This is very strange

Question

I already posted this once and can't believe no one answered - we have also called Dell and they don't see any problem with this scenerio.

We have a Novell network - that is how we authenticate users - when a user fires up his computer (wired or wireless) he gets a novell login screen. BUT if using wireless, the wireless will not 'start' or fire up on the Inspiron notebooks (we have about 10 of them) UNTIL AFTER you login - since you cannot login without the network, our users must either login wired, then switch, or login to the local machine, let the wireless come up and the login to Novell. This is about the dumbest thing I've ever seen. I'm assuming that if you had a Windows domain that you were authenticating to you would have the same problem. I've checked microsoft and here and cannot find a fix for this - it seems a big flaw somewhere to me.

mattcowger · Answer

Yes, this is the case with Windows authentication as well. The solution it to let the Wireless Zero Configuration Serivce manage your connection, and not use the OEM drivers. If you can't use the WZC (because its not very good, or your card isn't supported), then you are out of luck.

Charliex · Answer

EMPMELANIE

The problem is easy to solve you only have to install a protocol client on your windows xp laptop to enable the login to the novell network. a lot people don't know that novell use netware protocol.

Go to network connection select "Clients from microsoft network" on your wireless connection and click "install", a little windows labeled "Select Network Componet Type" will appear select "Client" the hit add anothe windows will appear "Select Network Client" select "Client services for netware" and hit "OK" it will take a moment to install the network protocol for Novell on the laptop.

Another thing if your laptop is windows xp professional you will get a more complete login interface for the network that home edition.

Hope this solve your problem.

Charlie

empmelanie · Answer

Matt - thanks for the info - we actually turned the Windows wireless off because with it on, we were not able to connect to Novell at ALL - once we turned it off we could connect to it again - I think it had to do with ipx - which we do still use.

But if we need to have that on - I'll work a different angle now - ughh

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

This is very strange

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