Wireless Computers and Group Policy in the corporate environment

[ifoam]

It seems like that our wireless computers cannot update its gpo through wireless alone. We need to connect the computers to a physical network everything we want to update them.

It seems like the part of logging in where one receives group policy is bypassed because the adapter is not ready yet.

Anyone ever had this problem?

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

It seems like the part of logging in where one receives group policy is bypassed because the adapter is not ready yet.

What are you using to manage the Wireless connection? If you are using the vendor's proprietary application to manage the wireless connection, consider turning it off and let the Windows Zero Wireless Configuration control the wireless adapter. The problem with the proprietary applications is they generally will not load until after the user has already logged into the machine (probably using cached credentials) and then the adapter will connect to the network.

Assuming the clients are using Windows XP check these out.

- Description of the Wireless Client Update for Windows XP with Service Pack 2

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=917021

- How to troubleshoot wireless network connections in Windows XP Service Pack 2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/870702/en-us?FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Joey
A+, Network+, MCP, Wireless#

 

[ADB100]

If you are using Wireless authentication (802.1x EAP) then you need to make sure you have Machine Authentication working so the machine has access to the network before the user logs in. This is a common mistake when you manage to get 802.1x Authentication working.
For Machine Authentication using the Microsoft 802.1x Supplicant you can either use Microsoft PEAP or EAP-TLS. PEAP requires a Certificate to be on the RADIUS Authentication Server and the clients to Trust this certificate, EAP-TLS requires Machine Certificates to be installed on each Machine. This might sound like a daunting task, however there are numerous guides available from MS and by Wireless Vendors, everything can be automated so there is no User involvment once it is set up correctly.

Have a search for WPA & IAS on here and there are several threads that should help.

Andy