A great way to start the CWNP Certified Wireless Analysis Professional (CWAP) preparation is to begin by properly appreciating the role that syllabus and study guide play in the CWNP CWAP-404 certification exam. This study guide is an instrument to get you on the same page with CWNP and understand the nature of the CWNP Wi-Fi Analysis exam.
Our team of experts has composed this CWNP CWAP-404 exam preparation guide to provide the overview about CWNP Wireless Analysis Professional exam, study material, sample questions, practice exam and ways to interpret the exam objectives to help you assess your readiness for the CWNP CWAP exam by identifying prerequisite areas of knowledge. We recommend you to refer the simulation questions and practice test listed in this guide to determine what type of questions will be asked and the level of difficulty that could be tested in the CWNP Wi-Fi Analysis certification exam.
CWNP CWAP-404 Exam Overview:
|
Exam Name
|
Wireless Analysis Professional |
| Exam Number | CWAP-404 CWAP |
| Exam Price | $350 USD |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 60 |
| Passing Score | 70% |
| Recommended Training | CWAP self-paced training kit, Training Class |
| Exam Registration | Prometric |
| Sample Questions | CWNP CWAP-404 Sample Questions |
| Practice Exam | CWNP Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Practice Test |
CWNP CWAP-404 Exam Topics:
| Section | Objectives |
|---|---|
Protocol Analysis - 15% |
|
| Capture 802.11 frames using the appropriate methods |
- Select capture devices
- Install monitor mode drivers |
| Understand and apply the common capture configuration parameters available in protocol analysis tools |
- Save to disk - Packet slicing - Event triggers - Buffer options - Channels and channel widths - Capture filters - Channel scanning and dwell time |
| Analyze 802.11 frame captures to discover problems and find solutions |
- Use appropriate display filters to view relevant frames and packets - Use colorization to highlight important frames and packets - Configure and display columns for analysis purposes - View frame and packet decodes while understanding the information shown and applying it to the analysis process - Use multiple adapters and channel aggregation to view captures from multiple channels - Implement protocol analyzer decryption procedures - View and use a capture’s statistical information for analysis - Use expert mode for analysis - View and understand peer maps as they relate to communications analysis |
| Utilize additional tools that capture 802.11 frames for analysis and troubleshooting |
- WLAN scanners and discovery tools - Protocol capture visualization and analysis tools - Centralized monitoring, alerting, and forensic tools |
| Ensure appropriate troubleshooting methods are used with all analysis types |
- Define the problem - Determine the scale of the problem - Identify probable causes - Capture and analyze the data - Observe the problem - Choose appropriate remediation steps - Document the problem and resolution |
Spectrum Analysis - 10% |
|
| Capture RF spectrum data and understand the common views available in spectrum analyzers |
- Install, configure, and use spectrum analysis software and hardware - Capture RF spectrum data using handheld, laptop-based, and infrastructure spectrum capture solutions - Understand and use spectrum analyzer views
|
| Analyze spectrum captures to identify relevant RF information and issues |
- RF noise floor in an environment - Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) for a given signal - Sources of RF interference and their locations - RF channel utilization - Non-Wi-Fi transmitters and their impact on WLAN communications - Overlapping and non-overlapping adjacent channel interference - Poor performing or faulty radios |
| Analyze spectrum captures to identify various device signatures |
- Identify various 802.11 PHYs
- Identify non-802.11 devices based on RF behaviors and signatures
|
| Use centralized spectrum analysis solutions |
- AP-based spectrum analysis - Sensor-based spectrum analysis |
PHY Layers and Technologies - 10% |
|
| Understand and describe the functions of the PHY layer and the PHY protocol data units (PPDUs) |
- DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) - HR/DSSS (High Rate/Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) - OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) - ERP (Extended Rate PHY) - HT (High Throughput) - VHT (Very High Throughput) - HE (High Efficiency)
|
| Apply the understanding of PHY technologies, including PHY headers, preambles, training fields, frame aggregation, and data rates, to captured data | |
| Identify and use PHY information provided within pseudo-headers in protocol analyzers |
- Pseudo-Header formats
- Key pseudo-header content
|
| Recognize the limits of protocol analyzers to capture PHY information including NULL data packets and PHY headers | |
| Use appropriate capture devices based on proper understanding of PHY types |
- Supported PHYs - Supported spatial streams |
MAC Sublayer and Functions - 25% |
|
| Understand frame encapsulation and frame aggregation | - Frame aggregation (A-MSDU and A-MPDU) |
| Identify and use MAC information in captured data for analysis |
- Management, Control, and Data frames - MAC frame formats and contents
- 802.11 Management frame formats
- Data and QoS Data frame formats
|
| Validate BSS configuration through protocol analysis |
- Country code - Minimum basic rate - Supported rates and coding schemes - Beacon interval - WMM settings - RSN settings - HT/VHT/HE operations - Channel width - Primary channel - Hidden or non-broadcast SSIDs |
| Identify and analyze CRC error frames and retransmitted frames | |
WLAN Medium Access - 10% |
|
| Understand 802.11 contention algorithms in-depth and know how they impact WLANs |
- Distributed Coordination Function (DCF)
- Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA)
- Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM)
|
| Analyze QoS configuration and operations |
- Verify QoS parameters in capture files - Ensure QoS is implemented end-to-end |
802.11 Frame Exchanges - 30% |
|
| Capture, understand, and analyze BSS discovery and joining frame exchanges |
- BSS discovery - 802.11 Authentication and Association - 802.1X/EAP exchanges - Pre-Shared Key authentication - Four-way handshake - Group key exchange - Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) - Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE) - WPA2 and WPA3 - Fast secure roaming mechanisms
- Neighbor discovery (802.11k/v)
|
| Analyze roaming behavior and resolve problems related to roaming |
- Sticky clients - Excessive roaming - Channel aggregation for roaming analysis |
| Analyze data frame exchanges |
- Data frames and acknowledgement frames - RTS/CTS data frame exchanges - QoS Data frame exchanges - Block Acknowledgement exchanges |
| Analyze MIMO and multiuser-specific transmission methods |
- MIMO
- OFDMA
|
| Analyze behavior and solve problems related to MAC layer operations |
- Power Save operations - Protection mechanisms - Load balancing - Band Steering |
CWNP CWAP Exam Description:
The CWAP certification is a professional level wireless LAN certification for the CWNP Program. To earn a CWAP certification, you must hold a current and valid CWNA credential. You must take the CWAP exam at a Pearson Vue Testing Center and pass with a 70% or higher. Instructors must pass with a 80% or higher. However you choose to prepare for the CWAP exam, you should start with the exam objectives, which cover the full list of skills tested on the exam.