Security vs. ease of use

Hello!

I want to have a wireless access point that is secured by WPA, yet easy for
laptop users to connect to without having to enter confusing WPA keys or
SSID numbers. The goal would be to have a hot-spot where the secured
connection is available to many users via some sort of login screen where
all they enter is a user name and password they have been given.

Is there a way to do that and have the laptop get the proper settings
automatically?

Thank you for any help you can give!

Gregg

You might look at this page for one possible free solution...There may be others...

http://www.publicip.net/

I have never used this, but it may be a good starting point...

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights...


"Gregg Hill" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello!
>
> I want to have a wireless access point that is secured by WPA, yet easy for laptop users to
> connect to without having to enter confusing WPA keys or SSID numbers. The goal would be to have a
> hot-spot where the secured connection is available to many users via some sort of login screen
> where all they enter is a user name and password they have been given.
>
> Is there a way to do that and have the laptop get the proper settings automatically?
>
> Thank you for any help you can give!
>
> Gregg
>

Hi

There are varieties of solutions and it depends on what you would like to protect, your
environment, etc.

As an example if your concern is only your Network you can create a segregate Wireless
for casual users and leave the Wireless Unencrypted. http://www.ezlan.net/shield.html

Or ,you can use Win2003 and IAS (Radius) for total control.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...Kit/12f5422b-1
db2-4a7d-9484-f56cccfd2338.mspx

Or, you can try the concoction that is described in AL’s Link which seems to offer a
very elaborate solution.





"Sooner Al [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> You might look at this page for one possible free solution...There may be others...
>
> http://www.publicip.net/
>
> I have never used this, but it may be a good starting point...
>
> --
>
> Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)
>
> Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual benefit of
all of us...
> The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights...
>
>
> "Gregg Hill" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hello!
> >
> > I want to have a wireless access point that is secured by WPA, yet easy for laptop
users to
> > connect to without having to enter confusing WPA keys or SSID numbers. The goal
would be to have a
> > hot-spot where the secured connection is available to many users via some sort of
login screen
> > where all they enter is a user name and password they have been given.
> >
> > Is there a way to do that and have the laptop get the proper settings automatically?
> >
> > Thank you for any help you can give!
> >
> > Gregg
> >
>
>

Jack,

Would the RADIUS solution allow for automatically setting up encryption of
the connection after authenticating a user?

Gregg Hill


"Jack (MVP)" <Jack(MVP)@discussions.microsoft.com.> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi
>
> There are varieties of solutions and it depends on what you would like to
> protect, your
> environment, etc.
>
> As an example if your concern is only your Network you can create a
> segregate Wireless
> for casual users and leave the Wireless Unencrypted.
> http://www.ezlan.net/shield.html
>
> Or ,you can use Win2003 and IAS (Radius) for total control.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...Kit/12f5422b-1
> db2-4a7d-9484-f56cccfd2338.mspx
>
> Or, you can try the concoction that is described in AL’s Link which seems
> to offer a
> very elaborate solution.
>
>
>
>
>
> "Sooner Al [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> You might look at this page for one possible free solution...There may be
>> others...
>>
>> http://www.publicip.net/
>>
>> I have never used this, but it may be a good starting point...
>>
>> --
>>
>> Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)
>>
>> Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual
>> benefit of
> all of us...
>> The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights...
>>
>>
>> "Gregg Hill" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > Hello!
>> >
>> > I want to have a wireless access point that is secured by WPA, yet easy
>> > for laptop
> users to
>> > connect to without having to enter confusing WPA keys or SSID numbers.
>> > The goal
> would be to have a
>> > hot-spot where the secured connection is available to many users via
>> > some sort of
> login screen
>> > where all they enter is a user name and password they have been given.
>> >
>> > Is there a way to do that and have the laptop get the proper settings
>> > automatically?
>> >
>> > Thank you for any help you can give!
>> >
>> > Gregg
>> >
>>
>>
>
>