Cisco 300-425 Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (ENWLSD) Exam Practice Test

The IEEE 802.11k protocol is designed to enable radio resource measurement and neighbor list radio management packets. This protocol allows wireless devices to better understand their radio environment, which in turn supports real-time applications over wireless by enabling devices to make quicker and more informed decisions about roaming

AP Fallback is a feature that allows APs to rejoin their primary controller after they have connected to a secondary controller due to a failure. By enabling AP Fallback on the primary controller, the APs will automatically rejoin it when it becomes available again after a power interruption. This ensures that APs return to their designated primary controller for normal operations.

 In an outdoor mesh network designed to cover sports fields, a 5 GHz, 14-dBi patch antenna is suitable for the RAP for backhaul connectivity. The higher gain and directional nature of a patch antenna help in focusing the signal over longer distances and in specific directions, which is ideal for connecting various points in a large outdoor area5.

For handheld mobile scanners processing credit card payments, security and seamless roaming are critical. The 802.11w standard, also known as Protected Management Frames (PMF), provides enhanced security that helps prevent disconnections and issues when roaming between access points. Incorporating 802.11w in the design ensures that the scanners maintain a secure and consistent connection while moving throughout the environment. References: CCNP Enterprise Wireless Design ENWLSD 300-425 and Implementation ENWLSI 300-430 Official Cert Guide Premium Edition and Practice

 In a wireless design that requires bridging wired IP surveillance cameras through a mesh AP, the cameras should connect to the AP operating in Mesh AP mode (MAP). This mode allows the AP to function as part of a wireless mesh network, providing connectivity to wired devices like IP cameras in areas where it’s difficult to run Ethernet cables.

References: Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (ENWLSD) 300-425 Official Cert Guide

 Fast Transition (FT), also known as IEEE 802.11r, is the key-caching mechanism that must be configured to speed up the reauthentication delays on the wireless infrastructure. FT allows for rapid re-authentication when roaming between access points, reducing the time required for re-establishing security keys and thus speeding up the overall process2.

References: CCNP Enterprise Wireless Design ENWLSD 300-425 and Implementation ENWLSI 300-430 Official Cert Guide Premium Edition and Practice.

 LAG-based redundancy is chosen for its ability to provide continuous connectivity as long as one port in the LAG is operational (B), utilize the full bandwidth capacity of all the links in the LAG (E), and allow for the grouping of ports into multiple LAGs for increased redundancy and bandwidth (F). References: CCNP Enterprise Wireless Design ENWLSD 300-425 and Implementation ENWLSI 300-430 Official Cert Guide.

To minimize channel utilization and interference with existing tenant networks, it’s best to use the UNII-1 channels, which are typically less congested, and stick to 20-MHz channels to provide more non-overlapping channels and reduce co-channel interference.

A centralized wireless architecture is suitable for a college with multiple buildings. It allows for centralized management of WLCs and supports seamless roaming for wireless clients across different APs and controllers.

 For optimal Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN) design, a higher data rate is preferred to ensure quality of service and reliability. -67 dBm is a commonly recommended signal level for VoWLAN, and 802.11an, which operates in the 5 GHz band, is capable of supporting higher data rates compared to 802.11bgn, which operates in the 2.4 GHz band. The 5 GHz band is less crowded and prone to interference, making it suitable for high-speed data and voice applications.

 Mobility tunnels between Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) use UDP port 16666 for control messages and UDP port 16667 for data traffic. If EPING is failing, it indicates that the necessary ports are not open. Allowing UDP port 16666 through the firewall would enable the control messages required for establishing the mobility tunnels.

To optimize roaming in a wireless network with multiple controllers, it is essential to use the same WLAN name (SSID) across all controllers. This allows clients to roam seamlessly between access points managed by different controllers without having to re-authenticate or experience disconnections1.

 The connectivity of 802.11a, which operates in the 5 GHz band, is reduced in X-ray rooms primarily due to the increased signal attenuation caused by the lead and other dense materials used in the construction of these rooms to shield against X-ray radiation. These materials effectively block or weaken the radio signals used for wireless communication

portable X-ray machines, sending high-resolution images, sometimes in real time, echography machines, and electrocardiography [ECG] machines). These devices may also use the same spectrum as Wi-Fi but with other protocols and, therefore, become sources of interference for your system.

 Mobility groups are created by configuring each Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) to use the same mobility domain name and defining each WLC as a peer in the static mobility members list of every other WLC in the group. This configuration allows WLCs to share information and support seamless roaming for wireless clients across different controllers within the same mobility group.

References := Chapter: Chapter 14 - Configuring Mobility Groups - Cisco

The data path being down while the control path is up indicates an issue with the data plane security configuration. The data-dtls setting on the AireOS 5520 WLC is responsible for enabling Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) for the data plane, which encrypts the data traffic between the controllers. If this setting is disabled, the data path cannot be established securely, leading to the observed issue. Therefore, enabling data-dtls on the AireOS 5520 WLC is necessary to resolve the data path downtime.

 For mobility tunneling through a firewall in a Cisco wireless network environment, UDP port 16666 must be open along with IP Protocol number ‘97’, which is used for Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) traffic typically found in IPsec tunnels. By ensuring these ports are mapped correctly through the firewall, R&D engineers can roam within their department while maintaining a secure mobility tunnel. References := (CCNP Enterprise Wireless Design ENWLSD 300-425 and Implementation ENWLSI 300-430 Official Cert Guide Premium Edition and Practice)

 Before replacing old APs with IEEE 802.11ac-capable APs, it is crucial to check the software version of the wireless LAN controller. The controller’s firmware must support the newer standards and capabilities of 802.11ac APs. An outdated software version may not support the advanced features and performance enhancements offered by 802.11ac technology, leading to compatibility issues and suboptimal network performance.

References: CCNP Enterprise Wireless Design ENWLSD 300-425 and Implementation ENWLSI 300-430 Official Cert Guide Premium Edition and Practice.

Devices that only support 2.4 GHz can increase congestion on this frequency band, especially in environments where multiple devices are present. This is because the 2.4 GHz band has fewer non-overlapping channels compared to 5 GHz, leading to more interference and potential performance issues.

When identifying network requirements, it’s important to consider the number of wireless devices that will need access to ensure sufficient capacity and coverage. The business type can influence the types of applications and services that will be used, which in turn affects the network design.

The command debug mobility handoff enable is used to validate the mobility control packets between Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs). This command enables debugging of the handoff process, which is critical for ensuring seamless client roaming between controllers. When WLCs are separated by firewalls, it is essential to confirm that mobility control packets can traverse these firewalls without being dropped or rejected. The debug mobility handoff enable command allows network administrators to monitor the handoff process and troubleshoot any issues that may prevent successful client roaming.

 For a WLAN design that supports services like internet, email, voice, and database access, a signal strength of -67 dBm is considered good for voice and streaming services. A 25-dB SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) is also desirable for high-quality voice and video applications, and a maximum of 1 percent packet loss is acceptable to ensure reliable connectivity and service quality.

 For a government agency requiring high security between device communications, enabling Mobility Encryption across the network is essential. Mobility Encryption enhances the security of the mobility group by encrypting the traffic exchanged between mobility peers, including AireOS, Cisco IOS-XE controllers, and Cisco 4800 Series APs. This encryption helps to protect against potential eavesdropping and unauthorized access, ensuring that sensitive government data remains confidential during wireless transmission.

To support a high density of mobile devices and bond channels in groups of two, the channel width for 802.11a should be set to 40 MHz. Setting the data rates to 24 MB and Mandatory ensures that only APs can send 802.11 management frames at this rate, which helps in managing the airtime fairness. References: CCNP Enterprise Wireless Design ENWLSD 300-425 and Implementation ENWLSI 300-430 Official Cert Guide.

IEEE 802.11ac Wave 2 APs are backward compatible with 802.11a/n clients, allowing these devices to connect and communicate with the newer APs, albeit at their respective maximum supported speeds.

 For supporting hyperlocation, it is recommended that APs be aligned in the same direction. This uniform alignment helps in accurately determining the AP Azimuth, X-Y, and ceiling height information, which is crucial for hyperlocation accuracy and minimizes confusion and user-entered errors.

When performing a Layer 1 survey using Metageek Chanalyzer, the Cisco CleanAIR AP should be configured in Monitor mode. This mode allows the AP to scan the environment for interference without serving clients.

EoIP (Ethernet over IP) is used for communication between controllers in a guest anchor setup, allowing for seamless roaming. Inter-Controller Roaming Mechanism (IRCM) support is necessary for the controllers to facilitate roaming across different wireless LAN controllers.

 Large cases of liquid materials can cause higher signal loss compared to dry goods due to the way radio frequency (RF) waves interact with liquid, which can absorb and reflect the signals more than dry materials.

 Creating AP groups for each location allows for the mapping of specific VLANs to an internal SSID tailored for that area. This approach enables clients to be on different subnets based on their building location within a single controller environment.

By segmenting the VLAN into smaller subnets and assigning them by location, an engineer can use interface groups. This allows for efficient management of network resources and ensures that clients are connected to the closest subnet, reducing latency and improving performance.

 The design approach should use the 5 GHz frequency band without channel bonding to support 20 MHz channels. This provides a balance between network capacity and interference mitigation.

The Cisco 5520 WLC supports Link Aggregation (LAG), which allows multiple physical interfaces to be treated as a single logical channel. By connecting a second 10-GB interface and implementing LAG, the customer can increase the throughput capacity and provide redundancy without the need for a second controller. This approach also simplifies network design and management by reducing the number of IP addresses needed for the controllers and APs. References: Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (ENWLSD) training and certification materials.

 Cisco Hyperlocation requires a dense deployment of access points for accurate location tracking. Adding more APs than a standard site survey suggests can meet the granular location requirements needed for Hyperlocation services. References: ENWLSD official certification guide.

 Adjusting the RX-SOP (Receiver Start of Packet Detection Threshold) can help to control cell size by making APs less sensitive to low-level signals, thus requiring clients to be closer to the AP to connect, which can ensure they connect to the nearest AP with the highest data rates.

 Frequent disconnections may occur if the RSSI threshold set for optimized roaming is too high, causing clients to attempt roaming too late. Disabling optimized roaming and enabling 802.11v support allows for better client steering by the AP, as 802.11v includes the BSS Transition Management feature, which guides clients to a better AP based on the network’s conditions.

For predictive designs, especially for location readiness and interference mitigation, a mid-range power level like 18 mw is often used. It provides a balance between coverage and minimizing interference with other devices and networks.

 The AP fallback feature is designed to allow access points to return to their primary controller after they have connected to a secondary controller due to a failure or connectivity issue with the primary. This setting ensures that once the primary controller is back online, the APs will recognize it and re-establish their connection as per the original network design. This feature is crucial for maintaining the intended controller hierarchy and ensuring seamless wireless network operation.

Guest anchoring requires mobility tunnels to be established between the foreign and anchor WLCs. For these tunnels to function, the firewall must allow specific ports for communication. UDP port 16666 is the port used for mobility traffic in Cisco wireless networks, and if it is not allowed through the firewall, MPING and mobility tunnels will fail. References: CCNP Enterprise Wireless Design ENWLSD 300-425 and Implementation ENWLSI 300-430 Official Cert Guide Premium Edition and Practice

The data path issue between the Cisco Catalyst 9800-CL and AireOS 5520, despite an active control path, is likely due to encrypted mobility being enabled on the AireOS 5520. Encrypted mobility requires both peers to have a matching configuration for encryption, which includes proper certificates and shared secrets. If there’s a mismatch, the control path may be established, but the data path can fail due to the inability to establish an encrypted tunnel.

The IEEE 802.11r protocol, also known as Fast BSS Transition (FT), is designed to support real-time applications by enabling faster roaming between APs. This protocol reduces the number of packets exchanged during the reauthentication process when a client moves from one AP to another, thus ensuring a more seamless transition and maintaining the quality of service required by real-time applications such as voice and video conferencing. References: Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (ENWLSD 300-425)

 In an auditorium seating 500 students with laptops, a high-density design model is appropriate. This model focuses on supporting a large number of devices in a concentrated area with sufficient coverage and bandwidth. It involves strategic AP placement, proper channel planning, and capacity planning to ensure all students have reliable wireless access. References: CCNP Enterprise Wireless Design ENWLSD 300-425 and Implementation ENWLSI 300-430 Official Cert Guide Premium Edition and Practice

 When a Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) SSO is set up between two WLCs in a service provider network, and there is a failover, the secondary WLC should ideally support the same client count as the primary. If only about half of the original client count is showing on the secondary WLC post-failover, it suggests that the WLCs had not completed the database synchronization before the primary WLC failed. This incomplete sync would result in a loss of client information, leading to a reduced client count on the secondary WLC.

In a hospital setting, the kitchen is a common source of 2.4 GHz RF noise due to the use of microwave ovens which operate on the same frequency. X-ray radiography equipment, while primarily using higher frequency ranges, can also contribute to RF noise in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands due to electronic components and shielding inefficiencies. References: CCNP Enterprise Wireless Design ENWLSD 300-425 and Implementation ENWLSI 300-430 Official Cert Guide.

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 The most effective way to address the issue is to resurvey the areas with the correct survey devices. This ensures that the design accurately reflects the performance characteristics of the specified access points for each area type, leading to a more reliable and efficient wireless network design tailored to each environment’s specific needs.

 When designing a backhaul link, the mesh AP role should be set to ‘bridge’ to enable it to connect separate network segments or extend coverage to remote areas.

For outdoor wireless networks, especially in open areas prone to harsh weather, it’s crucial to install lightning arrestors to protect against electrical surges caused by lightning strikes. Additionally, grounding the antenna cables helps dissipate any electrical charge that could damage the equipment.

In a medical treatment environment where both data and voice services are required, continuous coverage of -67 dBm from one access point is the minimum requirement. This ensures that there is sufficient signal strength for reliable voice communication, which is critical in medical settings. The -67 dBm threshold is commonly recommended for voice applications to ensure call quality and reliability.

So -67dBm covers both Data & Voice with a single AP

 AP groups allow the mapping of specific WLANs (SSIDs) to distinct VLANs for different locations. This design enables clients to be on different subnets based on their building location without modifying the access points’ mode of operation.

 To optimize RF performance across different buildings and user densities: C. Configure AP groups for each area type - This allows for customized settings for APs serving different areas. D. Configure RF profiles for each area type - RF profiles enable the customization of RF parameters to suit the specific needs of each building or area type.

References: The official Cisco ENWLSD 300-425 certification guide will provide more information on RF optimization strategies.

 Changing the TPC Power Threshold to -65 dBm would generally result in a decrease in the transmit power of APs to maintain a smaller cell size. This helps in reducing interference and improving overall network performance. A lower threshold means the APs reduce their power to ensure the signal does not exceed -65 dBm, leading to decreased signal strength at the client side.

To mitigate increased co-channel interference and retransmissions after adding an AP, Transmit Power Control (TPC) and Dynamic Channel Assignment (DCA) can be effective. TPC adjusts AP transmit power based on real-time analysis of the wireless environment, reducing interference by lowering power where necessary. DCA dynamically changes channel assignments based on current RF conditions to optimize performance and minimize interference.

 For a pre-deployment site survey, it’s important to know the AP model to understand the capabilities and coverage pattern of the APs. Additionally, knowing the number of clients helps to design a network that can handle the expected client density.

In Cisco WLC version 8, the need for separate WPlus licenses has been eliminated as all features that were previously part of the WPlus license are now included in the Base license. This consolidation simplifies licensing management and ensures that customers have access to all necessary features without requiring additional licenses. References := (CCNP Enterprise Wireless Design ENWLSD 300-425 and Implementation ENWLSI 300-430 Official Cert Guide Premium Edition and Practice)

 Interface groups allow for flexible WLAN to VLAN mappings by grouping multiple interfaces into a single entity. This enables a single WLAN to be mapped to multiple VLANs, providing scalability and flexibility in network design. AP groups are used to manage the configuration of multiple APs collectively, allowing for consistent WLAN to VLAN mappings across different APs in separate facilities.

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 For an active survey where the application requires a minimum RF of -73 dBm, the mobile device used for the survey should have a receiver sensitivity of -70 dBm or better. This ensures that the device is sensitive enough to detect the minimum required signal strength for the application to function properly.

 VLAN Select is a feature that allows for the assignment of clients to different VLANs based on various criteria, such as user credentials or device type. In a centralized wireless deployment with N+1 high availability, incorporating VLAN Select can ensure that clients maintain consistent IP addressing across failovers, preventing them from being assigned IP addresses from a different subnet.