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Inconsistency Between Expected 802.11 Frame Format and Observed Ethernet II Frames in Wireless Data Transmission

asked 2023-11-28 06:06:10 +0000

I have successfully established a TCP connection between a server and a client using socket programming, with data being transmitted over a wireless network interface. According to my understanding, data packets sent over a wireless network should adhere to the 802.11 standard, and the frame format should align with 802.11 specifications. However, upon capturing packets using Wireshark at both the server and client ends, I discovered that the transmitted data is in the Ethernet II frame format, which is inconsistent with my expectations.

I would like assistance in understanding why the data packets appear as Ethernet II frames rather than the anticipated 802.11 frame format. Are there specific considerations or configurations that need to be addressed in order to ensure compliance with the 802.11 standard during wireless data transmission using socket programming?

I appreciate any insights or guidance on resolving this discrepancy and aligning the transmitted data with the expected 802.11 frame format.

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answered 2023-11-28 06:50:48 +0000

Jaap gravatar image

The full story is long (see https://wiki.wireshark.org/CaptureSet...), but can be abbreviated to the following.

In order to facilitate the integration of wireless interfaces into an operating system, the wireless interface driver software usually presents itself as a (virtual) Ethernet interface to the system. As such it passes along Ethernet II frames, of which is transfers the payload using 802.11 frames over the air interface.

Your capture usually takes place on this (virtual) Ethernet interface, hence you'll see Ethernet II packets. However, a wireless interface may provide a monitor mode, which allows capture access to the underlying 802.11 interface. You can find a checkbox for this in the capture options dialog. Unfortunately this mode is often not very well implemented and therefor may or may not work as expected. This very much depends on the total combination of hardware, driver software and operating system.

Above all this is the operating system, which provides a socket library on which application programs can create applications. This provides a high level abstraction of the communication channels provided by the infrastructure below, of which it usually does not have to concern itself about.

TLDR: No, when using sockets you do not have to worry about the medium the packets are transmitted on.

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Asked: 2023-11-28 06:06:10 +0000

Seen: 114 times

Last updated: Nov 28 '23