Way to script shutting off wireless NIC when docked?

Hi All,

We are using wpa to secure our wireless network and it works great (other
than roaming.) The problem we have is that employees with laptops leave the
wireless nic turned on while docked, wasting bandwidth off of the AP's from
mobile users who need it.

I'm wondering if anyone has been able to somehow script or automatically
turn off wireless radio while docked? (Not sure if it would be a hardware
profile thing) Also..many users like to 'hot dock', so not sure if hardware
profile would help.

Thanks much

Hi
It takes Bandwidth when it communicates (not by just being On). You can tune
the Metrics so that the communication will go through the wired NiC.
http://www.ezlan.net/metrics.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"Liam Curtis" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi All,
>
> We are using wpa to secure our wireless network and it works great (other
> than roaming.) The problem we have is that employees with laptops leave
> the wireless nic turned on while docked, wasting bandwidth off of the AP's
> from mobile users who need it.
>
> I'm wondering if anyone has been able to somehow script or automatically
> turn off wireless radio while docked? (Not sure if it would be a hardware
> profile thing) Also..many users like to 'hot dock', so not sure if
> hardware profile would help.
>
> Thanks much
>

Jack,

Thanks a million for the reply. This sounds like a great way to go!


"Jack (MVP-Networking)." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi
> It takes Bandwidth when it communicates (not by just being On). You can
> tune the Metrics so that the communication will go through the wired NiC.
> http://www.ezlan.net/metrics.html
> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>
> "Liam Curtis" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi All,
>>
>> We are using wpa to secure our wireless network and it works great (other
>> than roaming.) The problem we have is that employees with laptops leave
>> the wireless nic turned on while docked, wasting bandwidth off of the
>> AP's from mobile users who need it.
>>
>> I'm wondering if anyone has been able to somehow script or automatically
>> turn off wireless radio while docked? (Not sure if it would be a hardware
>> profile thing) Also..many users like to 'hot dock', so not sure if
>> hardware profile would help.
>>
>> Thanks much
>>
>
>

"Liam Curtis" wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> We are using wpa to secure our wireless network and it works great (other
> than roaming.) The problem we have is that employees with laptops leave the
> wireless nic turned on while docked, wasting bandwidth off of the AP's from
> mobile users who need it.
>
> I'm wondering if anyone has been able to somehow script or automatically
> turn off wireless radio while docked? (Not sure if it would be a hardware
> profile thing) Also..many users like to 'hot dock', so not sure if hardware
> profile would help.

Some wireless software has similar features. For one, Lenovo Access
Connections
will automatically shut down wireless radio when a wired LAN is connected.

Maybe it is not so hard to write a script or program that will disable the
wireless adapter (turning the wireless radio off is harder, as it requires
knowledge of proprietary information of manufacturers ).
As a starting point you can take the MS devcon utility (KB311272).

Regards,
--PA

Great util!

Thanks for that tip, as well!

"Pavel A." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news174603F-CA20-47C4-8DD4-(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Liam Curtis" wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> We are using wpa to secure our wireless network and it works great (other
>> than roaming.) The problem we have is that employees with laptops leave
>> the
>> wireless nic turned on while docked, wasting bandwidth off of the AP's
>> from
>> mobile users who need it.
>>
>> I'm wondering if anyone has been able to somehow script or automatically
>> turn off wireless radio while docked? (Not sure if it would be a hardware
>> profile thing) Also..many users like to 'hot dock', so not sure if
>> hardware
>> profile would help.
>
> Some wireless software has similar features. For one, Lenovo Access
> Connections
> will automatically shut down wireless radio when a wired LAN is connected.
>
> Maybe it is not so hard to write a script or program that will disable
> the
> wireless adapter (turning the wireless radio off is harder, as it requires
> knowledge of proprietary information of manufacturers ).
> As a starting point you can take the MS devcon utility (KB311272).
>
> Regards,
> --PA
>