Mapping Your Wireless Networking Capabilities andInfrastructure


Mapping Your Wireless Networking Capabilities and Infrastructure

The same features that can be used to work with wired connections can be used to work with wireless connections. This means that everything you’ve learned about Network Center, Network List, Network Map, and Network Connections can be used to help you work with wireless connections. Because Windows Vista represents wireless (IEEE 802.11) as a media type separate from Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), there are a few differences that should be noted. These differences are explored in the sections that follow.

Listing and Connecting to Available Wireless Networks

These days, most laptops and portable computers have wireless network adapters, and so do some workstations. No matter where you are, you can get a list of available wireless networks in your area and connect to one by using your wireless network adapter.

To view and connect to an available wireless network, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, and then click Connect To.

  2. A list of the wireless networks currently available is displayed.

  3. Select a network, and then click Connect.

The network list is available only if your computer has a wireless network adapter installed, the adapter is turned on, and there are no policy settings blocking your computer from browsing for available wireless networks. If you don’t see the network to which you want to connect, click the I Don’t See The Networks I Am Looking For link. On the Select A Connection Option page, select the Show All Connection Options check box. Select the type of connection that you are trying to use, and then follow the prompts to configure the connection.

Tip 

Some networks are protected with a network security key. To connect to one of these networks, you must obtain the key from your network administrator or the service provider.

Connecting to Public Wireless Networks

When connecting to public networks, you might be asked to set up an account and save files to your computer. Before you do this, however, make sure that you understand which files, if any, are saved to your computer and what type of information the network provider collects from your computer. Read the service provider’s privacy statement carefully, and keep in mind that even if the service provider requires you to create an account, that doesn’t mean that the connection you are using is secure.

Caution 

You should be wary of working on company-sensitive information or accessing password-protected areas of your business network while you are connected to a public network. If you connect to a network that is not secure, anyone with the right tools can intercept the data being transmitted from your computer, and they would see any user names and passwords you use, the Web sites you visit, the documents you work on, and the messages you send.

You can view and connect to a public wireless network in the same way as you can connect to an available wireless network:

  1. Click Start, and then click Connect To.

  2. A list of the wireless networks currently available is displayed.

  3. Select a network, and then click Connect.

When you connect to a wireless network that supports Wireless Provisioning Service (WPS) technology, you are prompted to download provisioning files that will allow your computer to connect to the network. While these files are generally safe to download, you should verify that the Web site from which the files will be downloaded is one that you expected based on your location or one that you trust to provide you with the information. If you choose to download provisioning files, you download the files from the provider and then store them on your computer for as long as you want to use the wireless network. The files do not contain any personal information about you or your computer. Instead, they provide details on the network configuration and on how you can access the network. If you choose not to download the files, you will not be able to connect to the wireless network.

When the provisioning files are downloaded, the Wireless Network Registration Wizard requests additional information from you. At this point, you might have to enter your credit card information to provide payment or you might simply have to acknowledge the service provider’s usage policy. Follow the instructions in the Wireless Network Registration Wizard to provide the appropriate information to the network provider.

After you have signed up with a wireless network that supports WPS, the provisioning files stored on your computer can be updated automatically. If you choose this option, your computer will connect to the wireless network provider’s computers and update the information stored on your computer according to the schedule set by the wireless network provider. Typically, the provider schedules an update once a week or once a month. The update process will occur only while you are already connected to the Internet and will not interfere with your use of your Internet connection. If you choose not to update the provisioning files automatically, the files will be updated the next time you connect to the wireless network. Updating the files is required to ensure that your computer has the correct information for the network.

Disconnecting a Wireless Connection

When you no longer need a wireless connection, you should disconnect the connection. To disconnect a wireless connection to the current network, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

  2. In Control Panel, under the Network And Internet heading, click View Network Status And Tasks.

  3. If you have a valid connection to the network, click Personalize under Network Details. The Status dialog box appears.

  4. The Connections In Use list show the connections you are using. Click the wireless connection, and then click Disconnect.

To disconnect an open wireless connection when your computer has multiple active connections, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

  2. In Control Panel, under the Network And Internet heading, click View Network Status And Tasks.

  3. In the left pane in Network Center, click Open Connections.

  4. Right-click the wireless connection, and then select Disable.




Introducing Microsoft Windows Vista
Introducing Microsoft Windows Vista
ISBN: 0735622841
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 101

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