Comptia Network + Wireless Networks

Ad Hoc\Basic Service Set (IBSS)

Network where devices connect directly to each other rather than through a central access point

Infrastructure Wireless Network

More organized setup in which devices are connected to the network through a wireless access point into a wired local area network.

Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID)

Set to the MAC address of the wireless access point

Service Set Identifier (SSID)

Common alphanumeric network name that end users can search for to connect to the wireless network

Extended Service Set (ESS)

Created a larger network that shares the same SSID to allow for seamless connectivity across a building

point-to-point Wireless Networks

Connect two distinct locations over long distances using high-gain antennas

Wireless Mesh Networks

Versatile and resilient form of wireless networking

Autonomous Access Point

Standalone device that contains all of the intelligence to handle wireless networking functions independently

Lightweight Access Point

Multiple access points connecting back to a centralized controller

Wireless Antenna

Device designed to send and receive radio frequency signals

Omnidirectional Antenna

Designed to transmit and receive wireless signals in all directions equally

Unidirectional Antenna

Focuses on a single direction to provide a more concentrated signal beam

Yagi Antenna

Specific type of directional antenna that can provide high signals gains and used a narrow beamwidth

Parabolic Antenna

Special type of unidirectional antenna that gives a different curvature to the signal and is often used with microwave signals and satellite TV signals

Wireless Frequencies

Different frequency bands that are used to transmit and receive the radio waves used by the wireless networks to send data

2.4 GHz Band

One of the most widely used frequencies for wireless networking and is known for its long-range and better penetration through solid objects

Channel

Physical medium through which the wireless networks can send and receive data

5GHz band

Contains frequencies from 5.725 GHz to 5.875 GHz, and there are 24 non-overlapping channels of 20 MHz per channel when working in a 5 GHz- based 802.11 wireless network

Channel Bonding

Creates a wider channel by merging two or more neighboring channels into a single wider channel

6GHz Band

Relatively new spectrum opened up for Wi-Fi use that offers even more channels and bandwidth to allow for faster connections and less congestion

Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS)

Feature that requires devices to actively monitor the environment for radar signals

Transmit Power Control (TCP)

Allows the devices to adjust their transmitting power to the minimum required for maintaining a good quality connection

Band Steering

Technology used in wireless networking to optimize the distribution of client devices across different frequency bands

Wireless a (802.11a)

Operates in the 5GHz band at a speed of up to 54 Mbps with a range of around 35 meters

Wireless b (802.11b)

Operates in the 2.4 GHz band at a speed of up to 11 Mbps with a range of around 140 meters

Wireless g (802.11g)

Operates in the 2.4GHz band at a speed of up to 54 Mbps with a range of around 140 meters

Wireless n (802.11m)

Operates in the 5 GHz band at a speed of up to 600 Mbps with a range of around 35 meters

Wireless ac (802.11ac)

Operates in the 5 GHz band at speeds exceeding 6.9 Gbps

MU-MIMO

Multipath wireless communication technology that allows multiple users to access the wireless network and access point at the same time (Multiple-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output)

Wireless ax (802.11ax)

Operates in the 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands at a speed of up to 9.6 Gbps

Pre-Shared Key (PSK)

Security authentication where the same password or key is being used on both the wireless access point and any connecting client devices trying to gain access to the network

802.1X

Most widely used enterprise-grade authentication method

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)

Original 802.11 wireless security standard which is an insecure security protocol. (40 bit originally and then 128 bit) Also uses Cipher4

Wi-FI Protected Access (WPA)

Designed as a replacement for WEP and uses the Temporal key Integrity Protocol (TKIP). 48 bit and uses Rivest Cipher 4 (RC4)

Message Integrity Check (MIC)

Relies on hashing that data before it’s sent over the network

Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2)

Created as part of the IEEE 802.11i standard and was first implemented with wireless g and then used again with wireless n, wireless a, and wireless ac networks

CCMP

Countermode with Cipher Blockchaining Message Authentication Code Protocol

AES

Advanced Encryption Mode 128 bit, 192-bit, 256-bit.

Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE)

Security protocol that was designed to enhance the handshake process used in WI-FI authentication

Wi-FI Protected Setup (WPS)

Network security standard aimed at simplifying the setup of a secure WI-FI connection

Captive Portal

Common feature in modern wireless networks, especially those designed for guest access