Preferred Ethernet Connection 1

[mjbianco15]

We have the ability to allow users to connect both wireless (802.11b) and regular ethernet. We have 1 user who connects wireless....he had some problems with this wireless connection dropping then reconnecting. If we plug the user in using regular cabled ethernet...everything's fine. Is there a way in WinXP to set a "preferred" ethernet connection if 2 connections exist. In other words, in short of having the user disable/re-enable wireless each time, can I set a setting that would allow him to just connect via the cable ethernet when his laptop is docked.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[bcastner]

You can adjust the metrics from Automatic to manual settings under TCP/IP properties, Advanced, or use the ROUTE command to specify a preferred route.

I am more concerned with why his wireless should drop out as you say it does. I have some thoughts on that issue, but it strikes me that when "docked" you would prefer the wired connection in any case.

The easiest way to accomplish this is to use the Hardware Profiles feature of XP. For a notebook, there is automaticly created a Docked/Undocked set of Hardware Profiles. In the Docked profile, disable the wireless adapter.

 

[bcastner]

It strikes me that it may not be all that clear how to enable/disable devices in Hardware Profiles.

Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager

Scroll down to your Network Adapter section, double-click the wireless adapter, (or right-click and choose Properties), and at the bottom of the screen there is a small item window "Device Usage" that will let you set the enabled/disabled status of the adapter in the current profile.

 

[mjbianco15]

I found 2 ways to accomplish this...1 may is the metric and the other is going to Advanced - Advanced Settings in Network Connections and setting the LAN adaptor as the first network connection adaptor. We do not use hardware profiles. I needed to keep both adaptors live because we constantly have users undock their laptops and take them to conference rooms on the fly. My users like things simple so disabling/enabling stuff on their own can get fun. Thanks for the help.

 

[bcastner]

When they "undock" XP will automaticly use the "undocked" profile and the adapter goes live. It is only "disabled" under the "Docked" profile. XP will auto switch the profiles when the device is physicly docked and undocked.