CWNA - Certified Wireless Network Administrator

Enhance your networking career with the CWNA certification course, specifically designed for IT professionals seeking to gain expert-level knowledge in enterprise Wi-Fi technologies, security, and network design.

Course Category Icon

Essential Skills Gained

Checkmark

Understand the basic operation of 802.11 Wi-Fi technology.

Checkmark

Design enterprise Wi-Fi networks with a focus on security and troubleshooting.

Checkmark

Implement live lab exercises using enterprise-class hardware and software tools.

Checkmark

Achieve the skills necessary to pass the CWNA-108 certification exam.

Format

  • Instructor-led
  • 5 days with lectures and hands-on labs.

Audience

  • Network administrators
  • Technical support professionals
  • Network designers
  • Wireless software developers

Description

Get a head start right out of the gate with a Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) certification. It is the base certification for Enterprise Wi-Fi within the CWNP family of certifications and a springboard toward earning your security, design, analysis, and network expert certifications. Achieving it enhances your networking career profile, providing evidence that you have sought after Wi-Fi knowledge and skills.   The goal of this course is to add Wi-Fi expertise to a networking professional’s skillset while covering all CWNA-108 exam topics. The course begins with discussion topics and hands-on lab exercises covering the basic operation of 802.11 Wi-Fi technology. Once a base of Wi-Fi knowledge is established, enterprise relevant topics such as Wi-Fi design, security, and troubleshooting are covered. You will use enterprise-class hardware and software tools during live lab exercises, all accessible remotely for any instructor-led or virtual class.

Calendar icon

Upcoming Course Dates

August 18-22, 2025

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Virtual: Online - US/Eastern

Guaranteed to Run

Enroll

$3295

September 22-26, 2025

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Virtual: Online - US/Eastern

Guaranteed to Run

Enroll

$3295

October 27-31, 2025

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Virtual: Online - US/Eastern

Guaranteed to Run

Enroll

$3295

Course Outline

Download PDF

WLAN and Networking Industry Organizations

  1. Wi-Fi Related Organizations

  2. The IEEE

  3. PHY Amendments

  4. 802.11 Amendments

  5. Wi-Fi Alliance

  6. PoE (802.3)

RF Characteristics and Behavior

  1. Electromagnetic Spectrum

  2. Wavelength, amplitude, and other RF characteristics

  3. Reflection, refraction, and other RF behavior

  4. RF Propagation

  5. Basic Types of Modulation

RF Mathematics and Measurements

  1. RF units of measure

  2. Basic RF mathematics

  3. RF signal measurements

  4. Understand link budgets

RF Antennas and Hardware

  1. RF Units of Measure

  2. Types of Antennas and Antenna Systems Commonly Used With 802.11 WLANs

  3. Antenna Polarization and Gain

  4. Antenna Implementation

  5. Types of Antenna Cables, Connectors, and Other Accessories

802.11 PHYs and Network Types

  1. 802.11 PHYs and Network Types

  2. 802.11 Frequency Bands

  3. 802.11 Channels Explained

  4. OSI Model Layers and Wi-Fi

  5. 802.11 Physical Layers (PHYs)

  6. Throughput vs. Data Rate

  7. RF Modulation Methods

  8. 802.11 Use Case Scenarios

  9. WLAN Operating Modes including BSS. ESS and Roaming

802.11 Network Devices

  1. Access Point Features and Capabilities

  2. AP and WLAN Management Systems

  3. Wireless Monitoring Systems (Analytics)

  4. WLAN Controller Functionality

  5. Network Architecture Planes

  6. WLAN Bridging

  7. Client Devices

  8. Client Device OS Configuration

  9. Power over Ethernet (PoE) Functionality

802.11 MAC Operations

  1. 802.11 Frames

  2. Frame Aggregation

  3. Guard Interval

  4. General Frame Format

  5. PHY Preamble

  6. Management, Control, and Data Frames

  7. Locating WLANs

802.11 Channel Access Methods

  1. Differences between CSMA/CD and CSMA/CA

  2. Distributed Coordination Function (DCF)

  3. Network Allocation Vector (NAV)

  4. Clear Channel Assessment (CCA)

  5. Interframe Spacing (IFS)

  6. Contention Window (CW)

  7. Quality of Service in 802.11 WLANs

  8. Hybrid Coordination Function (HCF)

  9. Additional Control Frames and Protection Modes

WLAN Network Architectures

  1. Control, Management, and Data Planes

  2. WLAN Controller Solutions

  3. Network Architectures

  4. RF Channel Planning

  5. Service Set Configurations

  6. Cell Sizing and Interference

WLAN Requirements and Solutions

  1. Explore WLAN Deployment Scenarios

  2. BYOD and Guest Access

  3. Mobile Device Management

  4. Radio Resource Management (RRM) and other automatic RF management solutions

  5. Additional Management Features

Security Solutions for WLANs

  1. Additional Authentication Features

  2. Deprecated Standard Security

  3. Weak Security Mechanisms

  4. Pre-shared Key and IEEE 802.1X/EAP

  5. Wireless Intrusion Prevention Systems (WIPS)

  6. Protocol and Spectrum Analysis for Security

  7. Using Secure Protocols

Site Surveys, Network Design, and Validation

  1. Survey Processes

  2. Understanding Requirements

  3. Verify Design Requirements

  4. Documentation

  5. Locating Interference

  6. Spectrum Analysis

  7. Application and Throughput Testing

  8. Protocol Analysis

WLAN Troubleshooting

  1. CWNP Troubleshooting Methodology

  2. Protocol Analysis Troubleshooting Features

  3. Spectrum Analysis Troubleshooting Features

  4. RF Interference

  5. Hidden Nodes

  6. Connectivity Problems

Classroom Live Labs

Remote Lab Familiarization

  1. Overview

  2. Task 1: Navigate the GigaWave Remote Lab

  3. Task 2: Navigate the Interactive Diagram Page

  4. Task 3: Closing the Lab

Lab 1: Visualizing RF Principles

  1. Activity Objective

  2. Visual Objective

  3. Required Resources

  4. Task 1: Prepare the Client Laptop in the Remote Lab

  5. Task 2: Use Ekahau to visualize Free Space Path Loss

  6. Task 3: Use Ekahau to Visualize Attenuation

  7. Task 4: Closing the Lab

Lab 2: RF Mathematics

  1. Activity Objective

  2. Required Resources

  3. Task 1: Complete These Power Conversions

  4. Task 2: Calculate EIRP

  5. Task 3: Calculate a Link Budget

Lab 3: Visualizing Antenna Patterns

  1. Activity Objective

  2. Required Resources

  3. Task 1: Open the FSPL File in Ekahau

  4. Task 2: Use Various 2.4 Antenna and Observe the Change in RF Coverage

  5. Closing the Lab

Lab 4: 802.11 Basics

  1. Activity Objective

  2. Task 1: Analyze Wireless Frames

  3. Task 2: Closing the Lab

Lab 5: Initialize an Autonomous WLAN Deployment

  1. Activity Objective

  2. Task 1: Configure an Autonomous AP via CLI

  3. Task 2: Configure Your Standalone AP from the GUI

  4. Task 3: Closing the Lab

Lab 6: Configure Security on Autonomous AP WLAN Deployment

  1. Activity Objective

  2. Task 1: Configure the Autonomous AP for PSK

  3. Task 2: Configure Windows 7 Client to Connect to the Pod-X-Auto Using PSK

  4. Task 3: Add a Local Radius Client to the Autonomous AP

  5. Task 4: Configure Local RADIUS Server on the Autonomous AP

  6. Task 5: Configure an SSID for Local EAP on the Autonomous AP

  7. Task 6: Configure the Windows Supplicant

  8. Task 7: Closing the Lab

Lab 7: Configuring the WLC Central Switch WLAN Deployment

  1. Activity Objective

  2. Task 1: Prepare the Client Laptop in the Remote Lab

  3. Task 2: Review and Modify Management Access

  4. Task 3: Review AP Status

  5. Task 4: Configure a WLAN

  6. Task 5: Associate the Client

  7. Task 6: Disassociate the Client

  8. Task 7: Closing the Lab

Lab 8: Configuring Security in a Centralized WLAN Deployment

  1. Activity Objective

  2. Task 1: Configure the Data WLAN for PSK

  3. Task 2: Configure the Wireless Client to Connect to the PSK WLAN

  4. Task 3: Modify the WLAN to Support WPA2 with 802.1X Authentication

  5. Task 4: Configure the Client and Access the Network

  6. Task 5: Modify the WLAN to Support WebAuth

  7. Task 6: Create a Local Net User

  8. Task 7: Connect the Client to the WebAuth WLAN

  9. Task 8: Closing the Lab

Lab 9: Implement a WLC Local Switch WLAN Deployment

  1. Activity Objective

  2. Task 1: Configure the Controller

  3. Task 2: Connect to the WLAN

  4. Task 3: Closing the Lab

Lab 10: Configure Security on a Cloud WLAN Deployment

  1. Activity Objective

  2. Task 1: Implement PSK Authentication on a Cloud WLAN Deployment

  3. Task 2: Implement Local EAP-PEAP on a Cloud WLAN Deployment

  4. Task 3: Implement WebAuth on a Cloud WLAN Deployment

  5. Task 4: Disable SSIDs on the Cloud WLAN Deployment

Lab 11: Perform Wi-Fi Scanning

  1. Activity Objective

  2. Topology

  3. Task 1: Enable Metageek insider

  4. Task 2: Review 2.4 GHz Activity

  5. Task 3: Review 5 GHz Activity

  6. Task 4: Close the Lab

Lab 12: Perform a Predictive WLAN Design

  1. Activity Objective

  2. Task 1: Familiarization with Ekahau Site Survey Pro + Planner

  3. Task 2: Perform a Basic Predictive WLAN Design using a Single Floor Layout

  4. Task 3: Closing the Lab

Lab 13: Perform Passive Site Survey

  1. Activity Objective

  2. Task 1: Configure AP for Spectrum Expert AP Mode of Operation

  3. Task 2: Configure Cisco Spectrum Expert – Spectrum Analyzer Software

  4. Task 3: Closing the Lab

Your Team has Unique Training Needs.

Your team deserves training as unique as they are.

Let us tailor the course to your needs at no extra cost.