Wireless Domain Connections

[Undeadlord]

Hey all,

Question for anyone who works on a domain and has wireless users...

How do you handle the wireless connection to the network not being available before login? So any computers regular user would have their credentials cached and when they log in, the network comes up and syncs and life is peachy, no problem.

However when a new user sits down at that machine and attempts to log in, they cannot. No connection to the network until wireless comes up and it won't come up till someone logs in. Catch-22.

Apparently some wireless cards' software allows for always on type connections, but we use a variety of wireless cards, USB and built in alike. No way to use that, as our secure connections use the Windows Zero Config setups.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks!

Undeadlord

[GroundZero3]

Which MS os are you using?

[Undeadlord]

Windows XP and Win7 (x86 and x64 for Win7)

[GroundZero3]

I guess before you do that, how does the computer authenticate to the wireless network? Dot1x?

This might help try a test group policy with a laptop that makes the computer wait for the connection

"Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon\Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon"

Test that out and see if that clears up your issue

[Undeadlord]

I think I found a solution for this, initial testing seems to have it working, but here

Wireless and Windows Domain login? - Wi-Fi Planet Forums

about third from the bottom,

I had the same problem. What worked for me was setting the wait for network setting in group policy as mentioned above by M/Q and then setting a wireless profile into the group policy.

To set a wireless profile in group policy navigate to Computer Configuration>Windows Settings>Security Settings>Wireless Network (IEEE802.11) Policies

Then right click the blank space on the right and create a new wireless profile. This will add the wireless profile to all accounts on every computer affected by that policy, a global wireless policy so to speak. When this is done my wireless clients seem to make a network connection prior to logon. I am even able to connect via VNC to a client that has just had a fresh reboot and has not yet been logged on.

[GroundZero3]

Thanks for posting an update!