I am an IT manager who is hoping someone can shed some light on an obstacle we're trying to overcome.

Here's my situation . . .

My company HQ recently put in a wireless infrastructure to boost cel reception in the building but it also has the capability to be a wireless LAN.

The idea is to set up the LAN like a giant Starbucks with access to everyone but in no way shape or form is to be connected to our corporate network for several security and common sense reasons.

Now the issue that's arising is that when we're using wireless connectivity on a Dell D600 let's say (built in cards running WinXP), and then switch back to cable/LAN (going back to office/cube and plugging into our LAN via ethernet cable) both connections are live and bridging, and that's bad.

Now if a laptop user goes back to their desk and puts the machine in the docking station, we're okay, because we can change a setting in device manager to disable wireless when in the docking station. But if a user is not connected to any docking station, and just takes a cable and plugs in while the wireless card is live, both connection remain live.

Finally, here's my question . . .

Now is there a way in XP, either in the registry or a system setting, or some kind of script or third party application, to automatically disable the wireless card when a LAN/Ethernet cable is hot inserted (without rebooting)??

Any information or guidance anyone might have on that would be very appreciated.

Thanks.

Well if you don't mind wasting about 10 seconds, you could right click on the wireless network connection in the bottom right hand corner and hit disable. Now when you want to enable it, go to start->connect to->show all connections and then right click on wireless and hit enable.

To improve security, couldnt you set up a WEP encryption or a domain address so the computer has to be authenticated when it connects through wireless connection

Not sure if this will completely answer your question, but after scouring the Internet, I couldn't find an answer, either. One of my coworkers found it, just by tinkering around with the network settings, though.

In XP:

start -> control panel -> network and internet connections icon -> network connections icon -> advanced menu -> Advanced settings... -> in the Connections: box, move the Local Area Connection up (before Wireless Network Connection). This will make the Local Area Connection profile take precedence over the Wireless Network Connection profile -> REBOOT.

Hope this helps you, or anyone else with the same question!

Regards,
Jeff

http://store.payloadz.com/str-asp-i.149051...end-detail.html

This is a really nice product and it works well... Could solve your problem. I bought it and it works on all my XP machines...

:bounce:

Check out http://www.wirelessautoswitch.com they have a product that does what you want:

Wireless AutoSwitch runs as a service and will automatically disable your wireless card when you connect to a LAN (hard wire) connection, and re-enable the wireless card when there is no LAN connection. This ensures that you are always using the fastest connection for network traffic. In the office this helps reduce redundant network connections, while still helping your employees seamlessly transfer from wired to wireless network connections.

For offices that are wireless security conscious this application makes sure the laptop's wireless card is off when the user is wired into your network.

http://www.wlanbook.com/bridgechecker/

BridgeChecker is a windows utility that can automatically disable/enable wireless interfaces. Whenever your computer is connected to an Ethernet port and the link state is good, the utility can automatically turns off the IEEE 802.11 wireless network interface. This conserves IP address allocation, reduces security risks, resolves dual interface routing issues, and prolongs battery life.