WinXP Wireless

Our co. is about to go wireless in several of our offices. The plan is
to not broadcast the WLAN SSID across the network therefore on each
client we must create an entry for the in using the default WinXP
Wireless software...........

Is it possible to actually create a text file or some registry keys and
deploy this to all machines so that we don't have to manually create
the profile names for each of the access points we will use.........
this is because we have thousands of users and it'll be a pain doing
each PC manually...............

Assuming we don't use WEP/WPA encryption...... we will be using a cert
for authentication...............


Many thanks

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:

> Our co. is about to go wireless in several of our offices. The plan is
> to not broadcast the WLAN SSID across the network therefore on each
> client we must create an entry for the in using the default WinXP
> Wireless software...........
>
> Is it possible to actually create a text file or some registry keys and
> deploy this to all machines so that we don't have to manually create
> the profile names for each of the access points we will use.........
> this is because we have thousands of users and it'll be a pain doing
> each PC manually...............
>
> Assuming we don't use WEP/WPA encryption...... we will be using a cert
> for authentication...............
>
>
> Many thanks
Not broadcasting your SSID buys you almost nothing. With a decent
wireless snoop program the SSID can be found and you have not gained
anything. So do not bother with this and save yourself the hassle.

If this is a location where people could snoop (otherwise why bother
with the SSID plan) then why are you dismissing encryption. WPA
buys you really quite a lot (even WEP deters). Authentication only
stops people attaching to things, not seeing traffic.

David
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I'm not sure of the exact nature but my role is to minimise the setup
time for the workstations so I need to somehow come up with a way to
configure all the SSIDs automatically for all the 6000+
workstations.......... ;-(

[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <(E-Mail Removed). com> on 21 Feb 2006
17:03:37 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>Our co. is about to go wireless in several of our offices. The plan is
>to not broadcast the WLAN SSID across the network therefore on each
>client we must create an entry for the in using the default WinXP
>Wireless software...........
>
>Is it possible to actually create a text file or some registry keys and
>deploy this to all machines so that we don't have to manually create
>the profile names for each of the access points we will use.........
>this is because we have thousands of users and it'll be a pain doing
>each PC manually...............
>
>Assuming we don't use WEP/WPA encryption...... we will be using a cert
>for authentication...............

As always, "Google is your friend."
<http://www.google.com/search?q=windows%20deployment>
You'll find links to a variety of Windows deployment tools.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR ALT.INTERNET.WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FAQ_for_alt.internet.wireless>

[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <Ms%Kf.442927$(E-Mail Removed)> on Wed, 22 Feb
2006 15:30:52 GMT, John Navas <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
>In <(E-Mail Removed). com> on 21 Feb 2006
>17:03:37 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>
>>Our co. is about to go wireless in several of our offices. The plan is
>>to not broadcast the WLAN SSID across the network therefore on each
>>client we must create an entry for the in using the default WinXP
>>Wireless software...........
>>
>>Is it possible to actually create a text file or some registry keys and
>>deploy this to all machines so that we don't have to manually create
>>the profile names for each of the access points we will use.........
>>this is because we have thousands of users and it'll be a pain doing
>>each PC manually...............
>>
>>Assuming we don't use WEP/WPA encryption...... we will be using a cert
>>for authentication...............
>
>As always, "Google is your friend."
><http://www.google.com/search?q=windows%20deployment>
>You'll find links to a variety of Windows deployment tools.

Just a bit more searching with Google led to:

<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cableguy/cg0604.mspx#XSLTsection124121120120>
"The New Wireless Network Setup Wizard in Windows XP Service Pack 2"

To make the configuration of a WEP key or WPA-PSK much easier,
Windows XP with SP2 supports Windows Connect Now (formerly known as
Windows Smart Network Key [WSNK]), a new feature of wireless devices
that automates wireless network configuration. Windows XP with SP2
supports Windows Connect Now through updates to the wireless client
software and a new Wireless Network Setup Wizard.

The Wireless Network Setup Wizard steps you through the configuration
of wireless network settings--a wireless network name, the
authentication and encryption method, and a strong WEP key or
WPA-PSK--and then writes that configuration as a set of Extensible
Markup Language (XML) files on a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash
drive (UFD). You then plug the UFD into other wireless devices in the
home or small office that support Windows Connect Now. All of the
wireless devices that support Windows Connect Now automatically read
the settings from the XML files stored on the UFD and configure
themselves with the same settings as the computer on which the
Wireless Network Setup Wizard was initially run.

This new feature of Windows XP SP2 and other wireless devices, which
have a USB port and support Windows Connect Now, greatly simplifies
the configuration of strong security for wireless networks in the
home or small office.

<http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/NetXP_r/hh/NetXP_r/wps_a6f0782b-f542-4cb8-85bf-d6abd627492a.xml.asp>
"About Wireless Provisioning Services"

The Wireless Provisioning Services (WPS) enable the discovery of and
connection to wireless networks, typically wireless hotspots. XML
data provided by the wireless Internet service provider (WISP) is
used to provision wireless connection profiles managed by the
Wireless Zero Configuration service.

The WISP provides the XML provisioning data for its wireless network
connections through the following methods:

Wireless Network Provisioning

The wireless connection is provisioned through XML files from the WPS
provisioning store on the client. When the user attempts to connect
to a WISP wireless network, XML files can be automatically downloaded
from the WISP and saved in the provisioning store.

XML files can also be added and queried through the WPS
IProvisioningDomain interface. XML files added through this interface
pre-provision the wireless connection without needing to download
files from the WISP.

Moral: Google is often the best way to find what you are looking for.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR ALT.INTERNET.WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FAQ_for_alt.internet.wireless>

"(E-Mail Removed)" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>I'm not sure of the exact nature but my role is to minimise the setup
>time for the workstations so I need to somehow come up with a way to
>configure all the SSIDs automatically for all the 6000+
>workstations.......... ;-(

If all 6000+ workstations use the exact same wireless adapter, this
might be possible. However, I doubt it. The registry key is usually
located under the manufacturers ID such as:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORiNOCO\Driver
The SSID is in plain text, but the WEP and WPA keys are normally
encrypted. I've never tried transplanting a WEP/WPA registry key
entry between machines but suspect it might not work.

Windoze has a variety of deployment tools. Back in the daze of NT, I
was using MS SMS (system management suffer) to deliver updates to
workstations and sometimes install entire applications. It barely
worked and screwed up badly on 3rd party applications (i.e. anti-virus
software).

MS Server 2003 adds something similar with RIS (remote installation
services) in addition to MS SMS. I know zero about how it all works.
See:

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/art...ded-Setup.html
for clues.

Drivel: In the distant past, I've done some IP renumbering exercises
when two corporations merged. About 300 boxes in 3 locations. There
were some futile attempts to automate the process that were doomed
from the start by the wide variety of operating systems and
configurations. Instead, we just arranged a printed "script", found
as many college students as possible, did a dry run, and eventually
ruined a weekend juggling IP addresses. It worked well.

One of the IT managers mantra was "Never automate anything you only do
once". Methinks he was right.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

> I'm not sure of the exact nature but my role is to minimise the setup
> time for the workstations so I need to somehow come up with a way to
> configure all the SSIDs automatically for all the 6000+
> workstations.......... ;-(

If you have a domain environment, take a look at the 802.11 Windows GPO.