In this post I am going to summarize my CWAP (Certified Wireless Analysis Professional) notes.

Like any other CWNP exam, this also has 70% passing mark & exam objective is shown as below with their respective weight.

1. 802.11 Physical (PHY) layer Frame Formats(5%)
2. 802.11 MAC layer Frame Formats (20%)
3. 802.11 Operation & Frame Exchange (40%)
4. Spectrum Analysis & Troubleshooting (15%)
5. Protocol Analysis & Troubleshooting (20%)

Here are the details exam objectives with relevant chapter number of the Official CWAP study book. This is the primary resource you have to use for this exam.

802.11 Physical (PHY) layer Frame Formats(5%)
-CH1 (802.11 Overview)
-CH2 (802.11 PHY Layer Format)

802.11 MAC layer Frame Formats (20%)
-CH3 (802.11 MAC Frame Format)

802.11 Operation & Frame Exchange (40%)
-CH4 (Management Frames)
-CH5 (Control Frames)
-CH6 (Data Frames)
-CH7 (Medium Contention)
-CH8 (Power Management)
-CH9 (802.11 Security)
-CH10(802.11n HT Analysis)

Spectrum Analysis & Troubleshooting (15%)
-CH11 (Spectrum Analysis)

Protocol Analysis & Troubleshooting (20%)
-CH12 (Protocol Analyzer Operation)

Here is summary of my blog post related to this certification. Since at the moment of this writing, I have not completed all my CWAP studies, so all blog posts are not completed & linked to this (this page will get updated once those posts get published in near future)

CH1 – 802.11 Overview
– 802.11 Overview

CH2 – 802.11 PHY Layer Format
– PLCP Protocol Data Unit (PPDU)
– 2.4GHz & 5GHz  Communication
– PHY (FHSS, DSSS, OFDM, HR-DSS, ERP, HT)

CH3 – 802.11 MAC Frame Format
– MAC Header : Frame Control
– MAC Header : Addresses
– MAC Header : QoS Control
– MAC Header : Duration/ID
– MAC Header : Sequence Control

CH4 – Management Frames
– 802.11 Mgmt Frame Types
– 802.11 Mgmt : Beacon
– 802.11 Mgmt : Probe Req/Res
– 802.11 Mgmt : Association Req/Res
– 802.11 Mgmt : Reassociation Req/Res
– 802.11 Mgmt : Authentication Frame
– 802.11 Deauthentication & Disassociation
– 802.11 Mgmt : Action Frames
– 802.11 Mgmt : Channel Switch Announcement
– 802.11 Mgmt :  Radio Measurement Request & Report
– 802.11 Mgmt :  TPC Request & Report
– 802.11 Mgmt : Admission Control

CH5 – Control Frames
– 802.11 Control Frame Types
– 802.11 Ctrl : RTS/CTS
– 802.11 Block Ack
– 802.11 Ctrl : PS-Poll
– 802.11 Protection Mechanism

CH6 – Data Frames
– 802.11 Data Frame Types
– 802.11 Data: Frame Aggregation
– 802.11 Data Frame Address Fields
– 802.11 Data Frame Fragmentation
– 802.11 Dynamic Rate Selection

CH7 – Medium Contention
– 802.11 Medium Contention

CH8 – Power Management
– 802.11 Power Management

CH9 – 802.11 Security
– Open & Shared Key Authentication
– Encryption Method -TKIP
– Encryption Method -CCMP-AES
– RSN Information Element
– 802.1X EAP Basics
– EAP-PEAP
– 4-Way Handshake
– 802.11r Key Hierarchy
– 802.11r FT Assocition
– 802.11r Over-the-Air FT
– 802.11r Over-the-DS FT

CH10 – 802.11n HT Analysis
– 802.11n Introduction
– HT Frame Control
– HT Capabilities Information Element
– HT Operations Information Element

CH11 – Spectrum Analysis
– Spectrum Analysis

CH12 – Protocol Analyzer Operation
– Protocol Analysis

References
1. CWAP Official Study Guide
2. IEEE 802.11-2012
3. CWAP Study Notes : WifiNigel
3. CWNE Study Room
4. CWDP & CWAP Forum

Update @ 5th Nov 2014
I passed CWAP exam on my 2nd attempt. It was a very tough exam & you have to have very clear understanding of each of those frame types & functionality of each of them. There will be lots of information to remember.

I hope I have done a reasonable job to make these CWAP blog posts to help you in your CWNP journey as well. Make use of all these material & one day become a TRUE wireless expert by learning these fundamentals. Enjoy your wireless studies.

You can learn more from failure than success, so do no worry about if you could not pass this exam first time🙂 See below, I think I still have learning opportunity in this CWAP.