7 Wireless Networking Free Online FlashCards

What technology is commonly used for wireless local area networks?

Wi-Fi is a wireless local area network technology based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards.

What two communication layers does IEEE 802.11 specify?

IEEE 802.11 specifies the physical layer for radio signals and the MAC layer for coordinating access to the wireless channel.

What is a Wi-Fi client?

A client is a device, such as a laptop or phone, that communicates over Wi-Fi with an access point.

What is the main role of a Wi-Fi access point?

An access point connects wireless clients to a distribution system, usually the wired local network, and relays their network traffic.

What does SSID identify?

An SSID is the network name advertised by an access point.

Which radio-frequency bands are commonly used by Wi-Fi?

Common Wi-Fi bands are 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz; compatible equipment may also use 6 GHz where permitted.

Why can a connected Wi-Fi device still experience slow performance?

Wi-Fi devices share airtime and take turns transmitting, so congestion or interference can reduce performance even while a client remains connected.

What is a basic service set (BSS)?

A basic service set (BSS) is a group of stations communicating through an access point.

Does an access point necessarily perform routing?

An access point provides wireless access but does not necessarily perform routing; a home router commonly combines an access point with routing and switching.

When should a network use WPA3-Personal rather than WPA2-Personal?

WPA3-Personal uses a shared passphrase and is preferred when all devices support it. WPA2-Personal is a compatibility option; use modern encryption such as AES.

What security limitation does open Wi-Fi have?

Open Wi-Fi requires no Wi-Fi password and does not provide the same protection for the wireless link as an encrypted network.

Do hidden SSIDs or MAC filtering replace Wi-Fi encryption and authentication?

Hiding an SSID does not encrypt traffic or reliably prevent network discovery; MAC filtering is not a substitute for strong authentication.