Wireless problems!!!

[iLinkTech]

Hi all, strange problem - I've used NetGear 802.11b wireless cards for several years without any problems. Trying to upgrade the wireless segment to 802.11G using BuffaloTech WAPs(WLA-G54) and cards. XP laptop has SP1, WPA patches (both of them), and Zero Wireless Config turned on.

Here's the problem: If I connect in the clear (no encryption), then the cards connect to the AP on computer startup and I'm able to log onto my Win2003 network. However, if I use the WPA-PSK option (pre-shared keys) then the cards do not appear to connect to the AP prior to a logon attempt, which results in a network logon failure (no
home folder redirection, no profile, etc).

I called BuffaloTech, no good answers (did the BIOS upgrade on my laptop, etc). Anyone else with this kind of problem? Even if it's different vendor, I still would like to hear about it - my guess is a bad driver or generally lousy design but I could be wrong.

Thanks...

 

[bcastner]

This is caused by the asyncronous loading of networking during the boot up process. This speeds up the login process in a stand-alone workstation by allowing the user to log in with cached logon credentials before the network is fully ready.

To disable this "feature" and restore your logons to "normal" speed, open the MMC and add the group policy snap-in. Under Computer Configuration-->Administrative Templates-->System-->Logon, change "Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon" to ENABLED.

This can be fed to clients via a group policy from a Windows 2000 server by upgrading the standard policy template with the XP policy template. Since this is an XP only command, non-XP systems will ignore it in a domain distributed group policy.

 

[iLinkTech]

Thanks, I'll try that - I've read several other posts regarding this issue; there is a consensus that the WPA-PSK mode isn't suitable for use in a domain network environment due to the "statelessness" of the PSK. This doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me since the key is still present in the network configuration even when the logon fails.

Again, thanks, I'll post back with the results soon.

Ed Wallig
Network Administrator
GCF Global Learning

 

[iLinkTech]

OK, that appears to solve the problem partially - if I'm sitting at my computer when I boot it up and immediately logon once the logon dialog is presented, then it works.

However, if I do not logon right away or if I let the computer sit for more than 5-10 minutes, the connection goes dead and I lose access to my network shares and my desktop settings.

Good start, but still a ways to go...any other thoughts?

Thanks...

 

[bcastner]

Have you checked your power options? There will be settings both in Control Panel, Power Options, and in the Configure portion of the adapter properties.

Many wireless adapters will not handle gracefully a suspend, and all power saving options should be disabled.