Help With GPO and Wifi Network

[smounche]

Hi there,

 

In my organization i have over 200+ Laptops. and my server is windows server 2008 R2 - 64 Bit.

I am looking for an easy and fast way i can send the Wifi Network settings (or profile) to all laptop computers. (all of them under the domain of course)

i recently changed my wifi password, and i really don't want to go manually one laptop a time entering the new wifi password.

using GPO; I Expand Computer Configuration --> Windows Settings --> Security Settings --> and then click Wireless Network (IEEE 802.11) Policies.

I didn't find anywhere to store the WiFi password to send to all the computers.

 

using this Method i still need to manually enter the password on every laptop.

 

Is there any other way i can work to get it done ?

 

Thanks !

[Xebec]

Hi

 

You will probably need to change the wifi password back so the laptops can connect again, set up a new ssid with a new password, then push out the new settings via gpo. I think the password goes in the security tab when you create a new profile under Wireless Network Policies.

 

Once all the laptops have picked up the new settings, turn off the old ssid. If you have to have the same ssid as you had originally, you could repeat the process, but does anyone have time for that?

 

 

Andy

"He Who Dies With The Most Toys, WINS!!!"

[Duke5A]

You can't create a wireless network in GPO that requires a PSK (pre shared key). If you were using Radius then yes, you could deploy wireless networks through policy (we do). You're only other option is you can create the profile on one computer, export the profile at the command line and import to the rest through a startup script.

 

netsh wlan export profile filename="path to profile XML"

 

netsh wlan add profile filename="path to profile XML"

 

I hope this helps.

[smounche]

You can't create a wireless network in GPO that requires a PSK (pre shared key). If you were using Radius then yes, you could deploy wireless networks through policy (we do). You're only other option is you can create the profile on one computer, export the profile at the command line and import to the rest through a startup script.

 

netsh wlan export profile filename="path to profile XML"

 

netsh wlan add profile filename="path to profile XML"

 

I hope this helps.

@Duke5A

Thanks for answering.

how do i import the profile to all computers. i don't quite understand.

and as i understand the script will need to run only once on every laptop.

maybe you can collaborate more?

 

Thanks!

[woreilly]

@Duke5A

Thanks for answering.

how do i import the profile to all computers. i don't quite understand.

and as i understand the script will need to run only once on every laptop.

maybe you can collaborate more?

 

Thanks!

 

 

We use the above method with 2 ways of deploying it. You can add it as a command line in your MDT Task Sequence (assuming you use MDT) or you can put it as a startup script in Group Policy. To do this, go to Computer Config > Policies > Windows Settings > Scripts > Startup

 

You can add a line that checks for a txt file at the start of the script and then skip to the end of the script if the file exits. Like so:

 

If Exist C:\WirelessSetup.txt Goto _END

 

 

netsh wlan add profile filename="Path to .xml" user=all >>C:\WirelessSetup.txt

:_END

[Duke5A]

@woreilly nailed it. That is exactly how I would push it out. Only problem is you're going to need an existing network connection to be able to do that. Don't worry about the profile importing more than once as it won't break anything.