e6410 docking question

Question

I have a e6410 system and I was wondering is there a way to have the wireless turn off when the system is docked in a Dell Docking station? I have the same question concerning the e4310, e4300 and the e6400 laptops

DELL-Warren B · Answer

I believe that the Dell ControlPoint Connection Manager has the capability of toggling wireless, which may be required if you are using an Intel Wifi NIC. If you are using Broadcom wireless, there should be a NIC configuration item included with it which allows for turning off WIFI when connected to a LAN.

All of the docking stations are pass-through ports now, so there isn't a hardware profile associated with them to modify or configure.

I haven't dug into this yet,but I've had several customers and internal Dell folks ask about it, so if I'm not correct in the above statements, I'll get more clarification for you.

jamesavery1 · Answer

Trying to find Dell ControlPoint Connection Manager under the e6410 software and drivers area and no luck. Idea? Just fyi...this is Windows 7 x64 I'm working with for the OS.

DELL-Warren B · Answer

The version for the E6400 should work for the LAN and Wifi networking. I forgot that ControlPoint Connection Manager wasn't released for the Exx10 models due to changes in the broadband cards that Connection Manager usually manages. If you have a Dell/Broadband Wireless card, you may be able to configure it without Connection Manager.

Here's the link to the E6400 Connection Manager

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz&releaseid=R254220&SystemID=LAT_E6400&servicetag=&os=W764&osl=en&deviceid=21135&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=2&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=0&libid=60&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&source=-1&fileid=372589

jamesavery1 · Answer

Warren, Thanks for the information. We only have twelve 6400's since they we're replaced with the 6410 model. We have over 150 6410 models and thats why the question has appeared. I feel this is also causing another problem with connection loses when the laptop is docked. I've tested moving the LAN adapter first and that resolves the problem with the lose, but fixing 150+ laptops all around the U.S. is a little hard. I would much rather have some software to automate the disableing of the Wireless adapter during docked state. I feel if you can answer this question, then others will benefit as well since this seems to becoming an issue within the community. Especially with Intel vPro provisioning.

I'll do whatever you need for me to test on my side.

DELL-Warren B · Answer

James,

Thanks for the info and I agree completely. Switching off Wireless when docked or on LAN has been an open question for awhile. I'll see if I can get some clarity on what is available for the Exx10 class of laptops to ease the pain.

Thanks,

Warren

jamesavery1 · Answer

Warren, let me know how I can help.

KKiesler · Answer

Hey guy's, I have a mix of laptops in my enterprise, we have e6400, 6410, 6510, and 6520's

I am looking to be able to to disable the wireless when docked or when connected to a by ethernet.

I have looked in the BIOS (someone else said there was a setting) and I do not see anything in there to disable the wireless.

Any options would be helpful

Dustin Hedges · Answer

It's actually different depending on both the series of Latitude and the NIC that you have in it. FOr the E6400/E6410 series systems you'll need to use a software-based solution that comes with either the Dell or Intel Wireless NIC software.

For the E6520/30 series systems, you can use a setting in BIOS (You may need to update BIOS on your system for it to work). The setting is under Power Management in the BIOS Setup screen on the E6520/30 series systems.

You can find the setting under Power Management>Wireless Radio Control.

There are 2 settings.

1. Control WLAN Radio

2. Control WWAN Radio

These can be configured via script with Dell OMCI or using the latest version of the Client Configuration Toolkit.

DELL-Warren B · Answer

Yes, you can either set it in the BIOS or with CCTK or OMCI.  For CCTK it is the 'controlWLANRadio' option.  I believe in the BIOS it is under Power Management.  NOTE: This is a new feature and may not be on all the systems you mentioned.  Ensure that you have the latest BIOS installed as it may have been implemented by a specific BIOS release on certain systems.

KKiesler · Answer

Thanks for the info, that helps.

Dustin, I was able to test the BIOS setting for the 6420, and I was able to install and test the ControlPoint on a 6400.

Is there a way I can control the ControlPoint setting from the network? Such as a W2k8 GPO, or Dell Open manage console?

As for the BIOS setting, do you have a link to the instructions to use the OMCI to push the change?

Thanks

DELL-Vibha G · Answer

OMCI Reference Guide can be checked for more info. You can check the below page for OMCI manuals - http://dell.to/11XFddD Thanks, Vibha

DELL-Vibha G · Answer

In OMCI, these settings are available under DCIM_BIOSEnumeration class as -

1. WLAN Connection Auto Sense

2. WWAN Connection Auto Sense

Enable/Disable is possible by the method SetBIOSAttributes available in class DCIM_BIOSService.

Since OMCI is WMI-based WMIC, PowerShell or VBS scripts can be wriiten.

For eaxmple, these WMIC commands can be executed from the command prompt -

To report the current settings -

wmic /namespace:\\root\dcim\sysman path dcim_BIOSEnumeration where "AttributeName like '%Connection Auto Sense%'" Get /format:list

To disable WWAN

wmic /namespace:\\root\dcim\sysman path DCIM_BIOSService where Name='DCIM:BiosService' call SetBIOSAttributes AttributeName='WWAN Connection Auto Sense' AttributeValue='2'

To enable WWAN

wmic /namespace:\\root\dcim\sysman path DCIM_BIOSService where Name='DCIM:BiosService' call SetBIOSAttributes AttributeName='WWAN Connection Auto Sense' AttributeValue='1'

Enterprise Client

e6410 docking question

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