Cuwss v1.0 Student Guide_vol1

5/26/2018 Cuwss v1.0 Student Guide_vol1

1/280

CUWSS

Conducting CiscoUnified Wireless

Site Survey

Volume 1

Version 1.0

Student Guide

Text Part Number: 97-2788-01

www.CareerCert.info
http://www.careercert.info/http://www.careercert.info/


2/280

Student Guide 2009 Cisco Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

DISCLAIMER WARRANTY: THIS CONTENT IS BEING PROVIDED AS IS. CISCO MAKES AND YOU RECEIVE NO WARRANTIES IN

CONNECTION WITH THE CONTENT PROVIDED HEREUNDER, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR IN ANY OTHER PROVISION OF

THIS CONTENT OR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CISCO AND YOU. CISCO SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIED

WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR

PURPOSE, OR ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE OR TRADE PRACTICE. This learning product may contain early release

content, and while Cisco believes it to be accurate, it falls subject to the disclaimer above.

www.CareerCert.info


3/280

Students, this letter describes important

course evaluation access information!

Welcome to Cisco Systems Learning. Through the Cisco Learning Partner Program,

Cisco Systems is committed to bringing you the highest-quality training in the industry.

Cisco learning products are designed to advance your professional goals and give youthe expertise you need to build and maintain strategic networks.

Cisco relies on customer feedback to guide business decisions; therefore, your valuable

input will help shape future Cisco course curricula, products, and training offerings.We would appreciate a few minutes of your time to complete a brief Cisco onlinecourse evaluation of your instructor and the course materials in this student kit. On the

final day of class, your instructor will provide you with a URL directing you to a short

post-course evaluation. If there is no Internet access in the classroom, please complete

the evaluation within the next 48 hours or as soon as you can access the web.

On behalf of Cisco, thank you for choosing Cisco Learning Partners for yourInternet technology training.

Sincerely,

Cisco Systems Learning

www.CareerCert.info


4/280

www.CareerCert.info


5/280

Table of ContentsVolume 1

Course Introduction 1Overview 1

Learner Skills and Knowledge 1Course Goal and Objectives 2Course Flow 3

Additional References 4

Cisco Glossary of Terms 4Your Training Curriculum 5

Prepare for the Site Survey 1-1Overview 1-1

Module Objectives 1-1Identifying Site Survey Requirements for Different Vertical Industries 1-3

Overview 1-3Objectives 1-3

Determining RF Application Requirements 1-4The Enterprise Office 1-12Vertical Markets 1-14Summary 1-39

References 1-39Identifying Customer Requirements 1-41


The Customer Questionnaire 1-42RF Applications and Client Devices 1-48The Customer Facility 1-58The Current Network Infrastructure 1-60Summary 1-66

Identifying Regulatory Issues 1-67Overview 1-67

Objectives 1-67RF Regulations 1-68

15.203 Antenna Requirement 1-71Effective Isotropic Radiated Power 1-77Summary 1-88

References 1-88Identifying Safety and Aesthetic Requirements 1-89


Safety Issues 1-90Government Safety Regulations 1-95

FCC Safety Rules 1-98

Enterprise Requirements 1-104Summary 1-108

References 1-108

www.CareerCert.info


6/280

ii Conducting Cisco Unified Wireless Site Survey (CUWSS) v1.0 2009 Cisco Systems, Inc.

Understanding Logistical Considerations 1-109Overview 1-109

Objectives 1-109Resource Planning 1-110

Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS) Planning Mode Tool 1-110Facility Access 1-114Deployment Considerations 1-118Summary 1-124Module Summary 1-125Module Self-Check 1-127Module Self-Check Answer Key 1-129

Plan for the Site Survey 2-1Overview 2-1

Module Objectives 2-1Selecting the Proper Survey Model 2-3


Selecting a Data Model 2-4Client Density and Throughput Requirements 2-6Selecting a Voice Model 2-13Selecting a Location-Based Services Model 2-29

Cisco Aironet 1250 Series Deployment 2-34Selecting a Bridging Model 2-37Grounding and Lightning Protection 2-46Summary 2-49

Determining the Proper Deployment Characteristics 2-51Overview 2-51

Objectives 2-51Highly Mobile Deployments 2-52Indoor Enterprise Wireless Mesh Networks 2-58Comparing Predictive and Physical Site Surveys 2-65Summary 2-75

Specifying the Tools Necessary to Complete a Site Survey 2-77Overview 2-77

Objectives 2-77Site Survey Software Tools 2-78Cisco WCS Planning Tool 2-79Cisco Spectrum Expert 2-80

AirMagnet Survey Software Tools 2-83A Site Survey Kit 2-88

2.4-GHz Antennas 2-915-GHz Antennas 2-91

Summary 2-101Defining Site Survey Documentation 2-103

Overview 2-103Objectives 2-103Preassessment Form 2-104

Site Survey Report 2-114Project Contact List 2-114

Document Acceptance 2-115Summary 2-130Module Summary 2-131Module Self-Check 2-133

Module Self-Check Answer Key 2-135

www.CareerCert.info


7/280

CUWSS

Course Introduction

OverviewWelcome to Conducting Cisco Unified Wireless Site Survey(CUWSS) v1.0, an instructor-led

course. This five-day course is design to help you prepare for the Cisco CCNPWirelesscertification, a professional level certification specializing in the wireless field. The course is a

component of the proposed CCNP Wireless curriculum. It is designed to give you a firm

understanding of how to conduct a site survey and explores WLAN topologies for voice and

data as well as location appliance services.

Learner Skills and Knowledge

This subtopic lists the skills and knowledge that learners must possess to benefit fully from the

course. The subtopic also includes recommended Cisco learning offerings that learners should

first complete to benefit fully from this course.

2009 Cisco Systems, Inc. Al l rights reserved. CUWSS v1.0-1

Conducting CiscoUnified Wireless SiteSurvey

www.CareerCert.info


8/280

2 Conducting Cisco Unified Wireless Site Survey (CUWSS) v1.0 2009 Cisco Systems, Inc.

Course Goal and ObjectivesThis topic describes the course goal and objectives.

2009 Cisco S ystems, Inc. Al l rights reserved. CUWSS v1.0-4

Conducting Cisco Unified Wireless Site Survey

To provide learners with information andpractice activities to prepare them totechnically plan and conduct a wireless sitesurvey

Course Goal

Upon completing this course, you will be able to meet these objectives:

Describe the requirements for preparing for a site survey

Describe the requirements for planning a site survey

Perform a site survey for data, voice, and location applications

Determine the placement of the access points for data, voice, and location applications

Assess the deployment of the WLAN

www.CareerCert.info


9/280

2009 Cisco Systems, Inc. Course Introduction 3

Course FlowThis topic presents the suggested flow of the course materials.


Course Flow

Prepare forthe SiteSurvey

CourseIntroduction

AM

P

M

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Prepare forthe SiteSurvey

Plan for theSite Survey

Conduct theSite Survey


AP andController

Density andLicensing

Assessing theDeployment

Assessing theDeployment

Lunch

Plan for theSite Survey




The schedule reflects the recommended structure for this course. This structure allows enough

time for the instructor to present the course information and for you to work through the lab

activities. The exact timing of the subject materials and labs depends on the pace of your

specific class.

www.CareerCert.info


10/280


Additional ReferencesThis topic presents the Cisco icons and symbols that are used in this course, as well as

information on where to find additional technical references.


Cisco Icons and Symbols

Router

Workgroup

Switch

Terminal

Server

Route/Switch

Processor

Dual-Mode

Access Point

Access Point

WLAN Controller

Lightweight

Single-Radio

Access Point

Wireless Bridge Lightweight

Double-Radio

Access Point

Mesh

Access Point

Wireless Connectivity

MobileAccess

Router

SecureServer

Network

Cloud

PC

Web Server

Printer

Laptop

Fax

BroadbandFixed

Wireless

Media

Mobile

AccessPhone

Cisco Glossary of Terms

For additional information on Cisco terminology, see the Cisco Internetworking Terms and

Acronymsglossary of terms at http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ita/index.htm.

www.CareerCert.info


11/280


Your Training CurriculumThis topic presents the training curriculum for this course.


www.cisco.com/go/certifications

Cisco Certifications

Cisco Career Certifications

You are encouraged to join the Cisco Certification Community, a discussion forum open to

anyone holding a valid Cisco Career Certification (such as Cisco CCIE, CCNA, CCDA,

CCNP, CCDP, CCIP, CCVP, or CCSP). It provides a gathering place for Cisco certified

professionals to share questions, suggestions, and information about Cisco Career Certification

programs and other certification-related topics. For more information, see

www.cisco.com/go/certifications.

www.CareerCert.info


12/280


2009 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. CUWSS v1.0-9

Cisco Career Certifications

Expand Your Professional Options, Advance Your Career

Cisco Certified Network

Professional WirelessRecommended Training ThroughCisco Learning Partners

Conducting Cisco Unified Wireless SiteSurvey

Implementing Advanced Cisco UnifiedWireless Security

Implementing Cisco Unified WirelessMobility Services

Implementing Cisco Unified Wireless VoiceNetworks

www.cisco.com/go/certifications

CCNA WirelessCCNA

CCNP

Wireless

CCIE

Professional

Associate

Expert

Cisco CCNP Wireless certification validates professional-level knowledge and skills to

configure, implement and support WLANs, specifically those networks using Cisco equipment.

With a CCNP Wireless certification, network professionals can technically plan and conduct a

wireless site survey, design the RF network, and conduct a postinstallation assessment to ensure

regulatory compliance. They will be able to secure the wireless network from security threats

using appropriate security policies and best practices, ensure the proper implementation of

security standards, ensure the proper configuration of security components, integrate Voice

over WLAN (VoWLAN) services into the WLAN, and be able to implement VoWLAN,

quality of service (QoS), and high-bandwidth applications into the wireless network. They will

also be able to integrate mobility services into the network, tune and troubleshoot the WLAN,

and implement indoor enterprise mesh networks. The CCNP Wireless curriculum includesinformation and practice activities to prepare candidates for configuring, monitoring, and

troubleshooting a Cisco WLAN in small and medium-size business (SMB) and enterprise

networks.

www.CareerCert.info


13/280



Cisco Learning Network

Developing a world of talent through collaboration

Social learning, online assessments, mentoring

www.cisco.com/go/learnnetspace

Find current information and answers to your questions about Cisco certifications and training

at the Cisco Learning Network, a career-oriented site that helps current and future networkers

master the language that connects the world of networking.

The first of its kind, it is a social learning resource where networkers learn from Cisco and from

each other, and where Cisco also learns from professionals in the field.

To take a look, go to http://cisco.com/go/learnnetspace.

www.CareerCert.info


14/280



Learner Introductions

Your name

Your company

Job responsibilities

Skills and knowledge

Brief history

Objective

Prepare to share the following information with the other participants in the course:

Your name and work location

Your job responsibilities

A profile of your internetworking experience

What you would like to learn from this course

www.CareerCert.info


15/280

Module 1

Prepare for the Site Survey

OverviewThis module discusses how to prepare to conduct an RF site survey to supply enoughinformation to determine the number and placement of access points that will provide adequate

coverage throughout the facility. This module also addresses potential situations and obstacles

that a site survey engineer might encounter.

Module Objectives

Upon completing this module, you will be able to describe the requirements for preparing for a

site survey. This ability includes being able to meet these objectives:

Identify site survey requirements for different vertical industries

Identify customer requirements

Identify various regulatory issues affecting a site survey

Identify safety and aesthetic requirements of which a person performing a site survey

should be aware

Define various logistical requirements necessary to conduct a site survey

www.CareerCert.info


16/280

1-2 Conducting Cisco Unified Wireless Site Survey (CUWSS) v1.0 2009 Cisco Systems, Inc.

www.CareerCert.info


17/280

Lesson 1

Identifying Site SurveyRequirements for DifferentVertical Industries

OverviewBefore starting the planning process, some preparation is necessary to identify user needs and

determine the challenges and requirements of the specific site where the WLAN will be

deployed. This lesson explores the various types of WLAN sites that site survey engineers need

to survey to optimize coverage, and the special considerations that each site type presents.

ObjectivesUpon completing this lesson, you will be able to identify site survey requirements for different

vertical industries. This ability includes being able to meet these objectives:

Identify the criteria for determining the requirements of the RF application

Describe the RF environment common to an enterprise office

Describe the RF environment common to vertical markets

www.CareerCert.info


18/280


Determining RF Application RequirementsThis topic identifies the criteria for determining the requirements of the RF application. A radio

frequency site survey is the first step in the deployment of a wireless network, and it is the most

important step to ensure desired operation. A site survey is a task-by-task process in which the

surveyor studies the facility to understand the RF behavior, discovers RF coverage areas,

checks for RF interference, and determines the appropriate placement of wireless devices.

2009 Cisco S ystem s, Inc. Al l rights reserved. CUWSS v1.01-2

WLAN Applications

As wireless technology continues to evolve, data rates and interference immunity are

improving. These improvements make wireless a viable technology for use in most

applications. As the acceptance of wireless technologies continues to grow, the advantages of a

mobile workforce and a flexible network become more apparent to network managers.

www.CareerCert.info


19/280

2009 Cisco Systems, Inc. Prepare for the Site Survey 1-5

2009 Cisco System s, Inc. Al l rights reserved. CUWSS v1.01-3

RF Yesterday and Today: Old School andNew School

Early adopters of RF technology:

Vertical markets

Mobility, bar coding

Today:

Vertical and horizontal markets

Mobility

Standards and throughput

Intrusion detection services

Location-based services

VoWLAN

Early adopters of wireless technology were in vertical markets such as education and logistics,

where users were more concerned with mobility than with standards or data throughput.

Users today are moving into more horizontal markets, where mobility might be less of a

concern than interoperability and throughput. With Cisco Aironet products, you do not need to

sacrifice mobility and roaming to gain throughput and interoperability. Today, applications,

such as Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN) and location-based services require a more stringent

survey than that required for a data-only WLAN.

www.CareerCert.info


20/280



5 GHz vs. 2.4 GHz

Both technologieswill work in thesemarkets.

802.11a 802.11b/g 802.11n

Hospitality X X

Manufacturing X X

Health Care X X X

Higher Education X X X

Enterprise Office X X X

Financial Institutions X X

Retail X X

Transportation X X

Warehousing X X

Popular Choices

The figure shows popular application choices for various technologies. Depending on the

application, all three technologies function very well in vertical markets. For example,

warehousing generally involves record transaction updating, and therefore the data rate is not

the highest concern; instead, range is of great interest. On the other hand, the patient areas of a

hospital might require higher data rates for file transfers of X-ray images.

Current wireless solutions operate in the 2.4-GHz radio band (IEEE 802.11g and IEEE

802.11b) or the 5-GHz radio band (IEEE 802.11a). Solutions based on the IEEE 802.11n

standard will operate in the 2.4-GHz, the 5-GHz radio band, or both bands. The 802.11n

standard was not a ratified standard at the time of this writing.

www.CareerCert.info


21/280



WLAN Design Concerns

Client type and mobility

Cards

CardBus, PCI

Repeaters and workgroupbridges

Third-party 802.11 devices

Bar code scanners, telephony,Wi-Fi devices

Several factors are important in a WLAN design. One factor that can affect WLAN design is

particular type of client that customers will be using. PC cards or embedded radios in laptops

provide mobility to internal staff and easy connectivity for remote users when they are in the

facility. Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) cards give you the freedom to occasionally

move desktop PCs without needing to worry about installing cable. A repeater or a workgroup

bridge provides connectivity to remote users without standard leased lines or the need to run

fiber. Some customers might want to use data collection terminals, and others will want 802.11

phones.

Most sites use a combination of these options. A review of the specifications and compatibilityinformation is needed for all devices to ensure functionality. You should examine and

standardize on the latest client drivers and client types.

www.CareerCert.info


22/280



Customer Applications

Know what the customer needs from the WLAN:

Email and web users have different needs from those of a CADdeveloper.

Client-server. Thin client.

The site survey engineer must be aware of the applications that will be used in the wireless

network. Someone who performs the occasional file transfer and checks email has very

different needs from someone using a computer-aided design (CAD) application across the

network.

In many offices today, frequently used applications such as email and internal ordering

software are loaded on each terminal. Other companies are moving to thin clients. Thin clients,

or thin client software, rely on servers for processing information; little is done locally on the

PC. Thin clients can have much greater bandwidth requirements. This type of setup requires a

very reliable connection to the network, because an interruption of network service leaves theuser helpless.

www.CareerCert.info


23/280



Mobile Users

Wireless data collection meansmobility.

Coverage must be seamless.

Data collection users are also highly mobile users, which is an advantage of the wireless data

collection device. It enables the end user to freely roam throughout the facility and scan items

instead of needing to carry the items to a scanner that is attached to a fixed terminal.

Coverage must not have holes and must have enough overlap between access points to offer

truly transparent roaming. If the application stops working, so does the user.

Voice devices, unlike data collection devices, do not tolerate uneven or spotty coverage; the

voice user demands uninterrupted and clear conversations; otherwise, customers complain, and

the system is not used.

www.CareerCert.info


24/280



Wireless LAN Design

Pools of higher data rate coverage

Stationary vs. mobile

In an environment in which the PCs remain stationary most of the time, providing wireless

connectivity is an easy task. For installations of this type, users typically need pools of

coverage and are not overly concerned with their link speed while moving.

Many customers do not fully understand the equipment that will be installed or what to expect.

Some people believe that it will be a full 11- or 54-Mb/s link for every user. Some people

question the reliability of the RF link and intend to use the wireless link on a limited basis. The

truth is that most users fall somewhere between those two.

www.CareerCert.info


25/280



Copper vs. Wireless LAN

Lower pricing on WLAN equipment.

Moving a terminal once makes RF the better solution.

Popularity increasing.

Consider future WLAN expansion while surveying.

Consider the future addition of services such as VoWLAN or

location-based.

Are these applications or services on the roadmap future?

Copper installations can still provide higher data rates, but price is no longer a factor. A WLAN

can be installed for roughly the same price as a copper-based network, and provides many

benefits in comparison to a wired network.

As prices continue to come down on wireless products and throughput speeds continue to

increase, wireless will continue to increase in popularity. The Wi-Fi Alliance interoperability

certification program adds to this popularity.

Future expandability is another possible reason for the popularity of wireless. If the customer

wants to start by using a few wireless clients, and then increase the number when there is

confidence about the reliability, it is possible to design a WLAN to accommodate this future

expansion.

Ensure that you know if VoWLAN or location-based services are planned for the future. If they

are, design the WLAN to support these services.

www.CareerCert.info


26/280


The Enterprise OfficeThis topic describes the RF environment common to an enterprise office. The enterprise office

is often rich with wireless applications, such as VoWLAN, and multiple sales force and supply

chain management automation applications. The WLAN for the enterprise office needs to be

designed around the applications that are intended to run on the wireless network.


The Enterprise Office

Normally rich in applications and features such as:

VoWLAN

Security

Location aware

Email

Calendar

Enterprise databases Supply chain management

Sales force automation

Customer relationship management

Design should support the most critical applications, such asVoWLAN or location-based services, if they are to be

implemented.

Mobile users require the same accessibility, security, quality of service (QoS), and high

availability currently enjoyed by wired users. Whether you are at work, at home, or on the road

locally or internationally, you need to connect. The technological challenges are apparent, but

to this end, mobility plays a role for everyone. Companies are deriving business value from

mobile and wireless solutions. What was once a vertical market technology is now mainstream

and is an essential tool in getting access to voice, real-time information, and critical

applications such as email and calendar, enterprise databases, supply chain management, sales

force automation, and customer relationship management.

www.CareerCert.info


27/280



Small Office

Quickly emerging market

New solutions being developed

Wireless is more cost-effective

Enterprise security availablethrough:

Local RADIUS in autonomousaccess point

Controller-based localRADIUS

H-REAP

The wireless small office, home office (SOHO) markets are among the most quickly emerging

markets. Many vendors are racing to put out RF products for the home. In the meantime, many

customers are trying to find creative ways to use industrial products in the SOHO environment.

Many small offices might not require a site survey; but some customers might want a site

survey anyway, looking ahead to future growth and expansion. In such instances, a single

access point that might be moved or connected via a wireless repeater can be set up.

Small offices are often located near retail properties that have other small offices. Those offices

might also be using WLAN solutions, so there is the potential for overlapping cells between

different businesses. Channels should be selected either with low use or with a signal strength

that is adequate but that does not send the signal far outside the required coverage area. Part of

securing a network is making it less visible. Lowering the transmit (Tx) power to just what is

needed to provide coverage inside the office area makes the network more secure against

interference from outside the office.

Local RADIUS servers are built into Cisco autonomous access points providing enterprise-

class security for support of up to 50 users in the SOHO environment. Local RADIUS servers

are also supported in controllers, as well as Hybrid Remote-Edge Access Points (H-REAPs,)

another option that supports enterprise security. H-REAP local RADIUS servers can support up

to 100 users in the SOHO environment.

A remote wireless office can also be monitored by a centralized management system like the

Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS) using the controller-based solution.

www.CareerCert.info


28/280


Vertical MarketsThis topic describes the RF environment common to vertical markets. Early adopters of

wireless technology were in vertical markets. Even though wireless has become a part of the

infrastructure in the enterprise office, vertical markets still use wireless, and each vertical

market has certain common characteristics that help the person performing the site survey to

assess the RF environment.


Wireless in Retail

Early users of wirelesstechnology

Wireless use for real-timeapplications

Use of wireless technology forspecial events

Use of WLANs for voice and

paging Hotspots in retail stores

Data collection devices are extremely valuable tools for checking stock, receiving, and point-

of-sale information. Wireless data collection devices offer the retail industry real-time updates

to their databases and the ability to place registers and printers throughout the store for special

events (such as a sidewalk or tent sale) without having to worry about cabling.

Recently, new kinds of wireless devices and services have been placed in retail stores. The

most popular are the following:

Wireless 802.11 phones

Wireless kiosks:Help customers to scan and validate prices

Wireless multimedia stations or carts:Provide marketing and advertising information to

retail customers

Wi-Fi hotspots:Provide Wi-Fi access to the Internet in certain locations in the stores

These wireless services and devices are additional overhead to the WLAN in the retail industry.

They can be difficult to plan for, because the wireless use is coming from the retail customers

and not from the retail employees.

Additional customer services can require higher throughput RF technology such as 802.11a or

802.11g. In this case, a site survey would need to be performed to accommodate data collection

devices using 802.11g devices.

www.CareerCert.info


29/280



Wireless in Retail (Cont.)

Uneven use of wireless duringretail open and off hours

Different wireless applicationsduring different retail hours

Heavy WLAN:

Usage during inventory hours

Overhead by 802.11 voicedevices

Special coverage requirementsfor loading docs, back rooms,trailers, and hotspot usage

Retail implementations often involve a large number of users sending data frequently. These

same stores are likely to conduct their inventory at night. This situation can mean that there will

be uneven WLAN usage during normal store hours and night hours.

During normal business hours, the WLAN might be taxed more with voice devices that place

huge overhead on the access points, because most voice devices operate in the 2.4-GHz range.

Cisco Unified Wireless IP Phone 7921G is the first dual-band product available from Cisco that

takes advantage of 802.11a and 802.11g speeds. If data collection terminals need to operate at

the same time and in the same locations, the design and survey should be performed

accordingly.

When the inventory crew comes in at night, the customer expects that the WLAN will be able

to handle the demand. The design needs to take into account several factors: how often

inventory is conducted, how many data collection devices are used, the specific locations, and

what the requirements are for their particular applications. It is also important to know if

wireless phones will be used at the same time that the inventory is being conducted.

It is also important to know if coverage on the loading docks or inside the trucks at the loading

docks is required. Depending on the WLAN design, there might be enough RF coverage

extending to the outside of the buildings to accommodate this need, but it should be factored

into the design.

www.CareerCert.info


30/280




Most data collection devices donot support 802.11a.

Older devices require only 2 to11 Mb/s.

Newer devices use 802.11g andcan automatically rate-shift up to54 Mb/s.

Will data collection devices bethe only clients using the WLAN?

Investigate device ratecapabilities.

If the customer intends to use data collection devices exclusively, this situation will change

how the survey is performed. Currently, most data collection devices do not support 802.11a or

802.11n.

Newer data collection devices have the ability to rate shift from 54to 48 to 36 to 24 to 18 to 11to 5.5to 2 to 1 Mb/s for 802.11g. It is important to know which devices the customer plans todeploy, what abilities these devices have, and how the devices are to be used.

Different data rates provide different coverage areas; the lower the data rate, the larger the

coverage area will become, and the adjacent access point overlap can increase significantly.

www.CareerCert.info


31/280




Multiple workers sending largeamounts of information

Needs of the application

Evaluate the application

Retail sites might have areas, such as receiving areas, that have large numbers of very busy

users. When equipment is unloaded from trailers, it is unboxed, and bar codes are scanned in

rapid succession, sending packets containing a large amount of data. If there are 20 to 30 users

scanning bar codes and entering keystrokes in rapid succession, a single access point might not

be enough.

For example, if all the data collection devices are communicating at 11 Mb/s, then realistically,

the access point is operating at only 11 Mb/s. This is not to say that the access point is limited

to 11 Mb/s, but that there are no communications occurring at data rates above 11 Mb/s.

Although the 11 to 54 Mb/s connections might be sufficient to handle 20 to 30 users, the single11 Mb/s access point might be a bottleneck. The packet size of the application, the number of

users, and the frequency with which the users will be transmitting data need to be assessed to

determine if extra access points are needed in the area. If extra access points are needed, then

access points must be configured on nonadjacent channels.

www.CareerCert.info


32/280




Source of interferencein retail:

Inventory items

2.4-GHz and 5-GHz

equipment

Colocated:

Stores using WLANs

Hotspots

Locate access points away fromthese items on the showroomfloor

Consider different approaches tolower interference

Another concern within the retail industry is the close proximity of the store to other RF

devices. Some stores might stock and demonstrate RF devices in their store, such as satellite

systems, baby monitors, and cordless phones. Many of these might operate in the 2.4-GHz

range and some might operate in the 5-GHz range. Access points should not be installed next to

this type of equipment because they typically have a higher transmitter power.

Some retail stores use internal cordless phone systems. Ideally, they should use a system that

operates in a different RF spectrum. There are phones that operate at 900 MHz, 1.9 GHz, 2.4

GHz, and 5GHz. It is far less expensive to replace a few cordless phones than to try to design aWLAN around an existing phone system so that the phone system does not interfere with theWLAN.

Retail stores might also be located in malls or strip malls where other users might be operating

2.4 GHz equipment, or a hotspot service provider might be operating on the same RF spectrum.

The systems integrators and surrounding store managers can provide information about their

systems or hotspot services. Site surveys should not be performed without this information.

Optimally, the stores can separate their signals by channel, Service Set Identifier (SSID), and so

on.

www.CareerCert.info


33/280



Warehousing

Multiple users

Large coverage areas

Transaction-oriented applications

Highly mobile users

Varied wireless devices

Warehouse implementations present many of the same problems as the retail market. There

might be a limited number of users during the day, but when a shipment comes in, or if

multiple shipments come in at the same time, many or all users might be operating at the same

time.

Coverage areas are generally large, subject to a lot of multipath distortion or RF interference

because of concrete floors, metal roofing, and metal shelving. Cell size is more important than

data rates because warehouse applications are generally transaction driven, with small packet

sizes. Cell coverage overlap needs to be from 10 to 15 percent. The usage is not very high, but

the users are highly mobile and must roam often.

With 802.11g in the 2.4-GHz band, this is usually the choice. Diversity antennas are often

useful in areas with higher multipath distortion interference and utilization, and medium-gain

antennas are generally the best solution.

There is no way of determining the distance of a signal without knowing the type of inventory.

Different types of stock either reflect or absorb the radio frequency. Inventory that reflects an

RF signal includes metal and lead-based paint. Inventory that absorbs an RF signal includes

water, wood, plants, trees, paper, boxes, non-lead-based paint, pet food, and cat litter.

www.CareerCert.info


34/280



Warehousing (Cont.)

Talk with warehouse personnelabout inventory levels

Consult more than one individual

It is important to talk with and get buy-in from all stakeholders; that is, all levels of users and

those impacted by the WLAN. Listening to all possible stakeholders gives you invaluable

information. Making inquiries of numerous people provides more accurate details about stock

levels. The site survey engineer should talk with as many people as possible throughout the

warehouse, inquiring about stock levels and periods of high usage. A forklift driver, for

example, can have an accurate opinion of current stock levels. These levels can vary on a

monthly, weekly, or daily basis depending upon the time of year and the business. A warehouse

at 50 percent stocking level has a much better RF footprint than the same warehouse has at 100

percent.

If widespread information gathering is not possible, the plan should compensate for the

potential increase in stock. Otherwise, there should be a statement in the documentation that

indemnifies the engineer if the physical layout of the site changes, to include stock levels.

www.CareerCert.info


35/280



Warehousing (Cont.)

Keep in mind whileperforming the survey:

Exposure to the elements

Freezers

Weatherproof enclosures

Shelving

Antenna mounting

Forklift paths

Warehouses and distribution centers are typically dirty and have maximum exposure to the

elements. Here are a few questions to keep in mind while performing the survey:

Will the access points need to be mounted in sealed boxes for protection? The environment

will help determine if a sealed box is needed.

Are there freezer areas (which are difficult to cover and hard on electrical equipment)?

If the environment exceeds the limitations of the access point, will you need heated

enclosures?

How much clearance exists above the shelving? Will it be sufficient to mount an antenna?

Will a forklift, or the inventory that a forklift is loading onto a top shelf, crush the antenna?

It is important to consider the performance of the various wireless devices. Warehouses often

have wireless devices from several vendors or for different applications. The access point must

be able to interface with the various devices and provide coverage for all.

www.CareerCert.info


36/280



New Warehouse

Facilities will not have product.

Wireless systems must be installed before inventory delivery.

Best to survey and install after racking or shelving has been

installed. No guarantee that coverage and overlap will be perfect.

WLAN might need adjustments after inventory is received.

For a new warehouse facility, you need to have a WLAN installed before the inventory is

received. When the inventory is received, products are scanned in and out of the facility, so a

WLAN bar code system must exist to scan inventory into the facility.

For a new warehouse, it is best to have the inventory storage racks and shelving installed before

scheduling the survey. This will allow placing the access points out of the way of storage

vehicles (such as forklifts) so that they are not in jeopardy of being struck.

There is no way to guarantee the coverage area or overlap, due to the lack of inventory storage

at the time of the initial survey. It is best to perform the survey again after the inventory has

been added, to determine what changes, if any, are required to ensure optimum coverage and

performance.

www.CareerCert.info


37/280



Manufacturing

The applications are generallytransaction-oriented.

Throughput could be the primaryconcern.

Surveying should be doneconsidering the same concernsas with warehousing.

Manufacturing embraces WLAN solutions because they integrate well into its just-in-time

environment. WLAN devices are used for assembly line inventory accounting, RF-controlled

robots, quality control, network connectivity, and warehouse management. Forklifts can be

equipped with wireless data collection devices, and handheld devices can be given to mobile

workers.

Manufacturing presents some issues that the site survey engineer must consider:

High ceilings:Caution should be used when omnidirectional antennas are installed higher

than 40 feet (12.2 meters). This height causes data collection devices underneath the

antennas to lose the signal.

Forklift paths:Forklifts can knock down equipment when they are moving stock.

Machines:Conflicting frequencies can be generated by machines.

Chain-link fence:This kind of fence blocks and grounds RF signals (such as in the tool

room).

Conveyor belts:The metal in the belts causes multipath distortion.

Robots:Unmanned robots follow tracks in the floor to deliver products throughout the

plant.

Racking:Racking can affect WLAN devices, depending on how the racks are oriented and

what the racking holds.

Union regulations:It is important to respectfully find out what can and cannot be done by

the site survey engineer.

System redundancy:Lightweight access points deployed at half power are excellent for

system redundancy.

Antenna or AP mounting:Access point placement can be difficult, depending on how the

manufacturing plant is built.

www.CareerCert.info


38/280



Transportation

Rail yards

Rail cars:

Made of woodand metal

Transport a varietyof cargo

Large

Narrow pathways betweentracks

Transportation surveys for sites such as rail yards and airports present a variety of situations

and obstacles that site survey engineers must take into consideration. Rail yards are difficult to

survey and are difficult places to perform installations, for many reasons. The cars themselves

are very large and constructed of wood or metal. Cars can be filled with a variety of materials

that can limit the signal, such as livestock, wood, metals, or perishable materials in wooden or

cardboard boxes.

Inside the yard, tall rail cars that are located on parallel tracks form narrow pathways for the

signal. Yagi antennas mounted on poles above the cars at both ends of the yard are often the

best solution to this situation, allowing the RF signal to shoot down the narrow pathways.

www.CareerCert.info


39/280



Transportation (Cont.)

Airports:

Multidimensional coverage:

Typically open area

Long open pathways

High traffic areas.

Equipment can be damaged orstolen if left unattended.

Security restrictions:

Rules and regulations

Baggage ramp area

Airports are usually very wide, with long, open pathways between terminals. This type of

coverage makes the survey simpler for the engineer because the survey becomes

multidimensional. However, surveying an airport can be difficult. Although people are

certainly used to seeing work crews roaming throughout an airport, it does not mean that they

will be cautious around an engineer during a site survey. Proper care of the site survey

materials is important to prevent theft or injury. A misplaced cable that a traveler trips over

could result in a lawsuit.

In addition, today more than ever, airports are concerned with security. Access points and

battery packs, with their flashing lights and wires wrapped around them, can easily be mistakenfor some sort of destructive device. It is important for site survey engineers to meet with all

necessary security and facilities personnel before starting the survey.

One difficulty in covering airports arises when coverage is needed outside the facility; for

example, in the outdoor baggage areas. Much like warehouse installations, these access points

can be subject to extreme weather conditions and might require weatherproof enclosures.

Another situation that the site survey engineer might encounter is that there could already be

wireless gear installed throughout the airport, making channel selection difficult. WLAN

products are used in many airports today by the airlines, as well as by service providers that are

enabling business travelers to connect to the Internet wirelessly while waiting for flights. The

projected wireless application must be in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) regulations as well as other governing guidelines for the specific airport.

www.CareerCert.info


40/280



Health Care Three-Dimensional SiteSurvey

Watch out for the two-dimensional trap.

Expect lots of access points.

Make use of nonoverlapping

channels.

Look for trauma or X-ray roomswith lead-lined walls.

Elevators represent potentialdead zones.

Health care site surveys are some of the most restrictive, time-consuming, and difficult site

surveys to perform. The primary reason for this difficulty is that almost every hospital is a

multistory building with numerous small rooms. Because of the multifloor configuration of

many sites, the survey must be thought of as a three-dimensional survey. While they are

marking site maps (which are two-dimensional), many engineers start to think of the survey as

2-D. The RF signal needs to be thought of as 3-D, covering not only the floor on which the

access points are mounted but also the floors above and below.

A hospital is a good example of a multifloor site survey. The need to think of a site survey as 3-

D is especially true in hospitals, because hospitals typically require a large number of accesspoints. Take advantage of the nonoverlapping channels when possible. For example, if one

access point is on channel 6, then the adjacent access point can be assigned channel 1 or 11.

Logically this is a better choice (due to utilization) than staying on a channel that is totally

unusable due to an interfering access point.

Watch out for trauma and X-ray areas where the walls might be lead-lined. Also locate elevator

shafts, which are usually colocated in hospitals and can be detrimental to the RF signal.

www.CareerCert.info


41/280



Health Care

Multiple floors

Numerous rooms

Numerous and quite diverseapplications

Multiple vendors of WLANequipment

Certain applications such as portable X-ray and ultrasound devices can require a lot of

bandwidth. These applications would require 802.11a or 802.11g data rates and are generally

used in the areas of the hospital that are the least friendly to RF signal propagation. Most of

these areas of the hospital have an overlay of RF networks. Those networks might be on

different frequency bands but are generally using one of the three industrial, scientific, and

medical (ISM) bands.

Beyond this, there are a number of concerns that the RF devices might interfere with the

wireless equipment, or vice versa, and hospital administrators want assurance that there will not

be interference. It is important to remember that portable hospital monitoring equipment mighthave embedded WLAN radios.

www.CareerCert.info


42/280



Health Care (Cont.)

Testing performed by biomedicaldepartment

Cisco access points:

ISM

FCC compliant

FCC safety

Hospital equipment should bebuilt to a standard to avoid RFinterference

Before any hospital floor space is surveyed, it is imperative for the site survey engineer to

determine that deploying 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz equipment will not interfere with life support

equipment. You obtain this information by having the hospital biomedical department certify

that the equipment will not cause life-threatening problems.

The 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz radios are FCC-compliant and are part of the ISM unlicensed band.

www.CareerCert.info


43/280



Health Care (Cont.)

Hospitals house sick people; beprepared to deal with thesituation.

Be sensitive to areas where you

might not be wanted or allowed. Hospital IT department escort is

needed for access to restrictedareas.

Do not abuse privileges.

Hospital surveys also require engineers with a certain amount of mettle. It is not unheard of to

need to survey the intensive care unit, infant intensive care unit, birthing unit, surgery unit, burn

victim unit, morgue, emergency room, or trauma unit. The sight of patients in a condition that

requires them to be in one of those units sometimes has a very profound effect on individuals.

The engineer needs to be able to handle all this with grace. More than one engineer has been

caught in the trauma unit when a critically injured patient is being wheeled in.

When surveying hospitals it is a good idea to have an escort who is part of the IT department

and is known throughout the hospital. This clears access in many departments that are not open

to the public. In the surgery area of the hospital, the engineer might be required to wear a gownto survey the area. Usually, engineers are not allowed in the psychiatric ward or the criminal

ward without a security escort.

www.CareerCert.info


44/280



Hotels and Hospitality

Multifloor construction

Numerous rooms

Throughput

Fewer users per access point

Multiple building materials

Hotels are much like hospitals in their building construction and configuration (multifloor with

many rooms). Hotels have started using WLANs to support data collection devices for taking

inventory of things such as minibars. However, with the popularity of the Internet and the

demand for Internet connectivity, WLANs are being installed into more and more hotels to

provide Internet connectivity for hotel guests. Beyond requiring the engineer to look at the

survey three-dimensionally, hotels present such concerns as data rates and throughput, and

security.

The high number of walls separating guest rooms decreases the range of access points and thus

increases the need for more access points.

Hotels want to offer their guests fast, reliable Internet access, which means fewer users per

access point. In addition, hotels historically have a lower density because rooms geographically

distribute users well, which helps with the placement of access points.

www.CareerCert.info


45/280



Hotels and Hospitality (Cont.)

Security:

Physical

Network

Billing

Aesthetics:

Older hotel buildings:

Hard-cap ceiling

Poured concrete walls

Newer hotels have drop-tile ceilings.

Hotels often have restaurants and retail and convention areas, which makes them public places

and thus susceptible to theft and vandalism. A good practice is to properly secure access points

to ceilings or walls, or hide them above the ceiling.

Hotels also have many of the same concerns as hospitals regarding aesthetics. Depending on

the age of the hotel, building construction might become a factor. Newer hotels have drop-tile

ceilings in hallways but rarely in guest rooms. Older hotels often have hard-cap ceilings. These

ceilings are poured concrete. There is no real, effective way to run cable across a hard-cap

ceiling. Keep this fact in mind when you are deciding where to mount access points. Older

hotels can also have walls of poured concrete instead of drywall. This situation presents thesame problems as hard-cap ceilings. A solution is to use Cisco Long-Reach Ethernet (LRE)

over the existing phone lines; Cisco LRE makes use of the phone lines for high-speed Ethernet.

www.CareerCert.info


46/280




Possible interference with hotel infrastructure wireless:

Cleaning services

Maintenance

Security

Possible multiple providers in separate locations of hotel:

Rooms

Convention center

Retail areas

Wireless has become increasingly popular as a means of streamlining hotel operations for

everything from guest services (check-in, concierge) to house cleaning and maintenance.

Handheld devices and IP phones require their own infrastructure. If the public access provider

is willing, the use of VLANs can allow single access points to support both public and private

usage. Otherwise, overlay networks are required.

Hotels are no longer simply places for travelers to spend the night. Increasingly, they have

everything that travelers need during their stay: convention and conference services, retail

shops, and, of course, restaurants. These locations might have their own contracts and

providers, causing possible interference between networks.

www.CareerCert.info


47/280




Hotel conference centers:

Sporadic usage

High density for key shows

Differing security requirementsfor individual shows

Convention and conference centers do not have continual usage and often provide fewer access

points. When a convention or conference is taking place, however, there might be a huge

number of users in a small area, a situation that requires a high number of access points

providing high throughput per user.

The convention center network usually needs to be isolated and available for numerous changes

and additions. Each incoming convention requires different types of security (Wi-Fi Protected

Access 2 [WPA2], IEEE 802.1X, open, and so on), as well as front-end servers and other

services available to attendees. This location should not be connected to the hotel network

because it could provide a source for viruses and bring instability to the hotel network.

www.CareerCert.info


48/280



Hotspots

Hotspot provider:

Subscribers

Survey might not be necessary

Effective range 300 to 500 feet

Generic network

Public areas:

Coffee shops, restaurants, hotels

Airports, convention centers

Marinas, parks

Camp grounds, RV parks

The buzzword hotspot refers to a type of 802.11 wireless access points that is booming in

public areas. These hotspots are targeted at the business community and people on the go who

see the value in staying connected. Hotspot providers need to offer high-speed throughput and

transparent use of Internet subscriptions to satisfy the paying public.

Some of these locations can be easily covered by one access point (300 to 500 feet, or 91.44 to

152.4 meters). Coffee shops, airports, and other locations require a more elaborate

configuration.

According to research estimates for 2007, 40 million people were using hotspot locations

worldwide, with the popular use of handheld devices and laptops being shipped with embedded

wireless network cards.

www.CareerCert.info


49/280



Hotspots (Cont.)

New and emerging technologies and standards.

802.11n to complement 802.11a/g.

Appropriately plan for users to have different types of technology

cards. Increased number of hotspots means increased interference,

possible overlap.

Hotspots are designed to cater to anyone who wants to obtain access to the Internet. With the

emergence of 802.11a, 802.11g combined with 802.11b, and 802.11n, providers must offer

additional capabilities. Cisco access points provide for all three technologies via a single access

point using multiple radios per access point; however, each radio has a different range, and

therefore, site surveys must be performed for each technology.

With the increasing demand for public access, a large number of locations are offering hotspot

services. These areas might be located in close geographic proximity to one another, which

increases the potential for interference. Pay close attention to who is in close proximity and

their possible interference.

www.CareerCert.info


50/280



Education

Children can be:

Curious

Destructive

Antennas and access points should be hidden or enclosed toavoid damage.

The primary concern when you are implementing a WLAN in an educational facility is the

students. More and more WLANs are being installed in grade schools, middle schools, and high

schools. Students at this age have a tendency to be curious and sometimes destructive. An

antenna mounted to the ceiling in a hallway is not likely to stay mounted for long. Access

points have flashing lights that seem to attract the curiosity of children.

Educational facilities, more so than any other implementation, must have the equipment

installed in the most inconspicuous manner possible. This level of precaution is the only way to

ensure that the equipment is safe. However, other security mechanisms can help with the

situation. Using National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) enclosures withenclosed locks can help prevent tampering or theft. You can use these enclosures in locations

where access points cannot be hidden easily, or in a truly high-risk area. Another approach that

has become common is to have one dual-radio access point per classroom, which fits a class

size of 25 to 30 students.

www.CareerCert.info


51/280



Education (Cont.)

New technologies requiringschools to plan for new surveys

New applications(IP telephony and surveillance)

requiring increased access pointdensity

Wireless technology provides more than just data access for laptops; it can also be used for IP

telephony or surveillance cameras. These technologies use additional bandwidth that requires

increased density of access points or use of newer technologies (802.11g and 802.11n). New

site surveys might need to be conducted on locations that have already deployed wireless

technology that was designed exclusively for limited data access. Many campuses are

converting from autonomous to controller-based solutions.

www.CareerCert.info


52/280



Government

Secure facilities

Variety of facilities

Security clearance

Equipment checklists

Government facilities, like airports, are at a heightened level of security, and care should be

taken that the site survey equipment is not mistaken for something other than site survey

equipment. There are facilities of every type at government locations, particularly military

facilities. Security clearances or escorts are likely to be required as part of a government site

survey. The vehicle of the site survey engineer might be subject to a search upon entering or

leaving the facility. An equipment list might be required, and the equipment might be checked

on a daily basis.

Equipment lists and proper documentation are required when entering foreign countries to

perform site surveys. Each country might have different standards and require differentdocumentation for entering the country with site survey equipment. The site survey engineer

must be prepared and have the proper paperwork to save time, trouble, and potentially the

expense of having the equipment bonded or retained by the customs department.

Note United States government facilities are all Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)

compliant. Cisco access points that support Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)

encryption have passed the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) FIPS

140-2 level two validation. Other governments can have similar requirements.

www.CareerCert.info


53/280


SummaryThis topic summarizes the key points that were discussed in this lesson.


Summary

An RF site survey is the first step in the deployment of a wirelessnetwork, and it is the most important step to ensure desiredoperation.

The WLAN for the enterprise office needs to be designed aroundthe applications that are intended to run on the wireless network.

Each vertical market has characteristics that help the personperforming the site survey to assess the RF environment.

References

For additional information, refer to these resources:

http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/11/Reports/802.11_Timelines.htm

www.CareerCert.info


54/280


www.CareerCert.info


55/280

Lesson 2

Identifying CustomerRequirements

OverviewAsking the right questions is the key to any successful WLAN deployment. Each company and

location has unique needs that must be taken into account. This lesson describes pre-site survey

customer questionnaire contents, the pros and cons of the wireless protocols and applications,

and device association. This lesson will also help you understand the challenges associated with

the customers facility. In addition, you will be able to assess the current network infrastructure

for access point deployment.

Objectives

Upon completing this lesson, you will be able to identify customer requirements. This ability

includes being able to meet these objectives:

Describe the contents and importance of the pre-site survey customer questionnaire

Describe RF applications and the client devices associated with them

Describe the customer facility and the impact it has on the site survey

Describe the customers current network infrastructure and the impact it has on the site

survey

www.CareerCert.info


56/280


The Customer QuestionnaireThis topic describes the contents and importance of the pre-site survey customer questionnaire.

Having your customers fill out a pre-site survey form helps you design a WLAN that meets

their needs and requirements.


Site Survey Preassessment

Assists in assessing thefollowing:

Type of survey that isneeded

How long it will take

Equipment that is needed

Introduction to thecustomer facility

General fact-gathering form

When the decision has been made to conduct a site survey, the customer should complete a pre-

site survey questionnaire form to help determine the length and type of survey, what equipment

will be needed, and what questions the engineer will need to ask during a walkabout. The

completed questionnaire maximizes the effectiveness and efficiency of the engineer when

conducting the site survey and serves as an introduction to the customer facility.

The customer should make sure that all the information that is needed is mentioned in the form.

Because the questionnaire is completed before the survey visit, the engineer receives important

information in advance, which might otherwise take hours to extract on-site.

www.CareerCert.info


57/280



Pre-Site Survey Questionnaire

Suggestions as to what, at a minimum, the questionnaire shouldcontain:

Customer contact information

Total number of sites Number of buildings per site

Hours of operation

Hours during which the site survey can be performed

Approximate square footage of facility

Total number of users, minimum and maximum

Packet size, average and maximum

The questionnaire should contain contact information such as customer name, address, phone

number, and email address; number of sites to be surveyed; square footage; hours of operation;

and the hours that the survey can be conducted. It is not uncommon in retail environments for

the survey to be conducted when the store is closed, such as during the late evening or early

morning.

What is the intended number of users for the WLAN? This helps to determine access point

density. If known, what is the application and its average packet size? If you do not fill out the

form yourself and plan on giving the questionnaire to the customer, do not be surprised if many

of the more technical questions go unanswered.

www.CareerCert.info


58/280



Pre-Site Survey Questionnaire (Cont.)

RF coverage information:

RF coverage inside and outside

Complete or selective RF coverage

Encryption to be utilized

Utilizing rate shifting

Network infrastructure:

Existing network topology

Network speed 10/100/1000BASE-TX

Copper or fiber network media

If copper, Category 5 or 6 cabling

The questionnaire should be specific as to where the RF coverage is needed. Defining where

coverage is provided is critical to setting expectations for end users. It is not uncommon for

customers to request 54 Mb/s coverage in all areas inside and outside the building, but after you

talk to them and they find out how many access points are required to provide that coverage,

the customers then decide that 11 Mb/s or 5.5 Mb/s is sufficient for several of the areas.

The questionnaire should contain information on the type of encryption to be used and whether

or not rate shifting will be used. Remember, your customers are not likely to know what a

WLAN is, what packet size refers to, or even what rate shifting means, so it will be

difficult for them to know if they have or need one of those. You will need to explain some ofthe technical questions to the customer.

The questionnaire should make you aware of the environment you are going to survey; for

example, what type of infrastructure devices and media are used in the facility, and if there is

an existing network. You need to know the media types that could encompass the network.

Most networks likely use some type of copper cabling or even fiber optic cabling. The most

frequently used types of cabling are Category 5 and unshielded twisted-pair (UTP). Which

types of switches and routers are currently being used? Cisco Aironet 1250 Series Access

Points require 10/100/1000BASE-TX switch ports.

During the survey a tour of all wiring closets should be taken to document existing network

infrastructure.

www.CareerCert.info


59/280




Site information:

Ceiling heights

Racking or shelving? If yes, describe construction

Clearance above storage level

Any hazardous areas?

Is there a lift available?

Special safety requirements such as steel-toe boots, hard hat,safety glasses

During an installation, you will need to gain access to ceilings or roofs of a building. In most

buildings a ladder is all that you will need to get to the ceiling. However, in warehouses where

the ceilings are typically very high you will need some type of powered equipment, such as a

forklift or a man lift, to access the ceiling. In such cases the questionnaire should mention this

equipment; will it need to be rented, or does this type of equipment already exist at the facility?

The questionnaire should include questions about racking and clearance above storage levels.

Warehouses generally contain stock and rows of shelving. Be sure to ask questions about the

current stock levels. If the stock levels are high, you will get a much better picture of the RF

coverage. This would be a good indication if an omnidirectional antenna or directional antennaswill need to be used during the survey.

Another extremely important question in the questionnaire should pertain to safety

requirements. It can be frustrating to arrive at the location ready to perform the survey and find

out that you need steel-toe boots. Find out what safety equipment is needed before the day of

the survey.

www.CareerCert.info


60/280




Is this a union facility?

Is there other non-WLAN RF equipment installed at the facility?

If so, what frequencies are they using?

The questionnaire should include questions about escorts, badges, and general access to the

facility. If you do not have this information you might need to wait to start the survey of a

particular area because the security guard does not know who you are and will not let you into

the facility. At union facilities, regulations can include requirements such as having one of the

employees drive the man lift, or your being accompanied by a union escort during the survey.

Is there any other wireless gear installed at the facility? This could be anything that runs in the

2.4-GHz or 5-GHz unlicensed bands, such as cordless phones, wireless cameras, and so on.

The pre-site survey questionnaire is an invaluable tool for preparing for your site survey. For a

smooth survey, ensure that you have most or all of your questions answered before you arrive

on site.

www.CareerCert.info


61/280



Obtain Floor Plans Prior to Survey

AirMagnet and Cisco WCS require floor plans.

Part of the site survey report should include a floor plan with coverage and noncoverage areas.

This floor plan, or site map, provides the customer, the installer, and a troubleshooter with

some indication of what coverage each access point should be providing.

Before starting the survey you should obtain floor plans of the facility you plan to survey.

Normally for large facilities these are available in computer-aided design (CAD) form. This

drawing format works well with Microsoft Visio, allowing you to import your final placement

and coverage into a Microsoft Word document.

Other programs such as Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS) and AirMagnet Survey PRO

require floor plans to be imported to use certain tools. Verify the file format accepted by Cisco

WCS and AirMagnet Survey PRO and see if you can obtain the floor plan in an accepted file

type.

The following file formats can be used with Cisco WCS:

PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF, and related CAD files

The following file formats can be used with AirMagnet Survey PRO:

BMP, DIB, DWG, DXF, EMF, GIF, JPG, VSD, and WMF

www.CareerCert.info


62/280


RF Applications and Client DevicesThis topic describes RF applications and the client devices associated with them. A look at the

IEEE 802.11b/g, IEEE 802.11a, and IEEE 802.11n RF applications and RF client devices will

provide guidelines to the person performing the site survey.


Customer Requirements

Protocol requirements:

802.11b/g 2.4 GHz

802.11a 5 GHz

802.11n 2.4 or 5 GHz

Client devices:

Wireless NIC

PDA

Wireless phone, QoS RFID tags

Client density:

Typical

Peak

These are some of the questions that need to be addressed:

What is the customer requirement?

Does the customer have an existing network application that requires 802.11b/g, 802.11a,

or 802.11n?

Will the customer need to install wireless network interface cards (NICs) for all the desktop

PCs?

Do employees have company-issued personal digital assistant (PDA) devices or 802.11

phones that need to be supported on the WLAN?

What are the quality of service (QoS) requirements?

Are any form of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags used to track company assets?

What is the density of users during a typical day and during peak hours that cause an

instantaneous load, such as during inventory?

www.CareerCert.info


63/280



Customer Requirements (Cont.)

Expected throughput:

802.11b is typically 5.5 Mb/s.

802.11g is typically 20 Mb/s:

802.11g is typically 6 Mb/s with 802.11b clients present.

802.11a is typically 22 Mb/s.

802.11n expected (>100 Mb/s).

What is the expected throughput?

802.11b is typically 5.5 Mb/s.

802.11g is typically 20 Mb/s:

802.11g is typically 6 Mb/s with 802.11b clients present.

802.11a is typically 22 Mb/s.

802.11n expected (>100 Mb/s).

Note 802.11n speeds can vary due to the environment and depending on whether channel

bonding is enabled or not enabled.

www.CareerCert.info


64/280



Protocol Evaluation

The standards that must be supportedby an enterprise WLAN are usuallydictated by the devices that require

support.

What is the right answer for yourenterprise WLAN solution?

IEEE 802.11a?

IEEE 802.11g?

IEEE802.11n?

One of the critical decisions in deploying a WLAN is what protocols and bands it will support.

The standards are usually dictated by the devices that require support.

Is this a new WLAN, or it is an upgrade that still supports legacy clients (802.11b)?

www.CareerCert.info
http://www.careercert.info/http://www.c

Date post:	16-Oct-2015
Category:	Documents
Upload:	nkemot
View:	35 times
Download:	2 times

Cuwss v1.0 Student Guide_vol1

Documents