Wireless Networking

Featured Content

• Wireless LAN Technologies and Microsoft Windows
  This article describes the benefits of wireless LANs, the support for 802.11 wireless LANs in Windows, and general guidelines for wireless LANs in medium to large organizations and small office/home office networks.
• Foundation Network Companion Guide: Deploying 802.1X Authenticated Wireless Access with PEAP-MS-CHAP v2
  Deploy 802.1X authenticated wireless access in Windows Server 2008 by using PEAP-MS-CHAP v2. A downloadable version is also available.
• Netsh Commands for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
  Learn how to use the Netsh WLAN commands to configure 802.11 wireless connectivity and security settings for computers running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008.

Setting up a home network? Get help with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7

Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 Resources

• Getting started: Connecting to Wireless Networks with Windows 7
  The Cable Guy article for July 2010 describes how to connect to wireless LAN networks and manage wireless network profiles with Windows 7.
• Step by step: Core Network Guides for Windows Server 2008 R2
  Instructions for planning and deploying the components required for a fully functioning network and a new Active Directory domain in a new forest. Includes DNS, DHCP, NPS, WINS, and TCP/IP. A downloadable version is also available.
• Product Help: Checklist: Configure NPS for Secure Wireless Access
  This checklist provides the tasks required to deploy 802.1X wireless access points with Network Policy Server (NPS) in Windows Server 2008 R2.

Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista Resources

• Evaluation:Wireless Networking in Windows Vista
  Download only. This white paper describes the security, usability, and manageability improvements for Windows Vista wireless clients.
• Evaluation:Windows Vista Wireless Networking Evaluation Guide
  This article describes how to configure wireless clients running Windows Vista in a test lab.
• Troubleshooting:Troubleshooting Windows Vista 802.11 Wireless Connections
  Learn how to troubleshoot wireless client connections in Windows Vista.
• Step by step:Foundation Network Companion Guide: Deploying 802.1X Authenticated Wireless Access with PEAP-MS-CHAP v2
  Get instructions on how to deploy 802.1X authenticated wireless access by using Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol-Microsoft Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol version 2 (PEAP-MS-CHAP v2).
• Step by step:Foundation Network Guides for Windows Server 2008
  Instructions for planning and deploying the components required for a fully functioning network and a new Active Directory domain in a new forest. Includes DNS, DHCP, NPS, WINS, and TCP/IP. A downloadable version is also available.
• Step by step:Foundation Network Companion Guide: Deploying Server Certificates
  Get instructions for deploying server certificates for computers that are running Network Policy Server (NPS), Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS), or both.
• Design:802.1X Authenticated Wireless Access Design Guide
  Learn how to plan and design a new end-to-end 802.1X authenticated wireless infrastructure deployment, using features in Windows Server 2008 and 802.1X-capable wireless access points that you deploy on your network.
• Deploy:802.1X Authenticated Wireless Deployment Guide
  Learn how to configure network policies in NPS to authenticate and authorize wireless clients to connect to your network.
• Product Help:Checklist: Configure NPS for Secure Wireless Access
  This checklist provides the tasks required to deploy 802.1X wireless access points with Network Policy Server (NPS) in Windows Server 2008.
• Operations:Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless
  Download this update for computers running Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 for updates to Bluetooth, Unified Pairing, and Windows Connect Now.
• Technical reference:Non-broadcast Wireless Networks with Microsoft Windows
  Learn about non-broadcast wireless networks (also known as hidden networks), why Microsoft recommends against their use, and the support for non-broadcast networks in Windows.

Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Resources

• Evaluation: Publishing Company WPA2 Case Study
  Download only. Learn about the business requirements, solution, benefits, and future plans of a WPA2 deployment for a large publishing company.
• Step by step: Step-by-Step Guide for Secure Wireless Deployment for Small Office/Home Office or Small Organization Networks
  Download only. Learn the step-by-step instructions for setting up a secure wireless network for a small office/home office (SOHO) or for a small organization that uses 802.1X authentication and a Windows domain.
• Deployment: Ad Hoc Internet Sharing with Windows XP
  Download only. Learn how to share an Ethernet-based Internet connection with wireless computers using an ad hoc wireless network.
• Deployment: Deploying Secure 802.11 Wireless Networks with Microsoft Windows
  Get step-by-step instructions to deploy a protected wireless LAN for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 from this Microsoft Press book. To learn about changes in wireless standards and wireless support in Windows that have occurred since publication, download Updates to Deploying Secure 802.11 Wireless Networks with Microsoft Windows.
• Troubleshooting: Windows Server 2003 Wireless Troubleshooting
  Provides basic troubleshooting information for wireless computers connecting to Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) domain wireless networks.
• Troubleshooting: Troubleshooting Microsoft Windows XP-based Wireless Networks in the Small Office or Home Office
  Download only. Learn how to troubleshoot the most common problems on Windows XP-based wireless networks for a home or small business that does not use 802.1X authentication and a Windows domain.
• Product Help: Wireless Networking
  Provides procedures to perform configuration and troubleshooting tasks.
• Operations: Wireless Client Update for Windows XP with Service Pack 2
  Download this update for computers running Windows XP with Service Pack 2 for WPA2 support and improved support for non-broadcast wireless networks.
• Technical reference: 802.11 Wireless Technical Reference
  Explains what 802.11 wireless is and how it works. Lists related tools and registry settings.

Webcasts

• Deploying and Managing Wireless Networks with Windows Vista
  This TechNet webcast describes the many important improvements in wireless security, manageability, extensibility, and diagnostics in Windows Vista.
• How Microsoft IT Secures Wireless Networks at Microsoft
  The webcast describes how Microsoft operates one of the largest wireless LAN networks in the world. Experts from Microsoft IT outline best practices learned during the deployment, and provide methodologies to help you understand what is required to build and operate a wireless LAN.
• Implementing Security for Wireless Networks
  This webcast discusses security concerns and solution options for implementing a wireless LAN, and includes recommendations for implementing, configuring, and troubleshooting security in a wireless network and how to implement more secure authentication mechanisms.