IBM Access Connections - Keep or Not?

Message

kjarrett · #1 Post by **kjarrett** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 8:03 am

I've read conflicting things about this software. I plan to patch to SP2 as soon as I get my unit, hopefully today. I only have one wireless network and will PROBABLY only ever use it on that one wireless network. But, if I *DID* want to use the laptop wifi elsewhere, wouldn't it be a good idea to have this software?

Thoughts?

TIA,

-kj-

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 9:11 am

Access Connections is fundamentally well-designed software. It had some glitches and has had to evolve, but the current version 3.30 works well with ThinkPads, with XP Pro and with Service Pack 2. I use Access Connections 3.30 and I have had SP2 running since the day it came out last August.

Whether you use Access Connections depends on your circumstance. If you only use wired, vanilla DHCP connections, you don't need it. If you only have one wireless connection, and don't use wired, then you don't need A/C. If you have multiple wired connections and one or more wireless connections in addition, then you will find Access Connections to be exceedingly beneficial because it automatically selects the proper connection and disables the others. So, at home, if I hook up wired (because wired is vastly faster for inter-computer communications than WPA-PSK), my wireless connection is disabled. Since it is ever-present in the house, this is a nice feature.

Let me say all of this more simply: I will not operate in a mult-connection world without Access Connections.
... JDHurst

bevross · #3 Post by **bevross** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 9:27 am

Suppose I have to disagree with jdhurst. I find A.C. buggier than plain vanilla XP/SP2, but I have the simplest of setups -- only want to connect to my home wireless (set up with WPA). Once in a while, if I want wired lan on the Thinkpad I just disable wireless & plug in the lan cable, no problems. When I've brought to a friends house, easily connected to her WEP connection. A.C. has a cooler looking display, and a seemingly more accurate indicator of connection (using percents versus "Excellent"), but it's given me lots of grief in all trials. BTW: I have the Intel 2200BG card. I might even add that the guy I talked to at IBM suggested uninstalling A.C. and just using XP!

jsmit86 · #4 Post by **jsmit86** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 9:33 am

If your situation changes, or if you ever travel, I think you will appreciate the value of Access Connections. I recently changed jobs, and between the multiple hotels, apartments, work wired and wireless setups, I am amazed upon how well this is managed.

I figured the IT guy would blow it away when he "customized" My T42, but he actaully was a big fan of AC. He said his job would be easier if the guys with Sony Vaios had something like Access Connections. I would keep it unless it gives you trouble.

lfeagan · #5 Post by **lfeagan** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 3:01 pm

I will have to say, I have had none of the issues with XP SP2 on my 2378FVU that I have heard floating around. I updated all my IBM software first, then I updated all of the Windows components other that XP SP2, then I did XP SP2, then I did all the other patches that came after that. My access connections is still working great and I love this software. I frequently, read multiple times a day, change between wifi networks at school as I move from building to building and back home and back to school and.... I haven't had a problem with it at all and am really liking it. I would try to keep it on if you can.

taphil · #6 Post by **taphil** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 12:30 am

I vote to not keep it. It's nice when it works or once you get it working, but otherwise doesn't do anything particularly special over XP SP2 if you're just attached to one wifi network.

I connect to three different wifi networks on a daily basis - campus, lab, and home. Two of three have WEP or WPA-TSK. XP handles the connection fine, and changes the connection faster than Access Connections. The cool thing about AC is that it can change the default printer for you, but not really a big deal for me. XP SP2 also connects according to my order of preference when two networks are around and regardless of what it was connected to previously, whereas XP SP1 and AC don't.

maingray · #7 Post by **maingray** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 1:29 pm

Wonderful program for moving regularly between networks when you need different default printers, WifI or cable. No problems with it. Not much use if you plan on staying on one network.

lvlolvlo · #8 Post by **lvlolvlo** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 5:49 pm

it use to hang my computer at startup so I uninstalled it and just use xp's wireless zero config. works for me

Merlyn3D · #9 Post by **Merlyn3D** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 8:43 pm

The key thing to remember with using it on SP2 of XP is you HAVE to make sure to go to the services control panel and turn off the Wireless Zero Configuration Service. Then everything works flawlessly.

Elhabash · #10 Post by **Elhabash** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 12:00 pm

Now you confuse me:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=4858

Why turn it off ?

My problem at the moment is that if I was at work with cabled network and change to my wireless at home, everything works fine except when it comes to IP configuration, I just don't get an IP anymore, it tries for a while, then it tells me that I couldn't get an IP adress. After a reboot everything is fine.

waterside · #11 Post by **waterside** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 9:32 pm

Merlyn3D wrote:The key thing to remember with using it on SP2 of XP is you HAVE to make sure to go to the services control panel and turn off the Wireless Zero Configuration Service. Then everything works flawlessly.

Actually, with SP2 you must have WZC service enabled. The latest Access Connections expects WZC to be enabled and actually "does the right thing" so the two work together flawlesslessy. With earlier versions of AC you had to disable WZC but this is no longer the case now.

Disabling WZC with SP2 results in very long startup times, and when AC is not running results in unstable network connectivity. It really needs to be left enabled if you have a wireless card.

hiengu · #12 Post by **hiengu** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 1:33 am

kjarrett,

I use Access Connection 3.3 with XP SP2 to switch between networks at home and work. I seem to like it so far since I can have different location profiles and haven't had problems so have not found a reason to uninstall it yet.

My guess is that any problems might be with earlier versions of Access Connections.

btw - Congrats on your new laptop. Guess your T30 is retired?

crashnburn · #13 Post by **crashnburn** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:46 pm

jsmit86 wrote:If your situation changes, or if you ever travel, I think you will appreciate the value of Access Connections. I recently changed jobs, and between the multiple hotels, apartments, work wired and wireless setups, I am amazed upon how well this is managed.

I figured the IT guy would blow it away when he "customized" My T42, but he actaully was a big fan of AC. He said his job would be easier if the guys with Sony Vaios had something like Access Connections. I would keep it unless it gives you trouble.

It is a BOON. I am going to buy IBM laptops from this point on just for Access Connections. I am not kidding you. Its the most foolproof piece of software designed for Business Computing ..esp if you travel.

#14 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 11:42 pm

You really had to dig through the cobwebs to find this old thread.

Access Connections has changed somewhat since version 3.30, although it's purpose remains much the same. I use version 4.12.

Paul Unger · #15 Post by **Paul Unger** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 5:13 pm

You really had to dig through the cobwebs to find this old thread.

I, for one, can respect that! I wish more people would. It makes searching for relevant information that much easier . . .

I also use 4.12 (between multiple wireless & wired locations) and find it indispensible! Thanks, IBM!

mikek · #16 Post by **mikek** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:18 am

Guys - forgive a stupid question... clearly I'm missing something....

I travel all over the UK regularly and I'm always using wifi hotspots, and occasionally wired networks to connect to the net and my servers at work through their VPN.

T42 Xp SP2, and no AC. I just don't seem to need any help. Xp gives me a list of SSIDs to connect to, wired just works.... so what does AC do?

The only problem I sometimes have is that Outlook doesn't always pick up a new connexion, but network shares and IE6 do - so I don't think it's a network thing, just Outlook (2003) being confused about where its Exchange server has gone....

Grateful for any illumination!

Thanks

leegaard · #17 Post by **leegaard** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 3:00 pm

Paul Unger wrote:
You really had to dig through the cobwebs to find this old thread.
I, for one, can respect that! I wish more people would. It makes searching for relevant information that much easier . . .

I also use 4.12 (between multiple wireless & wired locations) and find it indispensible! Thanks, IBM!

I find AC 4.12 a helpfull and (now) good piece of software

rebop · #18 Post by **rebop** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 10:25 pm

Just playing with this on my new and first Thinkpad. It came with version 3.71.

Works fine at home. Have not yet tried to see what happens tomorrow in the office. I expect it will automatically connect to the office wireless, then disconnect that when docked and connect through the LAN.

And not sure what it will do the first time I try at an aiport, but I set up a connection called ROAD and hope it will try that and offer what is available and allow me to launch a browser to buy the service.

I di notice that if the icon is in the System Tray, I shut down dirty. My open windows and placements are forgotten and I get two very quick error messages on shut down - one in reference to DLL's and one on memory not being able to be written to an address. The go by very quickly. Too quick to read.

But, without the icon, I shut down and restart clean.

If it does not do this with later versions, a pointer to where to download an update would eb appreciated.

Bob

defjux · #19 Post by **defjux** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:54 pm

Upgrade your Access Connections and wireless drivers.

#20 Post by **GomJabbar** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:05 am

ThinkVantage Access Connections for Windows 2000 and XP - Notebooks

Be sure your wireless driver version is compatible with version 4.12. See chart in middle of above page, with links to the latest wireless drivers.

To avoid problems, anytime you change/upgrade your wireless driver, uninstall Access Connections first, then uninstall your wireless driver and software. Reboot and cancel any Found Hardware Wizards. Install your wireless driver, reboot, then install Access Connections. Reboot and you are done.

ibm_phil · #21 Post by **ibm_phil** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:31 am

I dont use AC because i encountered one problem with it whilst trying to configure new wireless access points and LAN switches. I do a lot of work configuring networks and other things, and i found that AC would always try to chose what was best for me, and would overwrite the manual settings i had entered for my IP, and therefore when i plugged it direct into the switch with a default setting it wouldnt work. Beofre i encounted this problem i found AC to be useful ,a nd didnt cause me any other problems. But now without AC i find my network connections and WiFi just as good, if not better. I travel constantly overseas, and use airport wifi, airport LAN, home wifi and LAN and my different offices connections, and have never had a problem without AC. I think the XP sp2 is pretty good for managing Wifi and networks. For me the less programs that are running in the background the better.

Phil.

crashnburn · #22 Post by **crashnburn** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:01 pm

mikek wrote:Guys - forgive a stupid question... clearly I'm missing something....

I travel all over the UK regularly and I'm always using wifi hotspots, and occasionally wired networks to connect to the net and my servers at work through their VPN.

T42 Xp SP2, and no AC. I just don't seem to need any help. Xp gives me a list of SSIDs to connect to, wired just works.... so what does AC do?

The only problem I sometimes have is that Outlook doesn't always pick up a new connexion, but network shares and IE6 do - so I don't think it's a network thing, just Outlook (2003) being confused about where its Exchange server has gone....

Grateful for any illumination!

Thanks

Its a tool. Its all about whether you NEED what it does.

For me network settings can change everyday.. from one our offices in one city to another.. hard wire, wireless.. change change change.. hotel 1, 2 , 3.

More importantly.. the offices & client locations you frequent.. and have resources there.. network settings, printer settings etc.

I'd have to change things based on which place I was.. default printer, yada yada..

At home.. my home printer gets auto assigned as default.

I think that should suffice.

crashnburn · #23 Post by **crashnburn** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:03 pm

ibm_phil wrote:I dont use AC because i encountered one problem with it whilst trying to configure new wireless access points and LAN switches. I do a lot of work configuring networks and other things, and i found that AC would always try to chose what was best for me, and would overwrite the manual settings i had entered for my IP, and therefore when i plugged it direct into the switch with a default setting it wouldnt work. Beofre i encounted this problem i found AC to be useful ,a nd didnt cause me any other problems. But now without AC i find my network connections and WiFi just as good, if not better. I travel constantly overseas, and use airport wifi, airport LAN, home wifi and LAN and my different offices connections, and have never had a problem without AC. I think the XP sp2 is pretty good for managing Wifi and networks. For me the less programs that are running in the background the better.

Phil.

I can identify with something playing when ur trying to do something of that nature. Noticed it doing that stuff. But im keepin it.

crashnburn · #24 Post by **crashnburn** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:04 pm

GomJabbar wrote:You really had to dig through the cobwebs to find this old thread.

Access Connections has changed somewhat since version 3.30, although it's purpose remains much the same. I use version 4.12.

I wanted to find a CLONE for my non ibm laptop. Any suggestions?

PH0ENIX · #25 Post by **PH0ENIX** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:14 pm

I love Access Connections. Our IT helpdesk dept wiped out the image on our ThinkPads, but left the hidden restore partition so I used it to bring my T41 back to factory state.

I like the fact that I can set things like Proxy, home page, printer, etc. for my home and work network connections, and it changes it for me automatically.

Also, we're currently running out of IP addresses at work because people are taking two IP addresses (wired and wireless) on their ThinkPads whereas I only use one at a time thanks to A.C. I set the priority so that if I am hooked into my docking station the wireless shuts off.

It is a sweet piece of software...

christopher_wolf · #26 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:38 pm

Your IT department sounds like a bright bunch.

#27 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:51 pm

crashnburn wrote:I wanted to find a CLONE for my non ibm laptop. Any suggestions?

Trade it in for an IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad.

crashnburn · #28 Post by **crashnburn** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 4:12 pm

GomJabbar wrote:
crashnburn wrote:I wanted to find a CLONE for my non ibm laptop. Any suggestions?
Trade it in for an IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad.

Unfortunately it cost me too much and I dont know if these guys make a 17"er with 1920 x 1200 resolution.

pjk · #29 Post by **pjk** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:27 pm

GomJabbar wrote:ThinkVantage Access Connections for Windows 2000 and XP - Notebooks

Be sure your wireless driver version is compatible with version 4.12. See chart in middle of above page, with links to the latest wireless drivers.

To avoid problems, anytime you change/upgrade your wireless driver, uninstall Access Connections first, then uninstall your wireless driver and software. Reboot and cancel any Found Hardware Wizards. Install your wireless driver, reboot, then install Access Connections. Reboot and you are done.

The main problem with that reinstallation tactic is that if you're like me and have dozens of profiles, even if you export the profiles and then import them after re-installing AC, it does not import Wifi encryption keys. (one of the major reasons I use AC is to remember those kinds of things)

I had tons of problems with AC v4.x, from causing extremely long bootup times, sluggishness and unreliability, to just a [censored] ugly user interface. I see they've made some recent updates - hopefully they address some of those issues.

Currently I've standardized on AC 3.7x on my personal Thinkpads as well as my clients'.

SHoTTa35 · #30 Post by **SHoTTa35** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:28 pm

i read most of this thread but i don't see anyone mentioning plain jane Vista wireless? I love that thing how it manages your firewalls and all that based on where you're connected. Each time i put the system to sleep it wakes up somewhere else and connects just fine whether plugged in or wireless.

IBM Access Connections - Keep or Not?

IBM Access Connections - Keep or Not?

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