802.11WLAN Hands-On Analysis: Unleashing the Network Monitor for Troubleshooting and Optimization

by Byron W. Putman

The equivalent of a five-day, hands-on WLAN Troubleshooting and Optimization seminar, the book includes a license for a 90-day fully functional LinkFerret Network Monitor, capture files and filters. A... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1425907350
• ISBN13: 9781425907358
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Authorhouse
• Length: 292 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.3" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Supplementary files and programs were never available

If you're always on the hunt for good 802.11 books, like I am, then you'll want a copy of this book. The authors style is very precise, and includes a lot of detail you won't find anywhere else. At least in a single book However, if want to actually run through the sniffer files using the referenced tools in the book, forget it - they don't exist. Apparently the author ran into some kind of problem, from the very start, when he got this book published. I know, I got a copy very soon after it came out. None of the sample files or programs have ever been made available. It's really a shame ! I'd have given this book a 9 1/2, out of 10, stars if you could find all the materials.

Excellent wireless reference - needs a 2nd edition

I can see how some may not like this book. Because its about analyzing packets and protocols and interpreting network packet captures. This is not for everyone, and not (yet) for those seeking to first pass industry certification exams. But if you want to become a real network troubleshooter (which is what happens after you pass your certification exams) this book is a great way to get your feet wet. While the technology has progressed since this book was published, its still pretty relevent. I wish Byron Putman would come out of the woodwork and publish another similar book on 802.11n Hands on Analysis. Byron, Encore!

WLAN Hands-On seminar disguised as an inexpensive paper-back book

As a CCSI (Cisco Certified Systems Instructor) at a world-wide technical seminars organization I'm always on the lookout for new, challenging in-depth books. I've worked with the author on several network consulting and seminar development projects. Having a minimal WLAN & Wi-Fi technical background I picked up the beta version 802.11 WLAN Hands-On Analysis with a bit of trepidation. [...]Chapters 1 and 2 focus on the detailed physical and media access control issues of wireless networks. I found the explanation and flowcharts on CSMA/CA especially fascinating as they revealed why performance analysis and optimization of WLAN is so critical. Chapter 3 is a mind blower! How many frames do you think it takes for an 802.11g wireless node to exchange just one ping request and response with an 802.11b node in the same network? I will never again share files and printers from wireless computers because the performance issues are immense. Chapter 4 tackles what is mistakenly considered as a rather mundane process, how a wireless station finds the access point. The capture file analysis and two mini-case studies on phantom protection and SSID broadcasting were truly insightful. The field and bit-level analysis is amazing. LinkFerret is simple to use and its features are readily accessible. The capture files and filters make the analysis text and screen shots really hit home. Chapter 5 reveals the mysteries of Authentication and Association. Once again, the hands-on mini-case studies were insightful and relevant - especially the information about disassociation and deauthentication. One of the best aspects of the book is analyzing captures that show a working system and then transitioning to capture analysis of a broken system. I'm a troubleshooter at heart and that approach is what every WLAN administrator and technical support person needs.I was disappointed that the author didn't include a section on advanced authentication using 802.1x port-based control and RADIUS, but I understand that he's currently working on a follow-up text dedicated to 802.11i security analysis. Chapter 6 addresses 802.11 fragmentation, RTS/CTS medium reservation and MTU. Using a capture, simple math and a little logic, the author proves that the IEEE definition of 802.11 maximum frame size has little to do with how the specification is implemented in production networks. This dovetails nicely with the performance and optimization theme of the chapter. I don't know of any other book that addresses the issues of why support of fragmentation and RTS/CTS medium reservation seems to have been dropped in most 802.11g products and why one would ever configure the RTS threshold on an access point. These are nuts and bolts issues that aren't addressed anywhere else. Finally, Chapter 7 addresses the bottom line of how much TCP-based data can be pushed through various 802.11b and 802.11g connections and how invoking CTS-to-Self protection has a disastrous affect on thro

The Best Hands-On 802.11 Course on the Market!!!

I've taken several active directory design and security seminars from Byron when he was with Learning Tree International. When he invited me to work with him on the beta test of the WLAN analysis book and course last summer in Portland I jumped at the chance. The first time I analyzed the capture of a failed client authentication due to a misconfigured WEP key, I knew that I'd never attempt to troubleshoot or optimize a WLAN without a network monitor. I've applied the knowledge from the book and capture files almost every week into my own consulting practice. [...] The book has over 300 illustrations and screen shots of wireless capture files - the analysis is done frame-by-frame, field-by-field and bit-by-bit. I've outgrown LinkFerret and invested $1,000 in AiroPeek, but I would have been clueless without the tutorial nature of the book, capture files and filters. It's a lot of work and a lot of headaches, but if you want it badly enough, this is the book for you! [...]