wireless network key, can it be set via group policy?

[FN-GM]

Disclaimer, Copy/Paste, but might help :P Unless you're using XP?

Windows 2008 has built in policy GPO for wireless setting management. 
You can configure your network setting using Certificates. It is the most recommended and secure way 
But if you like to deploy the wireless settings using static key, you will have to use other way.

The steps bellow describe the way to deploy Wireless LAN settings with a Pre-Shared Key 
The purpose is to Automate Adding Wireless Profile in Windows.

Preparations

•Configure Wireless settings on one workstation 
•from command prompt run 
netsh wlan export profile name="NameOfyourProfile" folder=c:\temp interface="wirelesssettings” 
•Confirm that under c:\temp you have wirelesssettings.xml file 
•Open wirelesssettings.xml file locate the following line 
<protected>true</protected> 
•Change it to <protected>false</protected> 
•Under you will see encrypted line <keyMaterial>01000000D08C9DDF0115D1118</keyMaterial> 
•Change it to your key like that <keyMaterial>Yourkey</keyMaterial>

Note: It means that your wireless key will be in clear text and everyone who has access to the file will be able to read your wireless key"

Deployment

•Copy your wireless settings xml file to NETLOGON 
•Create a bat or cmd file with the following line 
netsh wlan add profile filename="\\yourserver\NETLOGON\wirelesssettings.xml" user=all 
•Run the bat file from some domain member computer and confirm that it works 
After finishing all steps above you can deploy the script from GPO

Note: Setting are applicable for Windows Vista Windows 7 and Windows 2008 Only

Steve

Hi @steve

I am having problems using this, can you see what i am doing wrong please. i am using the following command

netsh wlan export profile name=FPHS folder=c:\wifi interface=Wireless Network Connection

and the error message i am getting is One or more parameters for the command are not correct or missing.

Any thoughts please?

Thanks

[Michael]

@FN-GM - here's how I deploy wireless settings

Please note this only works with Vista and 7 as XP does not support the netsh wlan command.

[FN-GM]

@FN-GM - here's how I deploy wireless settings

Please note this only works with Vista and 7 as XP does not support the netsh wlan command.

cheers do i have to change the hex bit?

Thanks

[CyberNerd]

Setting wireless keys for WPA/TKIP DOES work with group policy - we are doing it.


Basic synopsis is here:
How to set up a WPA2-EAP Wireless Network Using Network Policy Server (NPS), AD and Group Policies - Spiceworks Community

[Michael]

cheers do i have to change the hex bit?

Thanks

If you manually setup a wireless profile (so you can connect wirelessly), then run the following command:

netsh wlan export profile name ="WIRELESS-SETTINGS"

Open the XML file, then change the protected entry to 'false' and enter your wireless key as required. Save the file and that's it. Import using the command above.