Question

A user calls with a problem. Her laptop uses the same hardware and software as many of the other clients on the network, and she can see the wireless network, but cannot connect. You run a sniffer, and results show the WAP is not responding to the association requests being sent by the wireless client. Of the following choices, which is the most likely source of the problem?

A. The wireless client does not use DHCP.
B. The wireless client is on the wrong wireless channel.
C. The WAP has MAC filtering engaged and does not recognize the MAC.
D. SSID Security is preventing the connection.

Answer 1

The most likely source of the connection problem is MAC filtering on the WAP, which restricts access to approved devices only.

Therefore, the correct answer is: option C). The WAP has MAC filtering engaged and does not recognize the MAC.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a user's laptop can see the wireless network but cannot connect, and a sniffer shows that the Wireless Access Point (WAP) is not responding to the association requests sent by the wireless client, then the most likely source of this specific problem is the WAP has MAC filtering engaged and does not recognize the MAC.

This is because association requests failing to elicit a response often means the WAP is deliberately not allowing the particular client device to connect. If MAC filtering is enabled, only devices with approved MAC addresses would be able to associate with the WAP.

The issue would not likely be due to the client not using DHCP or being on the wrong wireless channel if the network is visible. SSID security would lead to a failure after the association request if the security credentials provided were incorrect, but it would not prevent the WAP from responding to the request itself.