Chapter 7-Wireless LAN Topologies

• WAN, WLAN, WMAN, etc

• Access Points, SSID, BSS, ESS, etc
 Exam Essentials
• Know the four major types of wireless topologies.
– Understand the differences between a WWAN, WLAN, WPAN, and
WMAN.
• Explain the three 802.11 service sets.
– Be able to fully expound on all the components, purposes, and
differences of a basic service set, an extended service set, and an
independent basic service set. Understand how the radio cards interact
with each other in each service set.
• Identify the various ways in which an 802.11 radio can be used.
– Understand that the 802.11 standard expects a radio card to be used
either as a client station or inside an access point. Also understand that
an 802.11 radio card can be used for other purposes, such as bridging,
repeaters, and so on.
• Explain the purpose of the distribution system.
– Know that the DS consists of two pieces: distribution system services
(DSS) and the distribution system medium (DSM). Understand that the
medium used by the DS can be any type of medium. Explain the
functions of a wireless distribution system (WDS).
 Exam Essentials
• Define SSID, BSSID, and ESSID.
– Be able to explain the differences or similarities of all three of these
addresses and the function of each.
• Describe the various ways in which an ESS can be implemented
and the purpose behind each design.
– Explain the three ways in which the coverage cells of the ESS access
points can be designed and the purpose behind each design.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the various nonstandard 802.11
topologies.
– Understand that alternative 802.11 topologies such as bridging and
mesh networks exist. Further discussion of these nonstandard
topologies can be found throughout this book.
• Explain access point and client station configuration modes.
– Remember all the standard and nonstandard confguration modes of
both an AP and a client station.
 Topology
• Physical or logical layout of the network
• Three main service sets
– Additional non-standard Service sets as well

Pg 222
Wireless Networking Topologies
• Wireless wide area network (WWAN)
• Wireless metropolitan area network
(WMAN)
• Wireless personal area network (WPAN)
• Wireless local area network (WLAN)

Pg 222
 Wireless wide area network (WWAN)
• Covers larger geographic area
– As compared to 802.11 WLAN
• Usually cellular phone providers or
proprietary solutions
– Cell providers and 3G/4G networks are
making a bug push
• Data transfers are slower than WLAN, but
catching up

Pg 223
Wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN)
• Coverage to a city and suburbs
• Many different techs
– Mesh, 802.11 ESS, etc
• 802.16 is a new player
– WiMAX
– DSL and Cable Speeds
– Fixed Wirless??
• Many municipal projects have slowed or stopped
– 802.11 didn’t scale well

Pg 222
 Wireless personal area network (WPAN)
• For personal devices
– Phones, PDA, Laptop, PC, etc
• Bluetooth and Zigbee
• 802.15

Pg 224
 Wireless local area network (WLAN)
• 802.11-2007 and draft standards
• Usually for a building or campus network
– LAN vs. WAN
– Smaller area usually
• Bridging and extenders can change this

Pg 226
 802.11 Topologies
• Radio Card-Station-STA in the standards
– In an Access Point (AP) or in a client station
• Main Topologies or Service Sets
– Basic Service Set (BSS)
– Extended Service Set (ESS)
– Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS)

Pg 226
802.11 Topologies and terminology
• In simplex communications, one device is capable of only
transmitting, and the other device is capable of only receiving. FM
radio is an example of simplex communications. Simplex
communications are rarely used on computer networks.
• In half-duplex communications, both devices are capable of
transmitting and receiving; however, only one device can transmit at
a time. Walkie-talkies, or two-way radios, are examples of half
duplex technology
• In full-duplex communications, both devices are capable of
transmitting and receiving at the same time. A telephone
conversation is an example of a full-duplex communication. Most
IEEE 802.3 equipment is capable of full-duplex communications.
The only way to accomplish full-duplex communications in a
wireless environment is to have a two-channel setup where all
transmissions in one direction are receiving while all transmissions
in the other direction are transmitting. Current 802.11 technologies
do not employ this technology, contrary to some marketing
literature.
Pg 226
 Access Point
• Half Duplex device
– Only one radio card can be
transmitting at a time
• Basically a hub with a radio card
and antenna
• The original CWNP definition of an
access point (AP) was a half-
duplex device with switch like
intelligence. That definition can still
be used to characterize
autonomous access points
– Lightweight APs are controlled by a
WLAN controller/switch
Pg 227
 Access Point
• AP is a WLAN controller that can direct traffic to
the backbone (distribution System) or back to
the wireless medium
• 802.11 Header is designed with 3 MAC
Addresses
– Can have as many as 4 in some cases to account for
forwarding at layer 2
• Layer 3-7 information is called the MAC Service
Data Unit (MSDU)
• Logic that is used to forward MSDU is known as
the Distribution System Services
Pg 227
 Client Station
• Radio card not in an AP-usually in a client
station
– PC, Laptop, PDA, etc
• When a client station makes a layer 2
connection with the AP, they are
associated

Pg 228
 Integration Service (IS)
• Enables delivery of MSDU between the
distribution system (DS) and non-802.11 LAN
via a portal
• Usually done via an AP or WLAN controller
• 802.11 to 802.3 for example
– The layer 2 information will change
– Remove the 802.11 frame and replace with an 802.3
frame
– The MSDU information basically stays the same

Pg 228
 Distribution System (DS)
• Used to interconnect the Basic Service Sets (BSS) via
an integrated LAN to create and Extended Service Set
(ESS)
• DS Contains:
– Distribution system medium (DSM)
• A logical physical medium used to connect access points is known
as a distribution system medium (DSM). The most common
example is an 802.3 medium.
– Distribution system services (DSS)
• System services built inside an access point usually in the form of
software. The distribution system services (DSS) provide the
switchlike intelligence mentioned earlier in this chapter. These
software services are used to manage client station associations,
re-associations, and disassociations. Distribution system services
also use the layer 2 addressing of the 802.11 MAC header to
eventually forward the layer 3 –7 information (MSDU) either to the
integration service or to another wireless client station. level.
Pg 228
 Distribution System (DS)
• An AP can act as a portal to other wired
and wireless mediums.
• APs are translational bridge between two
mediums
• Generally between 802.11 and 802.3

Pg 229
 Wireless Distribution System (WDS)
• Using a four MAC address frame format
– Allowed, but not defined how to use
• Called a WDS
– Bridging, repeaters, mesh networks all are
examples of implementations
• Although DS usually goes to wired, it can
go to wireless
– Wireless backhaul
• For connecting APs together
Pg 229
 Wireless Distribution System (WDS)
• A WDS may operate by using access
points with a single 802.11 radio or dual
802.11 radios
– Single radio will limit throughput because
while it is sending info to other AP, no
additional data can be sent or received
– Dual radio allows using WDS and receiving
data from Stations
• Even better when second radio is different
frequency band
Pg 230
 Wireless Repeaters
• Used to extend WLAN coverage where no
cabled network exists
• If a station transmits, the wireless repeater
receives and send to Access Point
• Repeater provides coverage, but isn’t
connected to the wired network
– Common option on many APs
• Connection between repeater and AP is
WDS
Pg 230
Wireless Repeaters

Pg 230
 Wireless Repeaters
• Effectivley increase the size of original cell
coverage
• Must be on same channel as AP
• Must have 50% overlap with AP
• Decreases throughput
– Generally bad for VoWiFi

Pg 231
 Service Set Identifier (SSID)
• Logical name to identify the wireless network
– Like a workgroup name
• SSID is used to let radio cards find networks
– Active and Passive scanning
• SSID is configured on APs
and Client Stations
– 32 characters
– Case sensitive
• SSID hiding is weak
security
Pg 232
 Basic Service Set (BSS)
• Single AP with one or more client stations
• AP connects to DS
• Stations that are members of the BSS are
associated
– Created a layer 2 connection
• Stations do not communicate with each
other
– Must go through AP
Pg 233
 Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID)
• 48 bit MAC address of the AP’s radio card
• Layer 2 ID for the BSS
– Usually the MAC address of the AP
• Can also customize
– Virtual BSSID
• Generally found in the Frame Header
• Needed for Roaming

Pg 234
 Basic Service Area (BSA)
• Physical Area of Coverage from the AP
– Clients can move in this area an maintain
connection/communication with AP
• As long as signal strength is above the Received
Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) threshold
– Can also switch between rates in this zone
• Dynamic rate switching
• Shape is affected by other RF sources and
interference
– Shape is subject to change as well
Pg 234
 Extended Service Set (ESS)
• One or more BSS connected through the
distribution system (DS)
• Generally multiple APs and clients stations
united by a single distribution system
medium
• Often set up with multiple overlapping
coverage cells
– 15 to 25 % overlap to support roaming

Pg 235
Extended Service Set (ESS)

Pg 235
 Extended Service Set (ESS)
• Roaming is NOT a standards
– Common requirement from businesses
• Can also have colocation
– Multiple totally overlapping cells
• Support increased client capacity
• Generally all APs will have the same SSID
– Also known as the extended service set
identifier (ESSID)

Pg 235
 Extended Service Set (ESS)
• If APs don’t have same ID, still and ESS
– Roaming will not
be possible

• When APs share the

ESSID/SSID each AP still has unique BSSID
Pg 235
Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS)
• Radio cards that make up an IBSS are
only client stations
– No AP
• Can have multiple client stations linked
together
– Ad-hoc communications
– Peer to Peer network
• Frames transmitted directly between
stations
Pg 238
Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS)
• All stations must use same channel
• Must have same SSID
• BSSID must be chosen
– First station that starts network
generates the SSID

Pg 238
 Non Standard Topologies
• Wireless bridging
– 802.11 radios used to connect two wired
networks
• Most WDS networks are considered non-
standard
– Even though 802.11 defines a WDS frame

Pg 238
 Non Standard Topologies
• Workgroup Bridge
– Gateway for a small wired workgroups
– Usually a client station associated to an AP
• Repeater is an AP that forwards data to a
root access point

Pg 238
 802.11 Configuration Modes
• 802.11-2007 defines all radios as Stations
• AP and Client station radio can each be
configured in multiple ways
• APs
– BSS
– WDS (non-standard-bridge, repeater, etc.)
• Client Station
– BSS
– IBSS
Pg 239
 AP Modes
• Root mode is standard
– Serve as a portal to DS
• Bridge mode
– The AP is converted into a wireless bridge.
• Workgroup Bridge mode
– The AP is transformed into a workgroup bridge.
• Repeater mode
– The AP performs as a repeater access point.
• Scanner mode
– The access point radio is converted into a sensor radio, allowing
the access point to integrate into a wireless intrusion detection
system (WIDS) architecture.

Pg 240
 Client Station Modes
• Infrastructure Mode
– Participate in BSS (or ESS)
– Find the SSID
• Ad Hoc Mode
– IBSS
– Communicate directly to other client stations

Pg 240
 Exam Essentials
• Know the four major types of wireless topologies.
– Understand the differences between a WWAN, WLAN, WPAN, and
WMAN.
• Explain the three 802.11 service sets.
– Be able to fully expound on all the components, purposes, and
differences of a basic service set, an extended service set, and an
independent basic service set. Understand how the radio cards interact
with each other in each service set.
• Identify the various ways in which an 802.11 radio can be used.
– Understand that the 802.11 standard expects a radio card to be used
either as a client station or inside an access point. Also understand that
an 802.11 radio card can be used for other purposes, such as bridging,
repeaters, and so on.
• Explain the purpose of the distribution system.
– Know that the DS consists of two pieces: distribution system services
(DSS) and the distribution system medium (DSM). Understand that the
medium used by the DS can be any type of medium. Explain the
functions of a wireless distribution system (WDS).
 Exam Essentials
• Define SSID, BSSID, and ESSID.
– Be able to explain the differences or similarities of all three of these
addresses and the function of each.
• Describe the various ways in which an ESS can be implemented
and the purpose behind each design.
– Explain the three ways in which the coverage cells of the ESS access
points can be designed and the purpose behind each design.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the various nonstandard 802.11
topologies.
– Understand that alternative 802.11 topologies such as bridging and
mesh networks exist. Further discussion of these nonstandard
topologies can be found throughout this book.
• Explain access point and client station configuration modes.
– Remember all the standard and nonstandard confguration modes of
both an AP and a client station.