Access Connections Configuration

[jsteele]

I use Access Connections to manage my network connections and I'm basically pleased with the way it works. I have one configuration question that hopefully someone can help.

I have a 100MB wired Ethernet in my office as well as separate 802.11A and 802.11G wireless access points for casual users, visitors, contractors, etc. I also have a single router dual 802.11a/g network at home.

I have an Access Connnections profile for the office that chooses between the wired ethernet (preferred) and the 802.11a network if my t40 is unplugged from the ethernet. I'd like to configure the profile to also be able to select the 802.11g access point if it can't connect to the 802.11a access point for some reason. The profile would then choose in order:

1. Wired Ethernet
2. 802.11a AP
3. 802.11g AP

I haven't figured out a way to do this in Access Connections so I was curious if anyone else had sone so.

[eharley]

My MiniPCI card doesn't have A, just B and G, so I don't know how your options might vary. See if this is possible:

Choose to modify your office profile.
Go to the adapter tab, choose
Automatically use the adapter with the fastest available network connection.
Make sure all your adapters are checked in the list below.

Go to the Wireless tab and choose Edit Wireless LAN settings.
Under Wireless Mode, choose Auto.

Then your computer (I think) should be able to choose the fastest available network, whether wired, a, or g. On the other hand, as far as I can tell, this wouldn't cause your computer to prefer a over g as you suggest.

If this doesn't work for you, you could also try to click on the Advanced Wireless Settings button in the "Edit Your Wireless Network Settings" dialog where I suggested above that you choose Auto. In there are some boxes where you can enter Preferred Access Point MAC Addresses. I presume (but I don't know, since I'm not really a networking guru) that the A and G Access Points should each have their own MAC address. I also presume (but don't know, since I haven't tried it) that if you enter the MAC address for your A network into Access Point 1 box and for your G network into Access Point 2 box, that the software should try to connect you to the A network first and then the G network if you don't have your ethernet cable plugged in.

You'd need to set up a different profile for home and for work.

Maybe you've tried all this already, though?...