HCIP-WLAN study plan

Describe the AP-AC split-MAC architecture and state which functions stay on the AP versus the AC

Diagram the CAPWAP control and data tunnel establishment sequence from AP discovery to Join response, naming each message type

Explain how an AP obtains an AC address (DHCP option 43, DNS, static, broadcast) and rank the discovery methods by typical priority

Compare IPv4 and IPv6 CAPWAP transport and identify which ports and protocols carry control versus data traffic

Trace how AP entries move through the states an AC tracks (fault, idle, config, download, normal) and what triggers each transition

Explain AP onboarding failures caused by image mismatch, certificate mismatch, and license exhaustion, and state the first check for each

Describe VRRP-based AC hot standby: how the backup AC learns AP state and what happens to CAPWAP tunnels at failover

Distinguish AC virtualization (multiple ACs presented as one) from VRRP hot standby in terms of capacity and failover behavior

Describe dual-link backup for APs that can reach two ACs and when it is preferred over VRRP

Identify the fields of the 802.11 MAC header and classify management, control, and data frame subtypes by their function

Explain the probe, authentication, association, and 4-way handshake exchange in order, naming the frame types involved

Describe how 802.11k neighbor reports, 802.11v BSS transition management, and 802.11r fast BSS transition each reduce roaming time

Explain band steering and load balancing decisions an AC makes and the client behaviors that defeat them

Diagnose a sticky-client roaming complaint by choosing which frame captures and counters to inspect

Compare WEP, WPA, WPA2, and WPA3 on encryption, integrity, and key management, and state the specific weakness each successor fixes

Walk through 802.1X EAP authentication between supplicant, authenticator, and RADIUS server, naming the EAP methods common in enterprise WLAN

Explain Portal authentication and MAC authentication flows, including when each is appropriate and how they are bypassed or triggered

Describe the role of PKI and certificates in WLAN (AP identity, portal HTTPS, WPA2/WPA3-Enterprise server validation) and what fails when a certificate expires

Map 802.11 PHY generations (a/b/g/n/ac/ax) to their bands, channel widths, and headline modulation schemes

Explain WMM access categories and how EDCA parameters differ for voice, video, best effort, and background

Calculate a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channel plan for a given floor with a stated co-channel reuse target

Describe how transmit power, channel width, and CCI/ACI affect throughput and how to mitigate each type of interference

Explain air interface control features such as rate limiting, multicast-to-unicast conversion, and dynamic load balancing

Describe the workflow of WLAN Planner from site survey input to simulated coverage output and what it cannot replace

List the steps of an AP and AC software upgrade and the pre-checks that prevent a failed upgrade

Build a fault-isolation order for an AP that will not come online, from physical layer to AC-side logs

Explain how to read AC-side client and AP statistics to distinguish signal problems from configuration problems

Describe what eSight-style management platforms monitor and how alarms map to root causes

Describe how WLAN integrates with wired networks: VLAN mapping, AP management versus service VLANs, and DHCP relay placement

Explain CloudCampus WLAN architecture and how cloud-managed APs differ operationally from AC-managed APs

Describe WLAN location services: what data is collected, which positioning methods are used, and the accuracy limits

Explain how IoT traffic is carried over WLAN infrastructure and the segmentation concerns it raises

Review WLAN architecture options (centralized, distributed, cloud) and match each to a deployment size

Re-derive the CAPWAP onboarding sequence and roaming ladder diagram from memory and correct any gaps

Re-take a timed mixed-domain practice set and log every miss by domain

Revisit the three weakest domains using your own runbook and matrices rather than re-reading notes

State the key differentiator for each of the eight domains in one sentence each