Add, edit, or remove Active Directory-based wireless network policies

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To add, edit, or remove Active Directory-based wireless network policies

1. In Wireless Network (IEEE 802.11) Policies, choose whether to add a new policy or edit or remove an existing one:

   • To add a new policy, click Wireless Network (IEEE 802.11) Policies. Next, on the Action menu, click Create Wireless Network Policy. Follow the instructions in the Wireless Network Policy Wizard until the Properties dialog box for your new policy appears.

   • To edit an existing policy, right-click the policy that you want to edit, and then click Properties.

   • To remove an existing policy, right-click the policy that you want to delete, and then click Delete.

2. If you are adding or editing a policy, in Properties, click the General tab, and then do any of the following:

   • To name the policy or change the existing name of the policy, type a unique name in Name.

   • To provide a description of the wireless network policy, such as which groups or domains it affects, type a description in Description.

   • To specify how often Active Directory is polled for updates, type a value in Check for policy changes everynumberminutes.

   • To specify the type of wireless network that clients can access, click a network type in the Networks to access list.

   • To allow clients to use Windows to configure their wireless network settings, select the Use Windows to configure wireless network settings for clients check box. This check box is selected by default. For information about this option, see Notes.

     Or, to prevent clients from using Windows to configure their wireless network settings, clear the Use Windows to configure wireless network settings for clients check box.

   • To allow clients to automatically connect to available networks that do not appear on the Preferred Networks tab, select the Automatically connect to non-preferred networks check box.

     Or, to ensure that clients connect only to networks that appear on the Preferred Networks tab, clear the Automatically connect to non-preferred networks check box.

3. If you are adding or editing a policy, click the Preferred Networks tab, and do any of the following:

   • To change the order in which connection attempts to preferred wireless networks are made, click the wireless network that you want to move to a new position on the list, and then click Move Up or Move Down.

   • To specify a new preferred wireless network, click Add, and then configure the settings as needed. For more information, see Related Topics.

   • To change the settings for a preferred wireless network, click the wireless network for which you want to change settings, click Edit, and then change the settings as needed. For more information, see Related Topics.

   • To remove a wireless network from the list of preferred networks, under Networks, click the wireless network that you want to remove, and then click Remove.

Important

• It is highly recommended that you use 802.1X authentication whenever you connect to an 802.11 wireless network. 802.1X is an IEEE standard that enhances security and deployment by providing support for centralized user identification, authentication, dynamic key management, and accounting. For information about how to define 802.1X authentication settings in Group Policy, see Related Topics.

• For enhanced security, in Windows XP Service Pack 1 and in the Windows Server 2003 family, 802.1X authentication is available only for access point (infrastructure) networks that require the use of a network key (WEP). WEP provides data confidentiality by encrypting the data that is sent between wireless clients and wireless access points. For additional information about security for wireless networks, see Related Topics.

Notes

• To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Domain Admins group in Active Directory, or you must have permission to edit Group Policy objects (for more information, see Related Topics). As a security best practice, consider using Run asto perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.

• To open Wireless Network (IEEE 802.11) Policies, you must access Active Directory-based wireless network policies. For more information, see Related Topics.

• When you allow clients to use Windows to configure their wireless network settings, they can connect to the wireless networks that you specify, and they are notified when new wireless networks are available. After the client selects a wireless network, the Windows Configuration service automatically configures the wireless network adapter to match the settings of that network, and a network connection attempt is made. For more information, see Related Topics.

Information about functional differences

• Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.

See Also

Concepts

Define preferred wireless networks in Group Policy
Access Active Directory-based wireless network policies
Define 802.1X authentication for wireless networks in Group Policy
Configuring wireless network settings on client computers
Security information for wireless networks
Understanding 802.1X authentication for wireless networks