SAE is based on a cryptographic technique called Dragonfly Key Exchange, which allows two parties to establish a shared secret key using a passphrase, without revealing the passphrase or the key to an eavesdropper or an attacker. SAE also provides forward secrecy, which means that if the passphrase or the key is compromised in the future, it does not affect the security of past communications.

SAE is required when operating 802.11ax APs in the 6 GHz band using passphrase-based authentication because of the new regulations and standards that apply to this band. The 6 GHz band is a new frequency band that was opened for unlicensed use by the FCC and other regulatory bodies in 2020. The 6 GHz band offers more spectrum and less interference than the existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, which can enable higher performance and efficiency for Wi-Fi devices. However, the 6 GHz band also has some restrictions and requirements that are different from the other bands, such as:

The 6 GHz band is divided into two sub-bands: U-NII-5 (5925-6425 MHz) and U-NII-7 (6525-6875 MHz). The U-NII-5 sub-band is subject to DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) rules, which require Wi-Fi devices to monitor and avoid using channels that are occupied by radar systems or other primary users. The U-NII-7 sub-band is not subject to DFS rules, but it has a lower maximum transmit power limit than the U-NII-5 sub-band.

The Wi-Fi devices that operate in the 6 GHz band are called 6E devices, which stands for Extended Spectrum. 6E devices must support 802.11ax technology, which is also known as Wi-Fi 6 or High Efficiency (HE). 802.11ax is a new standard that improves the performance and efficiency of Wi-Fi networks by using features such as OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access), MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output), BSS Coloring, TWT (Target Wake Time), and HE PHY and MAC enhancements.

The 6E devices that operate in the 6 GHz band must also support WPA3 security, which is a new security protocol that replaces WPA2 and provides stronger encryption and authentication for Wi-Fi networks. WPA3 has two modes: WPA3-Personal and WPA3-Enterprise. WPA3-Personal uses SAE as its authentication method, which requires a passphrase to establish a secure connection between two devices. WPA3-Enterprise uses EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) as its authentication method, which requires a certificate or a credential to authenticate with a server.

Therefore, SAE is required when operating 802.11ax APs in the 6 GHz band using passphrase-based authentication because it is part of WPA3-Personal security, which is mandatory for 6E devices in this band. References: , Chapter 3, page 120; , Section 3.2

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The final step in an effective troubleshooting process is to document the results. Documentation is essential for keeping track of the problem history, the actions taken, the solutions implemented, and the outcomes achieved. Documentation can also help to prevent future problems, improve best practices, and provide feedback for improvement. Documentation should include relevant information such as problem description, symptoms, root cause analysis, resolution steps, verification methods, and lessons learned. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-109], page 513; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-109], page 483.

“Effective, or Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) is the maximum amount of power that could be radiated from an antenna, given its antenna gain and the transmitter power of the RF system.”

Also: “Effective Isotropic Radiated Power or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) is the measured power radiated in a single direction by an ideal isotropic antenna. … It is the antenna’s maximum power output in the direction with the highest antenna gain.”

What is always required to establish a high quality 2.4 GHz RF link at a distance of 3 miles (5 kilometers) is a Fresnel Zone that is at least 60% clear of obstructions. The Fresnel Zone is an elliptical-shaped area around the line-of-sight path between two antennas that reflects and refracts the RF waves. The Fresnel Zone radius depends on the frequency of the RF signal and the distance between the antennas. For optimal performance, the Fresnel Zone should be at least 60% clear of any obstructions that may cause interference, attenuation, or multipath fading. The minimum output power level, antenna gain, and antenna type may vary depending on the environmental conditions and regulatory constraints, but they are not always required for a high quality RF link. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-109], page 75; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-109], page 65.

Sensors should be deployed in critical areas where WLAN performance must be high for best results when using a WLAN monitoring solution that utilizes distributed sensor devices. A WLAN monitoring solution is a system that collects, analyzes, and reports on the status and performance of a WLAN. A WLAN monitoring solution can use different methods to gather data from the WLAN, such as embedded software agents, external hardware probes, or distributed sensor devices. Distributed sensor devices are dedicated devices that are deployed throughout the WLAN coverage area to monitor the wireless traffic and environment. Distributed sensor devices can perform various functions, such as scanning the spectrum, capturing wireless frames, measuring signal quality, detecting rogue access points, testing connectivity, and generating alerts. Distributed sensor devices can provide more accurate and comprehensive data than other methods, but they also require more planning and deployment costs. Therefore, it is important to deploy sensors strategically in critical areas where WLAN performance must be high, such as high-density zones, high-priority applications, or high-security locations. By deploying sensors in critical areas, the WLAN monitoring solution can ensure optimal WLAN performance and reliability in those areas and identify and resolve any issues or problems that may arise. The other options are not the best places to deploy sensors for best results. Deploying sensors in switching closets is not effective because sensors need to be close to the wireless medium to monitor it properly. Deploying sensors every 5 meters and alongside each AP is not efficient because sensors may overlap or interfere with each other and cause unnecessary redundancy or complexity. Deploying sensors above the plenum on each floor is not practical because sensors may not capture the wireless traffic and environment accurately due to attenuation or reflection from the ceiling materials or objects. References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 14: Troubleshooting Wireless LANs, page 4831

Passive Gain is the increase of RF energy in an intentional direction with the use of an antenna. It is achieved by focusing the same amount of power into a smaller area, resulting in a higher power density and a stronger signal. Passive Gain does not require any additional power or amplification, but rather depends on the antenna’s physical characteristics, such as size, shape, and orientation. Passive Gain is also expressed in decibels (dB) and is related to the antenna’s beamwidth and directivity. References: 1, Chapter 2, page 63; 2, Section 2.3

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The clients are all 802.11n STAs or lower is the likely cause of this behavior. If a WLAN with 100 802.11ac access points is configured to use 80 MHz channels, but only 40 MHz communications are seen in a particular BSS, it means that the clients in that BSS do not support 80 MHz channels. This could be because they are using older standards, such as 802.11n or lower, that do not support 80 MHz channels. Alternatively, they could be using newer standards, such as 802.11ac or ax, but have their channel width settings limited to 40 MHz or lower due to device capabilities or configuration options. In either case, the AP will adapt to the client’s channel width and use only 40 MHz of the 80 MHz allocated bandwidth to communicate with them. This will reduce the potential throughput and efficiency of the WLAN. References: , Chapter 3, page 111; , Section 3.2

 The cipher suite specified by the 802.11-2016 standard and is not deprecated is Counter Mode with CBC-MAC Protocol (CCMP). CCMP is an encryption protocol that uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) as the underlying cipher and provides confidentiality, integrity, and origin authentication for wireless data. CCMP is the mandatory encryption protocol for WPA2 and WPA3. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-109], page 295; [IEEE Standard for Information technology–Telecommunications and information exchange between systems Local and metropolitan area networks–Specific requirements - Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications], page 1560.