CWAP - Certified Wireless Analysis Professional Official Study Guide (Exam PW0-205)

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Summary: Everything you wanted to know about WLAN analysis...
Review: but were afraid to ask!

Once again, wireless guru Devin Akin and team Planet3 Wireless have put out another WLAN mega-guide! If you have passed your CWNA and/or CWSP certifications and are looking to move up the ladder, this is obviously the book for you. Even if you are not looking for the certification but would just rather understand how things work "under the hood" of a WLAN, then this is also the book for you. Having attended one of the first "train the trainer" classes this past Spring in Atlanta, it was interesting to see this product develop over time. Our original "manual" for that class was a three ring binder with over 500 pages of information. I can state from strong personal experience, if you need to know how to fine tune a WLAN or troubleshoot through put and related technical issues...this is the definitive guide for you and needs to be one of the main books in your technical library. Other books may say they discuss these same topics, but I can assure you (since I own almost everything in print on WLANs) that none of them come even remotely close to the level of technical expertise that is imparted or the depth that is presented in this book. Get it...you will NOT be disappointed!

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Summary: Wireless Expertise at an amazing price
Review: I actually went to the beta CWAP class when it was being introduced. I was amazed and impress with the contribution made to this book by some of the wireless industry experts. The class was taught by Devin Akins who also wrote and contributed to every Planet3 books. I sat next to experts in the protocol fields and was able to learn and steal knowledge from experts.

I was not disappointed with this book at all. It covers basic topics from WEP to 802.1x. If you want to learn the process of authentication and be able to break down the protocols, please get a copy of this book. Even if you do not take the certification test, the knowledge in this book should be added to your library.

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Summary: This book is excellent
Review: I was in the beta CWAP class last year in Atlanta, enjoyed it - and found it to be very helpfull in understanding Wireless, down to the very roots it is built on. I never conduct anything to do with wireless - without this book by my side to refer to.

I have not come across anything related to wireless analysis that I needed to implement that was not discussed or referenced in this book.

The knowledge in this book should be added to your wireless toolkit, even if you are not going to be taking the test.

Great book!

Ranj.
Secure-Wireless Ltd.

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Summary: Plenty of interest but no time
Review: I work in the field of protocol analysis and value the difference between real-life and academia. Many books focus on theory by authors who have never actually been involved in real-life issues and thus their books are more of a masters thesis than reality.

There is not enough time for a professional in the field to read technical books for pleasure (unless you are a total geek). I need books that cut to the chase and are accurate.

The CWAP Study Guide focuses on real-life topics by authors in the know and should be mandatory reading for anyone remotely interested in the field of wireless...right after you finish the CWNA material. There are few people in the industry that have actually tested technology, worked with it in real-life and then written about their findings. Devin does an excellent job of this. The CWAP circle has grilled through the intricate details of wireless and the information is current, well thought out and well written.

After reading the study guide, feel free to prove that you understand the material...take the certification.

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Summary: A great book with potential to be an all time great one
Review: If this is your first foray into wireless protocol analysis then this book is very very helpful and easy to read but the flow of some of the topics needs to be corrected. For example in several of the first few chapters the authors throw around terms such as mmpdu, bsa, msdu, etc. before they are defined to the reader. The reader does not get the full definition of such words until chapter 5 and 6 and this can make things confusing for the first time reader. Since I had read the Cisco press 802.11 book before, those terms were not strange to me but their placement or use before the clarity could confuse some readers. Also, the Key Terms on page 127 for the chapter #4 of "configuration options and protections mechanisms" looks like the key terms from one of the earlier chapters.

My other issue is that the authors state that PCF is not wildly used and will only be covered in a summary fashion yet there is a lot of detail about PCF.

I disagree with the other reviewers about trace screens there should be more, see the Cisco press 802.11 book.

The layout of the frames and operation are very good and the book does make learning this topic a little easier. I did learn a few new things that I didn't get from the Cisco press book. I used the book mostly for the CWAP went through 4 reads plus 4 read of the Cisco press. I labbed a lot of the protocol traces to learn. The book is very good and does make it easier to learn and grasp. But, there is a lot to cover in this text for the exam. I was able to pass on the first attempt with a decent score.

The book, although very good for a first edition, does have a lot of errors and the errata is growing.

I and others have posted many of the errors to be included in the errata on the CWNP forum.

Overall it is an excellent book but these inconsistencies should be corrected in the second edition. It has the potential to be one of those all time great guides and professional reference once the errors are corrected.

Worth every penny and worth taking the CWAP. I learned a lot from this book....


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Summary: Best single source for understanding wireless analysis
Review: If you need to learn how to really analyze or troubleshoot a wireless network, this is the first book you should turn to. This book takes advanced concepts and presents them in a way that can be digested quickly.

As a power user of one of the leading wireless analyzers on the market, this booked helped me understand on a whole new level how to interpret captured data.

If you want to ensure your place in the IT industry for the next several years, download some demo versions of the commercial analyzers, buy this book and get started!

Thank you Planet3 Wireless for providing such a valuable resource.

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Summary: Uncovering the Holy Grail
Review: Once again, Devin and the team at Planet3 Wireless have done an exceptional job in presenting a book that brings together knowledge from what would normally take months just searching for material that can now be revealed in one, easily understood, invaluable source of information for the WLAN professional.

Whether it's knowledge on performance, security, RF coverage, design or analysis and troubleshooting of WLAN's that you require, the CWAP study guide takes you there. An incredible resource and the most in-depth coverage of the 802.11 MAC & PHY layers, frame formats, WLAN system architecture and so much more. This book is a 'MUST HAVE' for all that are serious about becoming an expert in the wireless field and without a doubt, a 'NECESSITY' for the CWAP exam (PW0-205).

Having met Devin personally and seeing him in action during the CWAP course in Atlanta, I am not surprised at the least, to see such a high-quality resource. Well done and thank you to Devin and all those involved in sharing their knowledge and expertise with us. You have made our journey so much easier and enlightened us along the way.

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Summary: Further your wireless networking expertise.
Review: Protocol analysis provides the absolute best way to understand a network environment. Wireless protocol analysis is fast becoming a fundamental requirement in complex WLANs. This is due to so many different vendor products and solutions that may or may not follow industry standards. Many vendors implement proprietary solutions as well. The only way to know exactly what is occurring in your WLAN is by capturing and analyzing packets in transit.

The CWAP Official Study Guide covers much of the material learned during the CWAP course. The only topics left out are the labs performed during class sessions. Even so, the authors discuss many of the industry products used during the CWAP class and write about how to use them during protocol analysis sessions.

The CWAP Official Study Guide is a must-read for anyone considering the CWAP certification exam (PW0-205) who won't be attending the instructor-led training. The book provides a very technical and extremely indepth look at wireless networking protocols and technologies. While it is easy to get lost in all the technical aspects surrounding this topic, the authors do a very good job of covering everthing to the depth needed to become a wireless analysis professional. The exam verifies that knowledge and, believe me, it's a tough one -- I passed it on the second try.

So take some time to sit down with this book when you have access to a wireless network and your favorite wireless-capable protocol analyzer. You'll be amazed at what you can discover.

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Summary: A Wireless Resource You Don't Want to Be Without
Review: This is the guide of all wireless guides! If you are planning on taking the CWAP exam make sure you read this book. The author does an excellent job in making a difficult topic very easy to comprehend. The CWAP guide covers the MAC layer in great detail and is good for resource for novice and experienced wireless professionals. There is no other guide on this earth that explains wireless analysis in such detail.

This guide exceeded my expectations!

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Summary: A Comprehensive Guide
Review: Working in a software company that makes products for wireless networks, I've always been interested in reading books on WLANs. I think that this CWAP Study Guide is an excellent book not because it helps you prepare for the CWAP exam (it surely does), but because it's a comprehensive reference material on 802.11 networks.

Despite having spent many years in this industry, I found many interesting facts in this book. It's on my desktop now, and whenever I need to check something related to 802.11, it's my primary source of reliable information.