802.11 policy - preferred networks problem

15 Nov 2006 3:43 AM

ewallig

Hi,

W2K3 native domain using Group Policy-based wireless policies. Clients are
modern XPSP2 clients using WZC on 3Com OfficeConnect USB-based wireless
adapters. APs are 3Com 7250's using WPA / AES / 802.1x-RADIUS w/ EAP-TLS and
the SSID is in non-broadcast mode. When intially configured, clients pick up
policy settings from GP including preferred networks, 802.1x, EAP settings,
etc and connectivity is fine.

However, at seemingly random intervals, wireless clients that are powered
down (overnight, for example) lose their preferred networks and EAP settings
upon powering up. They cannot connect after that and typically require
connection to a hard link and a GP refresh to get the settings back. The
"refreshed" client might work for a couple more days or a week and then dump
it's settings again.

I do not have any wireless policies set at a higher OU than the container
for these clients and I've verified that the GPO should be applied to the
clients (via RSOP and using gpupdate) so I'm a bit stumped.

Any ideas as to why the settings keep getting lost? I'm starting to think
that I will need to use the Odyssey client to ensure that these LOB clients
are always available (which is a bit discouraging).

Thanks...

16 Nov 2006 2:28 AM

Pavel A.

I'm not sure where are these GP settings stored,
but try the following:
Save contents of HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WZCSVC\Parameters\Interfaces
when the GP profile is updated and good,
and compare to what is there when the profile is lost.
Search the vevent log for any relevant messages.

--PA

Show quoteHide quote

"ewallig" wrote:
> Hi,
>
> W2K3 native domain using Group Policy-based wireless policies. Clients are
> modern XPSP2 clients using WZC on 3Com OfficeConnect USB-based wireless
> adapters. APs are 3Com 7250's using WPA / AES / 802.1x-RADIUS w/ EAP-TLS and
> the SSID is in non-broadcast mode. When intially configured, clients pick up
> policy settings from GP including preferred networks, 802.1x, EAP settings,
> etc and connectivity is fine.
>
> However, at seemingly random intervals, wireless clients that are powered
> down (overnight, for example) lose their preferred networks and EAP settings
> upon powering up. They cannot connect after that and typically require
> connection to a hard link and a GP refresh to get the settings back. The
> "refreshed" client might work for a couple more days or a week and then dump
> it's settings again.
>
> I do not have any wireless policies set at a higher OU than the container
> for these clients and I've verified that the GPO should be applied to the
> clients (via RSOP and using gpupdate) so I'm a bit stumped.
>
> Any ideas as to why the settings keep getting lost? I'm starting to think
> that I will need to use the Odyssey client to ensure that these LOB clients
> are always available (which is a bit discouraging).
>
> Thanks...