List of PPDUs Supported in 802.11w
Does IEEE 802.11w modify the PPDU structure?
No, IEEE 802.11w does not alter the PPDU format; it operates above the PHY layer, focusing on management frame protection.
What is the role of PPDU in 802.11w?
PPDU encapsulates MAC frames, including protected management frames defined by 802.11w, for transmission over the physical medium.
Are protected management frames part of the PPDU payload?
Yes, the MAC frame (including protected management frames) becomes the payload of the PPDU.
Does 802.11w affect the OFDM symbol structure in PPDU?
No, 802.11w does not change any physical layer encoding or modulation; OFDM structure remains the same as in base 802.11 standards.
Is the SIGNAL field in PPDU impacted by 802.11w?
No, the SIGNAL field (which indicates data rate and length) is handled at the PHY layer and remains unchanged under 802.11w.
Does encryption under 802.11w affect the PPDU size?
Slightly. Management frame protection may increase MAC frame size, affecting PPDU payload length but not the PPDU format itself.
Can protected management frames be fragmented at the PPDU level?
No, fragmentation is handled at the MAC layer before PPDU encapsulation.
Are PPDUs still required to begin with a preamble in 802.11w?
Yes, the PHY preamble is required for synchronization and is unaffected by 802.11w features.
How does 802.11w ensure confidentiality of the PPDU?
It does not. 802.11w protects MAC management frames. The PHY PPDU structure is not encrypted or modified by 802.11w.
Is the tail field in PPDU affected by 802.11w?
No, the tail bits used for encoder termination in PHY are unchanged by 802.11w operations.
How is modulation handled in 802.11w PPDUs?
The modulation and coding schemes (MCS) are selected independently of frame protection; 802.11w has no influence here.
Are all types of frames protected inside a PPDU in 802.11w?
No. Only specific management frames (like deauthentication and disassociation) are protected under 802.11w.
Does PHY rate adaptation affect 802.11w functionality?
No, PHY rate changes (which affect PPDU structure) do not interfere with the security mechanisms of 802.11w.
Is MAC header encryption visible in the PPDU?
No, encryption occurs at the MAC sublayer. PPDU only sees the fully constructed encrypted MAC frame.
How are retransmissions handled for protected frames inside a PPDU?
Retransmissions follow standard MAC retry logic. The full PPDU (including protected MAC frame) is resent as needed.
Can PHY preambles be used to detect protected traffic?
No, PHY preambles contain no information about frame type or protection; that’s handled at the MAC layer.
What role does the PPDU play in securing 802.11w traffic?
It plays a transport role only. The security is embedded in the MAC frame within the PPDU payload.
Are there compatibility concerns when sending 802.11w frames in legacy PPDUs?
No. As long as the receiving device supports 802.11w, legacy PPDU formats can carry protected MAC frames.
Does 802.11w change how interleaving is applied in the PPDU?
No, interleaving for PHY symbols remains defined by the base standard and is unaffected by MAC security layers.
Can 802.11w be used with advanced PHY features like MIMO or beamforming?
Yes. 802.11w is independent of the PHY and is compatible with enhancements like MIMO, as long as the PHY supports them.
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