802.11b MAC Functions
=========================


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        **What are MAC functions in IEEE 802.11b?**

        MAC functions manage frame delimiting, addressing, error detection, and coordination of wireless access.

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        **How does 802.11b MAC handle medium access control?**

        It uses Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) to manage access to the shared wireless medium.

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        **What role does frame delimiting play in 802.11b MAC?**

        It identifies the start and end of each frame, ensuring data is correctly received and processed.

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        **How are addresses managed in 802.11b MAC?**

        The MAC layer uses multiple address fields to identify source, destination, transmitter, and receiver devices.

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        **What error detection methods are used in 802.11b MAC?**

        A Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) is used for detecting errors in transmitted frames.

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        **How does the MAC layer handle acknowledgments?**

        It requires ACK frames from the receiver to confirm successful frame reception, enabling retransmissions if needed.

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        **Does 802.11b MAC support frame fragmentation?**

        Yes, it can fragment large frames into smaller pieces for improved reliability and reduced retransmission overhead.

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        **What is the purpose of retransmission in MAC functions?**

        Retransmissions ensure data is reliably delivered despite potential wireless errors or collisions.

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        **How does MAC layer handle collisions?**

        By using CSMA/CA and random backoff timers to avoid and resolve frame collisions on the wireless medium.

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        **What is the function of the NAV (Network Allocation Vector)?**

        NAV acts as a virtual carrier sensing mechanism to indicate medium occupancy duration, preventing collisions.

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        **How does 802.11b MAC handle power management?**

        It supports Power Save Mode (PSM) where clients sleep and wake periodically to conserve battery.

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        **What is the role of RTS/CTS in MAC functions?**

        RTS/CTS handshake helps reduce collisions caused by hidden nodes during transmission.

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        **Does 802.11b MAC support Quality of Service (QoS)?**

        The original 802.11b standard has limited QoS; later amendments introduced enhanced mechanisms.

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        **How are sequence numbers used in MAC frames?**

        Sequence numbers help detect duplicate frames and maintain frame order.

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        **How does the MAC layer interact with the physical layer?**

        MAC prepares frames for transmission and controls timing while the physical layer handles modulation and signal transmission.

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        **What is the duration field in MAC frames used for?**

        It specifies the time the medium will be reserved for transmission, assisting in collision avoidance.

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        **How does MAC ensure fair access to the medium?**

        By implementing random backoff timers and contention windows to reduce repeated collisions.

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        **What types of frames are managed by the 802.11b MAC?**

        Management, control, and data frames are handled to enable network operation and data transfer.

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        **How does the MAC layer support roaming?**

        Through standardized association and reassociation protocols allowing clients to move between access points.


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        Topics in this section,
 
                * :ref:`Learnings in this section <mac_functions_step1>`

                * :ref:`Terminology <mac_functions_step2>`

                * :ref:`Version Info <mac_functions_step3>`

                * :ref:`mac_functions Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 <mac_functions_step18>`

                * :ref:`Reference links <mac_functions_step17>`

.. _mac_functions_step1:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: Learnings in this section

        * In this section, you are going to learn

.. _mac_functions_step2:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: Terminology

       * Terminology


.. _mac_functions_step3:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: Version Info

         * Version Info


.. _mac_functions_step18:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: mac_functions Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4

       * setup


.. _mac_functions_step17:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: Reference links

       * Reference links