CWNP CWNP Certifications CWAP-404 Questions & Answers

• Question 31:

  You have installed a new 802.1 lac WLAN configured with 80 MHz channels. Users in one area are complaining about poor performance. This area is currently served by a single AP. You take a spectrum analysis capture in the poor performing area. While examining the waterfall plot you notice the airtime utilization is higher on the first 20 MHz of the 80 MHz channel when compared to the rest of the channel. What do you conclude?

  A. The AP is misconfigured and needs to be reconfigured to 80 MHz operation

  B. Non-Wi-Fi interference is preventing the APs 80 MHz operation

  C. The first 20 MHz is the AP's primary channel and higher airtime utilization on the primary channel is normal when an AP is configured for 80 MHz operation

  D. RRM is enabled and has dynamically picked a 20 MHz channel

  Correct Answer: B

  Explanation: 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

• Question 32:

  Which one of the following is not a valid acknowledgement frame?

  A. RTS

  B. CTS

  C. Ack

  D. Block Ack

  Correct Answer: A

  Explanation: RTS is not a valid acknowledgement frame. RTS stands for Request To Send, and it is a control frame that is used to initiate an RTS/CTS exchange before sending a data frame. The purpose of an RTS/CTS exchange is to reserve the medium for a data transmission and avoid collisions with hidden nodes. An acknowledgement frame is a control frame that is used to confirm the successful reception of a data frame or a block of data frames. The valid acknowledgement frames are CTS (Clear To Send), Ack (Acknowledgement), and Block Ack (Block Acknowledgement) . References: CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter 6: MAC Sublayer Frame Exchanges, page 186; CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter 6: MAC Sublayer Frame Exchanges, page 187; CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter 6: MAC Sublayer Frame Exchanges, page 189; CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter 6: MAC Sublayer Frame Exchanges, page 190.

• Question 33:

  What interframe space would be expected between a CIS and a Data frame?

  A. PIFS

  B. AIFS

  C. DIFS

  D. SIFS

  Correct Answer: D

  Explanation: 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

• Question 34:

  What is the default 802.11 authentication method for a STA when using Pre-RSNA?

  A. Open System

  B. Shared Key

  C. 4-Way Handshake

  D. PSK

  Correct Answer: A

  Explanation: 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.

• Question 35:

  Given: The Frame Check Sequence (FCS) is a 32 CRC used for error detection.

  The CRC is calculated over what?

  A. Mac Header and Frame Body only

  B. Frame Body only

  C. PHY Header, MAC Header and Frame Body

  D. PHY Header and Mac Header only

  Correct Answer: A

  Explanation: The CRC is calculated over the MAC Header and Frame Body only. The CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) is a 32-bit value that is used for error detection in wireless transmissions. The CRC is calculated over the MAC Header and Frame Body of a PSDU, which are the parts of the data unit that contain information such as source and destination addresses, frame type, frame control, sequence number, payload, etc. The CRC is appended to the end of the PSDU as a FCS (Frame Check Sequence) field. The CRC is not calculated over the PHY Header or PHY Preamble, which are parts of the PPDU that contain information such as modulation, coding, data rate, etc. The PHY Header and PHY Preamble are added or removed by the PHY layer during the conversion between PSDU and PPDU. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 4: 802.11 Physical Layer, page 97-98

• Question 36:

  After examining a Beacon frame decode you see the SSID Element has a length of 0. What do you conclude about this frame?

  A. The frame is corrupted

  B. SSID elements always have a length of 0

  C. This is a common attack on WISP backend SQL databases

  D. The beacon is from a BSS configured to hide the SSID

  Correct Answer: D

  Explanation: 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

• Question 37:

  Which one of the following is not an 802.11 Management frame?

  A. PS-Poll

  B. Action

  C. Beacon

  D. Authentication

  Correct Answer: A

  Explanation: A PS-Poll (Power Save Poll) frame is not an 802.11 management frame. A PS-Poll frame is a type of control frame that is used by a STA in power save mode to request data frames from an AP. A STA in power save mode can conserve battery power by periodically sleeping and waking up. When a STA sleeps, it cannot receive any data frames from the AP, so it informs the AP of its power save status by setting a bit in its MAC header. The AP then buffers any data frames destined for the sleeping STA until it wakes up. When a STA wakes up, it sends a PS-Poll frame to the AP, indicating its association ID and requesting any buffered data frames. The AP thenresponds with one or more data frames, followed by an ACK or BA frame from the STA. The other options are not correct, as they are types of 802.11 management frames. An Action frame is used to perform various management actions, such as spectrum management, QoS management, radio measurement, etc. A Beacon frame is used to advertise the presence and capabilities of an AP or BSS. An Authentication frame is used to establish or terminate an authentication relationship between a STA and an AP. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 6: 802.11 Frame Exchanges, page 169-170

• Question 38:

  Why would a STA that supports 802.11k Radio Measurement send a Neighbor Request to an AP?

  A. To learn about neighboring interference sources and tune its RF radio accordingly

  B. To inform the current AP about the STA's intent to roam to a neighboring AP, ensuring a seamless handover

  C. To request a list of neighboring APs which the STA can use as roaming candidates

  D. To request a list of neighboring STAs which enables the STA to better pick the right protection mechanisms

  Correct Answer: C

  Explanation: A STA that supports 802.11k Radio Measurement would send a Neighbor Request to an AP to request a list of neighboring APs which the STA can use as roaming candidates. A Neighbor Request is an Action frame that contains a subelement specifying the type of information that the STA wants to receive from the AP. A Neighbor Report is an Action frame that contains a subelement with a list of neighboring APs that match the criteria specified in the Neighbor Request. The Neighbor Report provides information such as BSSID, channel, operating class, and PHY type of each neighboring AP. This information helps the STA to perform intelligent roaming decisions based on signal quality, load, and compatibility . References: CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter 12: 802.11k/v/r/u/w/ai Amendments, page 434; CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter

  12: 802.11k/v/r/u/w/ai Amendments, page 435.

• Question 39:

  The PHY layer provides framing by adding a header to create what type of data unit?

  A. MPDU

  B. PSDU

  C. MSDU

  D. PPDU

  Correct Answer: D

  Explanation: The PHY layer provides framing by adding a header to create a PPDU. 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 (PHY Service Data Unit) and a PHY header, which contains information such as modulation, coding, and data rate. The PHY layer adds the PHY header to the PSDU to create a PPDU for transmission, or removes the PHY header from the PPDU to extract the PSDU for reception. The other options are not correct, as they are not created by adding a header at the PHY layer. An MPDU (MAC Protocol Data Unit) is created by adding a MAC header and FCS to an MSDU (MAC Service Data Unit) at the MAC layer. An MSDU is the data unit that is passed from the LLC sublayer to the MAC sublayer or vice versa. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 4: 802.11 Physical Layer, page 97-98

• Question 40:

  A client is operating in an unstable RF environment. Out of five data frames transmitted to the client it only receives four. The client sends a Block Ack to acknowledge the receipt of these four frames but due to frame corruption the Block Ack

  is not received by the AP.

  Which frames will be retransmitted?

  A. All data frames

  B. Both the corrupted data and Block Ack

  C. Only the data frame which was corrupted

  D. Only the Block Ack

  Correct Answer: A

  Explanation: All data frames will be retransmitted in this scenario. This is because the AP uses a Block Ack (BA) mechanism to acknowledge the receipt of multiple data frames from a client in a single frame. The BA contains a bitmap that indicates which data frames were received correctly and which were not. If the BA is not received by the AP due to frame corruption, the AP will assume that none of the data frames were received by the client and will retransmit all of them. The other options are not correct, as they do not account for the loss of the BA or the use of the bitmap. References: [Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 6: 802.11 Frame Exchanges, page 167-168