300-425 Sample Questions Answers

 Optimized roaming is a feature that helps manage the client’s roaming behavior by disassociating clients with a signal strength below a predefined threshold. This feature is designed to prevent clients from sticking to an AP with poor connectivity, which can lead to suboptimal performance. If the BSS Transition Management query is causing the client to roam and the disassociation imminent feature is not enabled, it indicates that optimized roaming is likely enabled, prompting the client to seek a better AP connection.

FlexConnect APs must be in a FlexConnect group to support 802.11r Fast Transition (FT). This grouping allows for local authentication and key management, which are necessary for fast roaming methods that improve voice quality and wireless IP phone performance during roaming.

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.

An RSSI value of -77 dBm is within the range that a 5 GHz radio can receive and decode, provided it’s not below the RX-SOP threshold set for the RF profile. Since the RF profile is set to Medium for 802.11a, which operates in the 5 GHz band, the AP’s 5 GHz radio will decode the frames.

In a global mesh deployment, using redundant controllers in the least restrictive regulatory domain ensures the highest number of channels available for backhaul. This design accommodates the varying regulatory constraints of different regions by adhering to the domain with the most lenient channel availability.

The ‘eping’ command is used on Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers to verify that the redundancy peer in a Stateful Switchover (SSO) pair of controllers is up and connected. This command sends ECHO packets to the peer controller to ensure connectivity.

Mobility domains and mobility groups are concepts used in wireless networking to manage client roaming and security contexts. When Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) are in the same mobility domain, they can communicate with each other, allowing clients to roam seamlessly between APs managed by different controllers. Mobility groups further refine this by constraining the distribution of a client’s security context, which includes authentication and encryption keys, and by managing AP failover between controllers. This ensures that a client can maintain a secure and stable connection as they move throughout the network.

The Cisco AIR-2702i AP can be set to various modes for different purposes. For conducting a Layer 1 site survey to discover non-Wi-Fi interference, the AP should be set to Monitor mode. In this mode, the AP can scan the radio environment for interference sources without serving any clients, making it ideal for use with tools like Metageek Chanalyzer.

 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.

The voice readiness tool in Cisco Prime inspects the network against a dBm range that is suitable for voice over Wi-Fi. The range of -72 to -67 dBm is considered optimal for voice applications, ensuring clear audio quality and minimal packet loss.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/net_mgmt/prime/infrastructure/34/user/guide/bk_CiscoPrimeInfrastructure_3_4_0_UserGuide/bk_CiscoPrimeInfrastructure_3_4_0_UserGuide_chapter_01010.html

Band Select is a feature on Cisco WLCs that encourages dual-band capable clients to connect to the less congested 5 GHz spectrum. It works by delaying the response to clients’ probes on the 2.4 GHz band, making the 5 GHz band more attractive to the client devices.

 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

To address aesthetic concerns, using enclosures can effectively conceal wireless infrastructure, such as access points, within the environment. This helps maintain the visual appeal of the area while still providing the necessary wireless coverage.

Voice services on a wireless network require a strong and stable signal, as well as low interference and retransmission rates. An RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) of at least -67 dBm is considered the minimum for acceptable voice quality, and -65 dBm is even better, providing a buffer for signal fluctuation. A noise floor of -87 dBm would be too high and could interfere with signal clarity. Retransmission rates should be kept as low as possible; 15% or below is a good target to ensure efficient communication.

 When performing a site survey of a large outdoor area, a site survey tool with a GPS module is ideal. The GPS module allows for precise location tracking, which is essential for mapping signal coverage over a large area. This tool can help complete the survey efficiently by automatically recording the location of signal measurements

 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.

 In a scenario where a customer has multiple Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) running N+1 redundancy with Access Points (APs) equally distributed, the critical APs must have priority in case of a WLC failure. If critical APs remain unregistered during a WLC failure, it indicates that the AP failover priority is not enabled globally on the backup WLC. Enabling AP failover priority ensures that critical APs are given precedence over other APs, allowing them to register with the backup WLC first.

The human body can attenuate a wireless signal by approximately 6 dB. This is due to the water content in the human body, which absorbs and reflects radio frequency signals, leading to a reduction in signal strength as it passes through or around a person. This factor is important to consider in wireless network design, especially in environments with high user density.

For an effective office site survey, it’s recommended to: A. Use a battery pack to power APs - This allows for mobility and testing in various locations without relying on fixed power sources. B. Use a drawing of the office space to mark AP and client placements - This helps in planning the optimal locations for AP installation. F. Use APs with built-in antennas - They are commonly used for site surveys as they represent the typical deployment scenario.

To reduce co-channel interference, it’s beneficial to decrease channel bonding, which will increase the number of non-overlapping channels available. Reducing the power of the APs can also help minimize interference by reducing the range of each AP’s signal, thereby reducing the chance of overlap.

Access points can be assigned different failover priorities to determine the order in which they will failover in the event of a primary controller failure. An access point with priority 1 is given the highest priority level and is considered critical. This means it will failover before other access points with lower priorities, ensuring that the most critical areas remain covered.

 The protocol that needs to be allowed between the networks where the controllers are installed is IP Protocol 97, which is used for encapsulating IP within IP, often used in network mobility and IP tunneling.

In a high-density environment like an auditorium, where APs are in close proximity and a large number of devices are connected, the RF profile is used to adjust the radio frequencies of the APs to minimize co-channel interference. The RF profile allows for the configuration of power levels, channel width, and channel assignment to optimize wireless performance and reduce interference. 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.

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.

When a client roams between two access points (APs) that are registered to different controllers with interfaces in the same client subnet, the controllers will exchange mobility control messages over UDP port 16666. This is in accordance with the Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (ENWLSD) guidelines. The purpose of these messages is to ensure seamless roaming, where the client’s session and authentication state are transferred from one controller to another without requiring re-authentication or re-association by the client. The mobility control messages facilitate the coordinated transfer of the client database entry from the original controller to the new one, maintaining a consistent experience for the user.

 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.

 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.

The behavior of guest client sessions in the US being anchored to the WLCs in Europe despite the presence of a local anchor WLC can be explained by the failure and subsequent recovery of the US anchor WLC. During the failure, the guest sessions would have been transferred to the European WLCs. After recovery, if the priority settings were not correctly restored or if the system did not automatically revert back to the local anchor, the sessions would remain anchored to the European WLCs3.

 RXSOP (Receive Start of Packet Detection Threshold) and TPC (Transmit Power Control) are two features that can help manage the challenges associated with a high AP (Access Point) count in a dense environment like a university auditorium. RXSOP can be adjusted to refine how APs differentiate between noise and valid packets, which is particularly useful in high-density areas where multiple APs might otherwise respond to the same signal. TPC helps in managing the transmit power of APs, allowing for better coverage and reduced interference among APs that are in close proximity to each other. References: Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (ENWLSD 300-425)

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless-mobility/80211/200069-Overview-on-802-11h-Transmit-Power-Cont.html

The 9800 Series Wireless Controller uses CAPWAP tunnels to encapsulate and transport both control and data traffic between access points and the controller. This allows for centralized management and control while also enabling efficient data forwarding.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/config-guide/b_wl_16_10_cg/mobility.html

To reduce full authentication requests and optimize roaming, enabling Cisco Centralized Key Management (CCKM) on the voice SSID is effective. CCKM allows for fast re-authentication during roaming, which is beneficial for voice applications. Adding APs to a FlexConnect group helps manage APs in remote branches more efficiently.

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.

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.

 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.

 Cisco Spectrum Expert is a tool designed to identify and analyze non-Wi-Fi interference sources. During a post-deployment site survey, it can be used to detect interference from various devices such as cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, microwave ovens, and more. This tool provides a visual representation of the RF environment, allowing engineers to pinpoint the exact source of interference and take appropriate measures to mitigate its impact on the wireless network.

References := Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (ENWLSD)

In high-density environments, such as stadiums or auditoriums, APs are often mounted under the seats to provide a controlled cell size with attenuation. This placement helps to manage the RF environment by providing attenuation of 6 dB to 20 dB, which can reduce co-channel interference and improve the user experience by ensuring a strong signal and minimizing noise from other cells.

The decision to configure LAG-based redundancy is influenced by the following features:

B. All interface traffic passes as long as one port is up: This ensures that the wireless LAN controller can continue to operate and manage traffic as long as at least one port in the LAG is functioning, providing a robust failover solution1.

D. Interface connection to two separate nonstacked switches is available: LAG allows for connections to multiple switches, which can provide redundancy and higher availability compared to single switch connections1.

E. Full bandwidth of all links is available: With LAG, the combined bandwidth of all active ports is available, enhancing the throughput capabilities of the wireless LAN controller1.

In a warehouse setting, the height at which access points are installed can significantly impact the wireless signal. If the access points are placed too high, the signal may not adequately reach the users. Additionally, absorption by materials commonly found in warehouses, such as metal racks and goods, can weaken the wireless signal, negatively affecting the users.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/aironet-1250-series/design_guide_c07-693245.html#_Toc309331086

Optimized roaming is a feature that helps mitigate sticky client behavior by assessing the client’s signal strength and proactively disconnecting clients with a signal below a predefined threshold. This encourages clients to connect to a closer AP with a stronger signal, improving the overall wireless experience in high-density areas.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/technotes/80/hdx_final/b_hdx_dg_final/high_density_experience_features_added_in_release_8_0.html

 Cisco 3800 Series APs support higher speeds provided by IEEE 802.11ac Wave 2, which Fast Ethernet switches cannot fully support. Replacing them with mGig or gigabit switches with 10G uplinks will ensure the infrastructure can handle the increased data rates. The CAT 6A standard supports these speeds, so there’s no need to replace the wiring if it’s already CAT 6A.

For Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) to operate in High Availability (HA) with Stateful Switch Over (SSO), they must be connected through a Redundancy Port (RP). This dedicated port is used for synchronization of stateful information and ensuring seamless failover without service interruption.

To connect multiple wired devices over a workgroup bridge using an autonomous AP, a router is needed to manage the IP addresses and route traffic between the wired devices and the wireless network. The router will act as a gateway for the wired devices, allowing them to communicate with the WLAN. References: Cisco autonomous AP configuration guides and workgroup bridge deployment scenarios.

 The Cisco Aironet 3800 Series APs support mGig, which allows for higher throughput over existing cabling. However, the maximum cable length that supports 5G operation is limited by the quality of the cable and signal attenuation. Category 5e cabling can support 5G operation up to a length of 130 meters, which is within the acceptable range for maintaining the required signal integrity for 5G speeds.

Mobility domains and mobility groups are concepts used in Cisco wireless networking to manage client roaming and controller interaction. When Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) are part of the same mobility domain, they share a common database, allowing them to communicate and facilitate seamless client roaming. A mobility group is a subset of this domain, where specific WLCs work together more closely to share client context and security credentials. This ensures that when a client roams from one access point (AP) to another across different controllers, the authentication and security context are maintained, allowing for a seamless transition without the need to re-authenticate. The mobility group also manages AP fail-over between controllers, ensuring clients can maintain their connections even if their current AP fails or becomes unreachable.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/8-0/configuration-guide/b_cg80/b_cg80_chapter_010011.html

Voice over wireless roaming is sensitive to delays and interruptions. Full reauthentication, as mentioned in option A, can cause noticeable gaps in a voice conversation because it requires time to re-establish security credentials. This process can interrupt the seamless experience expected in voice communications. Option E is also correct because roaming with only 802.1x authentication indeed requires full reauthentication, which can introduce significant delays affecting voice quality. References: For more detailed information, refer to the CCNP Enterprise Wireless Design ENWLSD 300-425 and Implementation ENWLSI 300-430 Official Cert Guide.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/solutions/Enterprise/Mobility/vowlan/41dg/vowlan41dg-book/vowlan_ch5.html

 A fully measured wireless survey requires tools that support the active functioning of the network and allow for physical access to install and measure equipment. A PoE (Power over Ethernet) battery is necessary to power the access point during the survey. The access point itself is essential for broadcasting the signal. A ladder is needed to reach high places for proper access point placement and to measure coverage areas effectively.

In a high availability setup with Cisco 5508 Wireless LAN Controllers, the standby controller can be accessed via the console connection and the service port interface. The console provides direct access, while the service port interface allows for network-based access to the standby unit for management purposes.

 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.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/5500-series-wireless-controllers/116057-site-survey-guidelines-wlan-00.html

Jitter is the variation in time between packets arriving, caused by network congestion, timing drift, or route changes. In a Wi-Fi network designed to support video over Wi-Fi, if video multicast traffic is unreliable despite good coverage, jitter is a key performance metric to investigate. High jitter can cause the video to play erratically, freeze, or have sync issues between video and audio streams

 When a data path mobility tunnel fails to come up, one of the troubleshooting steps is to check if the necessary ports are open and not being blocked by any firewalls in the path. Since the mobility tunnel uses CAPWAP, which operates on UDP ports 16666 (control path) and 16667 (data path), establishing a Telnet connection to the firewall on port 16666 can help determine if the control path is open and if there are any issues that need to be addressed3.

 To predict the number of APs needed to support approximately 300 wireless devices on a new floor with an 802.11ac network, the Demand Settings in the Cisco Prime Infrastructure Planning Tool must be adjusted. This setting allows the planner to specify client density and throughput requirements, which are crucial for determining the correct number of APs.

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.