Deploying WLAN configuration in non-domain environment

I need to deploy a particular WLAN configuration (SSID, security
settings, etc) to a large number of WinXP Pro SP2 computers that are not
in a domain. The users are university students who want to use the
university's WLAN. Currently they get several pages of documentation
that explain which checkboxes to set and which not and how to set it up
so that it correctly uses EAP. Unfortunately, this is too complicated
for most users and a lot of time is spent fielding support calls. We
really want to make this a lot easier. All the students receive a CD at
the beginning of each academic year that contains software to get them
started. We'd like to include a tool on the CD to simplify the
configuration of the WLAN. The tool should either:
a) completely configure a WLAN adapter with all necessary settings
b) provide an easy 1-2 page wizard where users can fill out settings
using a simple one page of documentation
We have programming resources available, but we don't have any resources
to pay for a tool or enter negotiations about whether we can distribute
it on a CD or not. Therefore, we'd really like to develop this
ourselves.
Unfortunately, I can't find any way to create a profile for SP2's WLAN
support from a program.
Does anyhow have any idea how to do this? Or at least where to start
looking?
If there is a better newsgroup to ask about this, please let me know as
well.

Thanks,

Patrick Schmid
--------------
http://pschmid.net

Patrick,

AFAIK Microsoft has what you need, but it is still in beta.
Tell your developers to logon on https://connect.microsoft.com
and look for beta program "WLAN API for Windows XP SP2"

If the above isn't suitable for you, but all your laptops are Centrino based,
you can make a solution based on Intel Proset software.
For this, contact your laptop vendor's tech support.

Regards,
--PA

"Patrick Schmid" wrote:
> I need to deploy a particular WLAN configuration (SSID, security
> settings, etc) to a large number of WinXP Pro SP2 computers that are not
> in a domain. The users are university students who want to use the
> university's WLAN. Currently they get several pages of documentation
> that explain which checkboxes to set and which not and how to set it up
> so that it correctly uses EAP. Unfortunately, this is too complicated
> for most users and a lot of time is spent fielding support calls. We
> really want to make this a lot easier. All the students receive a CD at
> the beginning of each academic year that contains software to get them
> started. We'd like to include a tool on the CD to simplify the
> configuration of the WLAN. The tool should either:
> a) completely configure a WLAN adapter with all necessary settings
> b) provide an easy 1-2 page wizard where users can fill out settings
> using a simple one page of documentation
> We have programming resources available, but we don't have any resources
> to pay for a tool or enter negotiations about whether we can distribute
> it on a CD or not. Therefore, we'd really like to develop this
> ourselves.
> Unfortunately, I can't find any way to create a profile for SP2's WLAN
> support from a program.
> Does anyhow have any idea how to do this? Or at least where to start
> looking?
> If there is a better newsgroup to ask about this, please let me know as
> well.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Patrick Schmid
> --------------
> http://pschmid.net
>