Configuring Wireless Networks
Configuring Wireless Networks
Any wireless access point broadcasting within range should be available to a computer with a wireless adapter. By default, Windows 7 is set to enable you to configure the network settings that should be used. This enables you to configure different authentication, encryption, and communication options as necessary.
If you haven’t previously connected to a wireless network, you can create a connection for the network by completing the following steps:
1. Open the Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click Connect to a Network. Select the network to which you want to connect. If the SSID is not listed for your network because it is not broadcasting, you have to go back to the Network and Sharing Center and click Manage wireless networks to create a network profile.
3. If it asks for a network security key, type in the security key and click OK.
CHAPTER 6: Configuring Advanced Windows Networking
4. Use the Security Type selection list to select the type of security being used. The encryption type is then filled in automatically for you.
You can also create a new wireless connection when the wireless network is not available or is hidden by doing the following:
1. Open the Network and Sharing Center and click Set up a new connec-
tion or network. Then click Manually connect to a wireless
network. Click the Next button.
2. In the window shown in Figure 6.1, specify the Network Name (SSID), Security type, Encryption type, and Security Key. Then specify if you
want to start the connection automatically and if you want to connect even if the network is not broadcasting. Click the Next button.
3. Click the Close button.
FIGURE 6.1 Manually connect to a wireless network.
To connect to a wireless or dial-up connection that you have defined, click the Network and Sharing Center icon in the Notification Area and click the con- nection to which you want to connect. If you move the mouse over a wireless network connection, you see the signal strength, security strength, radio type, and SSID (if available), as shown in Figure 6.2. You can also open the Network and Sharing Center and click Connect or Disconnect or click Connect to a
network. To disconnect from a network connection, click the Network and
Sharing Center icon in the Notification Area, click the connection from which you want to disconnect, and click the Disconnect button.
Wireless Connection
FIGURE 6.2 Displaying wireless connection characteristics.
If you open the Network and Sharing Center and double-click an active wire- less network connection, you can view the status for the wireless connection including the duration, speed, and signal quality, as shown in Figure 6.3. You can also right-connect a connection from the notification area and click Status.
FIGURE 6.3 Wireless network connection status.
CHAPTER 6: Configuring Advanced Windows Networking
To manage all of your wireless network connections, just open the Network and Sharing Center and click Manage wireless networks. If you right- click an active connection and click Properties and view the Connection tab, as shown in Figure 6.4, you can specify how you connect to the wireless connection.
FIGURE 6.4 Connections options for a wireless connection.
If you select the Security tab, you can configure the Security type, Encryption type, and Network security key, as shown in Figure 6.5.
Wireless Connection
FIGURE 6.5 Security for a wireless connection.
If you have multiple computers that need to be configured to connect to a wireless network, you can use a USB flash drive to carry the configuration from computer to computer.
To save your wireless network settings to a USB flash drive, insert a USB flash drive into the computer, and then follow these steps:
1. Open the Network and Sharing Center.
2. In the left pane, click Manage wireless networks.
3. Right-click the network and then click Properties.
4. Click Copy this network profile to a USB flash drive. See Figure 6.6.
5. Select the USB device and then click Next. If you only have the one device, click the Next button. If you don’t have a USB device connected, insert the USB device and click the Next button.
6. When the wizard is complete, click the Close button.
CHAPTER 6: Configuring Advanced Windows Networking
FIGURE 6.6 Copying a network profile to a USB flash drive.
To add a wireless computer running Windows 7 to a network by using a USB flash drive, do the following:
1. Plug the USB flash drive into a USB port on the computer.
2. For a computer running Windows 7, in the AutoPlay dialog box, click Connect to a Wireless Network.
3. When it asks if you want to add the network, click the Yes button.
4. When it says it was successful, click the OK button.
Wireless Connection