802.11b Packet Formats
==========================


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        **What is the basic structure of an 802.11b packet?**

        It consists of a MAC header, payload (data), and Frame Check Sequence (FCS) for error detection.

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        **What fields are included in the 802.11b MAC header?**

        Frame Control, Duration/ID, Address fields, Sequence Control, and sometimes QoS control.

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        **How many address fields can an 802.11b packet have?**

        Up to four address fields to support different types of networks like infrastructure and ad hoc.

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        **What is the purpose of the Frame Control field?**

        It defines the frame type, subtype, protocol version, and control flags like retry and power management.

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        **What types of frames exist in 802.11b packet formats?**

        Management frames, control frames, and data frames.

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        **What is the Duration/ID field used for?**

        It indicates the time the channel will be reserved or carries the association ID in power save mode.

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        **What does the Sequence Control field do?**

        It helps in ordering packets and detecting duplicates by providing sequence numbers and fragment numbers.

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        **What kind of control frames are defined in 802.11b?**

        ACK, RTS (Request to Send), CTS (Clear to Send), and PS-Poll frames.

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        **How is fragmentation handled in 802.11b packets?**

        Large packets can be split into fragments, each with its own header and sequence number.

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        **What is the role of the Frame Check Sequence (FCS)?**

        It provides error detection using a cyclic redundancy check (CRC).

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        **Are there differences between management and data frame formats?**

        Yes, management frames have specific subfields for network control, while data frames focus on payload transmission.

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        **How do QoS features affect 802.11b packet formats?**

        Basic 802.11b does not support QoS; later amendments like 802.11e add QoS control fields.

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        **How are multicast and broadcast addressed in packet formats?**

        They use special MAC address values and are indicated in the Frame Control field.

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        **What is the maximum payload size in 802.11b packets?**

        The maximum MSDU size is typically 2304 bytes before fragmentation.

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        **How does the Address 4 field work in 802.11b packets?**

        It is used in Wireless Distribution System (WDS) or mesh networks to support four-address frames.

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        **Are the packet formats compatible with other 802.11 standards?**

        Yes, 802.11b uses similar MAC frame formats as 802.11a/g with some PHY differences.

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        **What role does the Sequence Control play in retransmissions?**

        It helps identify duplicate frames to avoid processing retransmitted packets multiple times.

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        **How is frame aggregation handled in 802.11b?**

        Frame aggregation is not supported in basic 802.11b; it is introduced in later standards like 802.11n.

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        **What ensures interoperability in packet formats?**

        Strict adherence to IEEE 802.11 MAC frame format specifications enables devices from different vendors to communicate.



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        Topics in this section,

                * :ref:`Learnings in this section <packet_formats_step1>`

                * :ref:`Terminology <packet_formats_step2>`

                * :ref:`Version Info <packet_formats_step3>`

                * :ref:`packet_formats Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 <packet_formats_step18>`

                * :ref:`Reference links <packet_formats_step17>`

.. _packet_formats_step1:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: Learnings in this section

        * In this section, you are going to learn

.. _packet_formats_step2:
 
.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: Terminology
        
       * Terminology


.. _packet_formats_step3:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: Version Info
    
         * Version Info


.. _packet_formats_step18:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: packet_formats Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4
 
       * setup


.. _packet_formats_step17:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: Reference links
     
       * Reference links