CWNP CWAP-404 Exam

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.Reference:[Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 6: 802.11 Frame Exchanges, page 166-167; Chapter 7: QoS Analysis, page 194-195

A VoIP phone, using WMM Power Save, requests data frames buffered at the AP by transmitting a trigger frame, which is a QoS Null frame or a QoS Data frame. WMM Power Save is a power saving mode that allows a STA (station) to conserve battery power by periodically sleeping and waking up. WMM Power Save is based on WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia), which is a QoS (Quality of Service) enhancement that provides prioritized and differentiated access to the medium for different types of traffic. 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 trigger frame to the AP, indicating its AC (Access Category), which is a logical queue that corresponds to its QoS level. A trigger frame can be either a QoS Null frame or a QoS Data frame, depending on whether it has any payload or not. The AP then responds with one or more data frames from the same AC as the trigger frame, followed by an ACK or BA (Block Acknowledgement) frame from the STA. The other options are not correct, as they are not used by a VoIP phone using WMM Power Save to request data frames buffered at the AP. A PS-Poll (Power Save Poll) frame is used by a STA using legacy power save mode, not WMM Power Save mode, to request data frames buffered at the AP. A PS-Poll frame does not indicate any AC or QoS information. Setting the More Data bit in the MAC header to 1 does not request any data frames from the AP, but indicates that there are more data frames to be sent by the STA or received by the STA. Transmitting a WMM Action frame does not request any data frames from the AP, but performs various management actions related to WMM features, such as admission control, parameter update, etc.Reference:[Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 7: QoS Analysis, page 198-199

The data rate at which the PHY preamble was transmitted is 6 Mbps. The PHY preamble is a part of the PPDU that is transmitted before the PHY header and the PSDU. The PHY preamble consists of a series of training fields that help the receiver to detect and synchronize with the signal. The PHY preamble is always transmitted at a fixed data rate that depends on the type of PPDU (e.g., OFDM, HT, VHT, HE). For an 802.1 lac data frame on channel 52, which uses VHT PPDUs, the data rate for the PHY preamble is 6 Mbps. This data rate does not depend on MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme), which only affects the data rate for the PSDU.Reference:[Wireless Analysis Professional Study Guide CWAP-404], Chapter 4: 802.11 Physical Layer, page 99-100

Every Beacon frame must contain a DTIM is not a true statement concerning DTIMs. DTIM stands for Delivery Traffic Indication Message, and it is a subfield within the TIM (Traffic Indication Map) element in a Beacon frame. The DTIM indicates how many Beacon frames (including the current one) will appear before the next DTIM. For example, if the DTIM interval is set to 3, it means that every third Beacon frame will contain a DTIM. Buffered broadcast and multicast traffic will be transmitted following a DTIM, so that STAs in power save mode can wake up and receive them. The DTIM interval can also dictate when an STA will wake up to listen to Beacon frames, as some STAs may choose to only listen to Beacon frames that contain a DTIM . Reference: CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter 6: MAC Sublayer Frame Exchanges, page 200; CWAP-404 Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Study and Reference Guide, Chapter 6: MAC Sublayer Frame Exchanges, page 201.

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) . Reference: 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.