Re: Using Certificated Wireless - Authentication Failed?

Tech Tip: Click here to run a free scan for Windows Errors and optimize PC performance

In article <e7AiZwFkIHA.4536@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Ruth Cheesley"
<newsgroup<at>suffolkcomputerservices<dot>co(dot)uk> says...

Many thanks for the information. I checked the logs and it is receiving
auto-enrollment successfully. I followed the instructions to the letter
(they were brilliant, very well written and covered every single check box
unlike some tutorials/guides I've used in the past!). I have the laptop
wired at the moment. I've set it to WPA TKIP (the router/AP doesn't support
AES).

I am currently working back through the documentation to check that I did
not miss anything or incorrectly enter the info.

Hello, Ruth. Thank you for the kind words.

As Dave says, the most common problem when the configuration does not
work is a wrong setting somewhere. As you know, there are a LOT of
settings and they all have to be exactly right. It's easy to make a
mistake - been there, done that! So that's the first thing to check.

If you verify every setting and it still doesn't work ... I have on rare
occasions seen cases where authentication failures occur when the
wireless signal is not of sufficient strength or quality. For example, I
had a client in an older building with many thick plaster walls, metal
duct work, and similar. With the wireless computer in the same room as
the WAP, it authenticated almost immediately. When I moved the computer
a few offices down (separated by several walls/doors), I could not get
the PC to authenticate to save my life. Long story short, the client
ended up running an Ethernet cable.

I had a similar situation in my own home (in which I run an SBS using
the certificate-based security). My laptop worked fine in the house but
was flakey outside on my deck. The house has aluminum siding and the
signal strength was MUCH weaker outside. I had to fiddle with the WAP
settings (mostly trying single-mode 802.11g rather than mixed g+n) to
get that working.

Signal strengths can vary greatly with only slight reorientations of the
wireless computer and/or WAP. I was setting up an in-home wireless
network for a client. Sitting in a swivel chair with the laptop in my
lap, the signal strength was Very Good to Excellent ... until I swiveled
90 degrees, when it dropped to Poor!

So, don't give up and don't be afraid to "tweak" things a bit.

-- Owen Williams [SBS MVP]
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Using Certificated Wireless - Authentication Failed?
    ... The WAP is on top of the server, under a desk, however the laptops are both ... have thought it would be weak signal strength (they're both getting 5/5 ... I have the laptop ... With the wireless computer in the same room as ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: Detecting WAPs
    ... you could use any standard RF equipment that can show signal strength ... in the 2.4ghz band, ... > I spent the better part of my morning today tracking down a WAP within ...
    (Security-Basics)
  • Re: Wireless Network Performance in a vertically-oriented 5 story home?
    ... I get excellent signal strength to my network. ... >router and latest drivers for the Pre-N client card? ... I had a similar problem with a new NetGear USB wireless adapter for a ...
    (alt.internet.wireless)
  • Re: Wireless access point
    ... It would help to know if when you went to your test SBS server did you use ... Did you take only the WAP? ... The new wireless computer had excellent signal strength from the ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)