Lenovo ThinkPad G41 Quick reference guide

IBM Access
Connections Deployment Guide
Version 3.3.0
Date: October 11, 2004
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Third Edition (October 2004)
©Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 2004. All rights reserved.
US Government Users Restricted Rights –Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract
with IBM Corp.

Preface
This guide is intended for IT administrators, or those who are responsible for
deploying IBM
® Access Connections on computers in their organizations. The
guide is intended to provide the information required for installing IBM Access
Connections on one or many computers, provided that licenses for the software are
available for each target computer. The IBM Access Connections application
provides application help, which administrators and users can consult for
information about using the application itself.
IBM ThinkVantage
™ Technologies and the deployment guides that accompany
them are developed with IT professionals and the unique challenges that they
encounter in mind. If you have suggestions or comments, communicate with your
IBM authorized representative. To learn more about the technologies that can help
you lower the total cost of ownership and to check for periodic updates to this
guide, visit this Web site:
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/think/thinkvantagetech.html
©Copyright IBM Corp. 2004 iii

iv IBM Access Connections Deployment Guide Version 3.3.0

Contents
Preface ............... iii
Chapter 1. Overview .........1
Features ................1
Chapter 2. Using Access Connections..3
Viewing connection status ..........3
Saving location profiles, settings, time, and reducing
help desk calls..............4
Enabling effortless wireless LAN connectivity for
mobile users ..............5
Extending wireless connection capabilities beyond
WLAN ................6
Helping your clients stay connected ......6
Capitalizing on new profile-deployment capabilities
to ease administration ...........7
Diagnosing network connectivity problems ....8
Chapter 3. Considerations for deploying
Access Connections .........9
Requirements and specifications for deployment ..9
Chapter 4. Deploying Access
Connections ............11
Access Connections deployment features ....11
Installing IBM Access Connections.......11
Installing the integrated IBM Access Connections
package...............11
Installing the standalone IBM Access Connections 12
Enabling the Administrator Feature ......12
Using the Administrator Feature .......13
Preparing for anew-image installation ....17
Deploying Access Connections location profiles
remotely ...............18
Unattended deployment .........18
Attended deployment ..........19
Appendix. Notices ..........21
Non-IBM Web sites ............21
Trademarks ..............22
©Copyright IBM Corp. 2004 v

vi IBM Access Connections Deployment Guide Version 3.3.0

Chapter 1. Overview
IBM Access Connections is aconnectivity assistant program which helps to
configure various network connections including wireless LANs. Users can create
and manage location profiles which helps to store the network and Internet
configuration settings that are needed to connect the client computer to anetwork
from aspecific location such as home or work. The network connection can be
made using amodem, awired network adapter, abroadband device (DSL, cable
modem, or ISDN), or awireless network adapter. Virtual private network (VPN)
connections are also supported. By switching between location profiles as you
move your computer from place to place, Access Connections can quickly and
easily help users connect to anetwork without having to reconfigure network
settings manually. Alocation profile supports advanced security settings, default
printer, and automatic application launch.
Access Connections has the ability to support automatic location switching
between Ethernet and wireless LAN connections.
Features
Access Connections includes the following functions:
vCreate new location profiles
Access Connections provides awizard that helps you to create location profiles
that define all of the settings required to connect to various types of networks.
The Connection Status window is opened by default when Access Connections
is started.
vView location profile and connection status
The Connection Status window allows you to view the status of the network
connection associated with each location profile defined in Access Connections
and allows you to switch between location profiles. When you open the window,
status is shown for the network connection and for the components used by the
currently applied location profile.
vSwitch between location profiles
Access Connections allows you to change location profiles. You can simply
choose another location profile from the list and connect to it. Aprogress
indicator window shows the state of the connection. If the connection fails, a
button appears to help you fix the connection.
vSearch for wireless networks.
Access Connections can search for wireless networks that are in range of your
wireless adapter. This feature is useful when you are traveling or in apublic
place and you are not sure about what, if any, wireless networks are available to
you. You can attempt to connect to any wireless networks that are found. If the
connection attempt is successful, anew wireless location profile will be created
using the detected wireless network name and default settings. You can also
manually create alocation profile for adetected wireless network if you know
the appropriate settings.
vAutomatic switching of location profiles
If anetwork associated with your currently applied location profile becomes
unavailable, Access Connection can search for available networks and
automatically switch to amatching location profile. You can automatically switch
©Copyright IBM Corp. 2004 1

between wireless location profiles, and Ethernet location profiles. You can
establish awireless priority list which allows you to define which wireless
location profile will be made active when your computer is in range of multiple
wireless networks, or when more than one location profile uses the same
wireless network name.
vImport and export location profiles
Access Connections allows you to easily share location profiles between different
computers. You can also import location profiles that are created by the network
adminstrator.
vUse the system tray icon
Access Connections provides an icon in the system tray which allows you to
launch the application, view the status of the current location profile, and switch
between profiles.
vCreate location profiles for remote deployment (administrator’s only)
An Access Connections administrator can define location profiles for use the
Access Connections on the client PCs.
2IBM Access Connections Deployment Guide Version 3.3.0

Chapter 2. Using Access Connections
This chapter shows you how to use the features of Access Connections.
Viewing connection status
With the Connection Status window, client users can see their network connections
at every link. Furthermore, client users can offer reliable status information to
administrators remotely, so the administrators can diagnose and correct problems.
One window offers you and users accessible, essential information about
connections--and helps them get and stay connected.
1. Current location in use
2. Location selector
3. Client computer
4. Manage locations button
5. Find Wireless Network button
6. Network connection device
7. Links
8. Network server/Gateway
9. Internet
10. Signal strength indicator
11. Data transfer speed
12. IP address
Figure 1. IBM Access Connections Connection Status window.
©Copyright IBM Corp. 2004 3

13. Connection status
Saving location profiles, settings, time, and reducing help desk calls
Create location profiles with nearly all the settings you need to connect almost
anywhere that network connectivity is available. After profiles are set, Access
Connections lets you easily switch between them. Profiles can be set for automatic
switching between wireless and wired connections based on the highest available
compatible connection speed. They can be set to change default printers, turn on a
VPN, or launch applications by location. Plus, Access Connections helps manage
wireless security, including Wi-Fi Protected Access, WEP, 802.11x and Cisco LEAP.
Profiles can also be centrally managed to simplify deployment.
IBM Access Connections software is included with the purchase of every new IBM
ThinkPad
® notebook system. Alist of ThinkPad models that are compatible with
IBM Access Connections can be found at http://www-
306.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/migr-4zlnjb.html#ac. There are many other
software utilities available today, typically included with network adapters, that
appear similar in function to Access Connections software. Utilities such as Intel
®
PROSet and the Cisco Aironet Client Utility (ACU) both provide profile switching
capabilities that control configuration and management for their associated WLAN
adapters. Access Connections software, however, manages amuch more extensive
collection of hardware adapters including LAN, WLAN, WAN (wide area network
or cellular), dial-up, as well as Ethernet-connected broadband (DSL, cable, ISDN).
Supporting all of this networking hardware provides akey benefit: Access
Connections software eliminates the need for administrators to learn and manage
multiple client configuration utilities.
All WLAN configuration utilities, as well as the built-in capability in Microsoft
®
Windows
® XP, enable you to create profiles with settings for network name, SSID,
and security setup, including the definition of awired equivalent privacy (WEP)
key. However, only Access Connections software integrates location-specific control
over the networking and Internet settings that are traditionally set through
multiple facilities, windows, and utilities in Windows. These include:
vFixed IP address or dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)
vAuto domain name system (DNS) or explicit DNS addresses and DNS suffixes
vInternet Explorer (IE) home page and proxy settings
vEnable/disable file and printer sharing
vInternet connection firewall
vWindows default printer
vAuto launch virtual private network (VPN) of choice
vAuto launch of any other executable
Without Access Connections software, users might need to take significantly more
steps to set up anetwork connection in alocation. For example, consider a
telecommuter who uses an Ethernet connection both at work and at home. At
work, the user is required to use afixed-IP address with explicit DNS settings and
aproxy server for Internet browsing. But at home, the cable modem dynamically
assigns an IP address (DHCP mode) and the user does not need explicit DNS
settings or aproxy server. To use the notebook at home, the user must modify
Windows network properties to enable DHCP and automatic DNS. And the user
must also turn off the proxy settings in IE tools options or the Internet will be
inaccessible.
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When the user returns to work, these parameters must be redefined. Network
properties must be returned to fixed IP address and explicit DNS settings. This will
include typing long strings of numbers—IP addresses—into associated fields. Proxy
server parameters including the name of the proxy must also be reentered in
Internet Explorer (Tools→Options)to enable Internet browsing. Network settings
like these generally require alevel of technical knowledge beyond that of the
average PC user. Manually changing these settings with every location change can
be an error-prone and tedious process that can result in help-desk calls and
recurrent frustration for the user.
With Access Connections software, the same telecommuter would establish one
profile for home and another for the office. With the click of the mouse, key
settings and parameters can be changed, allowing the user to quickly get back to
work without manipulating settings. The transition is seamless: This user can
easily move the notebook PC between work and home and easily reestablish a
network connection. Access Connections software makes this possible because it
uses location profiles, which not only include hardware adapter settings but also
myriad associated networking or Internet settings. The result: improved
productivity and less frustration for the user, as well as potentially lower costs
from the reduced number and length of help-desk calls and other technical
support.
Enabling effortless wireless LAN connectivity for mobile users
Wireless connectivity is an essential component of mobility for notebook PC users.
Access Connections has anumber of capabilities that are designed to make
wireless LAN connections fast and simple. For example, there is abutton on the
user interface, Find Wireless Network,which enables users to manually initiate a
search for aWLAN network. When users select this button, Access Connections
software finds and lists all of the active wireless access points in range. If an open
or unencrypted connection is available, you can quickly create alocation profile
based on the newly found access point and connect. This capability enables mobile
PC users to find apublic WLAN connection in places like airports, hotels or coffee
shops and get connected wirelessly. In addition to supporting an extensive array of
WLAN adapters and being able to find new wireless LAN networks, Access
Connections software performs the following:
vControls the settings for wireless LAN security, including WEP, IEEE 802.1x,
Cisco LEAP and Wi-Fi protected access (WPA). It can also associate aVPN client
with alocation profile. All of these provide alternative mechanisms for securing
the wireless link between your PC and the wireless access point you are
associated with. They are used to control access to the WLAN and after the data
is flowing, they protect the data using encryption for privacy.
vEnables multi-adapter profiles—profiles with settings for awired and awireless
adapter—so users can switch from ahigh-speed wired network connection to a
wireless connection at the same location. For instance, at work, you may have a
100 Mbps Ethernet (wired) connection at your desk. When you attend ameeting
away from your desk, you disconnect the Ethernet cable. Your notebook
computer can then be taken to aconference room with wireless coverage, where
Access Connections software automatically detects the absence of the Ethernet
connection and senses and enables the wireless connection. When you return to
your office and reconnect the Ethernet cable, Access Connections software
returns you to your correct wired network settings. With Access Connections,
this multi-adapter capability has been extended to include not only
Ethernet-to-wireless switching, but Ethernet-to-Ethernet switching as well.
Ethernet-to-Ethernet switching is useful, for example, when you need to use a
Chapter 2. Using Access Connections 5

proxy server at work and aVPN client with no proxy server at home. In both
locations the connection is Ethernet, but the settings are different. Access
Connections software changes your network and Internet settings automatically.
vCan prioritize the adapters used in the multi-adapter profile to help ensure that
the adapter with the lower priority will be utilized only when higher priority
adapters cannot establish or maintain aconnection.
vDisables wireless LAN radios to help conserve notebook battery power. Wireless
adapter radios can consume considerable amounts of power unnecessarily even
when not in use. By disabling wireless LAN radios, you can use your notebook
for longer time periods before having to recharge the battery.
Extending wireless connection capabilities beyond WLAN
Access Connections software also accommodates wireless wide area networking
(WAN) and the personal area networking (PAN) technology, Bluetooth. With the
introduction of 3G cellular technologies, wireless WAN services are emerging as an
effective alternative for high-speed wireless access to the network when users are
away from the office and not near apublic WLAN hot spot. (A hot spot is an open
(not secure) WLAN such as those found in airports, hotels and coffee shops
enabling travelers to easily and wirelessly connect to the Internet or their e-mail.)
Access Connections software supports several wireless WAN PC card adapters. For
example, with the Novatel Merlin C201 CDMA 1xRTT PC card installed in your
ThinkPad notebook, you can activate alocation profile to easily control connection
to the Sprint Enhanced PCS network
1
.This cellular-based network provides a
wireless alternative to WLAN that is both fast and often available where WLAN
connectivity is not to be found.
To help manage Bluetooth wireless connections, Access Connections offers a
Bluetooth menu bar that offers an easy way to turn off the Bluetooth radio and to
set the Bluetooth security level. It also provides capability to create the location
profile using the Bluetooth modem, which uses the DUN Bluetooth profile. The
Bluetooth security levels can be selected from either this menu bar or from the
menu displayed by left-clicking the Access Connections system tray icon. Turning
off the Bluetooth radio conserves battery power, which will help extend the time
between needing to recharge the notebook battery. Access Connections software
makes these tasks simple to accomplish on your ThinkPad notebook.
Helping your clients stay connected
Access Connections software provides your clients with an easy-to-use help system
that is accessible from the main user interface. An index provides quick access to
standard topics such as connecting at work, remote location connection and other
connectivity issues. Atroubleshooting guide is also provided to address common
questions and answers. And with convenient, point-and-click access to useful
diagnostic tools and traditional Windows TCP/IP utilities, users can ping (check
for aresponse from) an IP address, trace an IP route or check status of your IP
connection using the IP config feature. Without Access Connections software, these
tools are typically accessed through acommand prompt and using tedious
command line entry. Access Connections software provides point-and-click access
to these useful diagnostic tools.
1. Wireless Internet subscription service required; not included.
6IBM Access Connections Deployment Guide Version 3.3.0

Capitalizing on new profile-deployment capabilities to ease
administration
Access Connections has afeature to make location profile deployment centrally
manageable. Prior to having this capability, all client users were required to set up
their own location profiles. Although Access Connections software leads you
through the steps needed to create aprofile, the entry of settings, especially
settings associated with security, can still be cumbersome. Now an IT administrator
can do the following:
vCreate location profiles and distribute them as part of ahard disk image or send
the profile files to client systems that have already been deployed, thereby
saving users from spending time individually setting up profiles.
vControl policies—such as whether adistributed profile can be modified or
deleted—for all profiles in the system, which could prevent users from
inadvertently modifying or deleting aprofile and then needing help-desk
support.
vEstablish rules to limit users who can import various deployment packages
using distribution control lists (selectively distribute the profiles based on
ThinkPad serial numbers).
vCreate secure profile deployment packages that are encrypted and password
protected so only authorized individuals can import the location profiles. This
feature is important because profiles may contain wireless security content such
as aWEP key or WPA TKIP PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Temporal Key Integrity
Protocol Pre Shared Key).
Astandard installation of Access Connections software does not include the profile
distribution capability. The feature must be enabled using aseparate software tool.
This enabler utility is available to IBM customers from adedicated Web site for
registration and download. The enabler creates an additional menu item in the
Access Connections user interface called Profile Distribution. It is from this profile
distribution menu item that the IT administrator creates profiles to be distributed
and establishes appropriate user-access policy. If aselected profile contains a
wireless profile with encryption enabled, the administrator will be prompted to
re-enter the wireless security settings to be deployed, thus ensuring that the
administrator knows the security settings such as the WEP encryption key. If the
wrong WEP key is entered, that WEP key will be deployed but not usable.
With the profile deployment capability, Access Connections software provides a
significant benefit to IT administrators in terms of wireless security manageability.
Many organizations that use WEP security leave their WEP encryption keys static
simply because the updating of WEP keys across the entire client user base is a
daunting task. This practice can put an organization at risk because static WEP key
encryption can be broken. The Access Connections profile-deployment feature
enables system administrators to remotely change and deploy new security settings
including WEP keys. By frequently changing WEP keys, system administrators can
dramatically reduce the possibility of security breaches in aWLAN environment.
IBM Access Connections software facilitates fast, easy network connections by
using profiles to define the network adapter and associated networking parameters
for different locations. Easy to use and manage, Access Connections software
delivers acomprehensive network connectivity solution to help you improve total
cost of ownership and employee productivity. And with the Access Connections
software profile deployment feature, asystem administrator can centrally create
profiles and remotely deploy them to the client user base—as opposed to setting
Chapter 2. Using Access Connections 7

up profiles individually at each client—resulting in streamlined management of
network connectivity and helping you achieve lower overall IT costs.
Diagnosing network connectivity problems
IBM Access Connections supports anew feature of network diagnostics when
users are unable to make network connections. It shows detailed progress of
connection status and finds suspected reasons of failure and recommended actions.
Access Connections also offers an automatic repair button to recover the network
connection in some cases.
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Chapter 3. Considerations for deploying Access Connections
Collecting information about the various places where users might attempt to
connect and the kinds of connections available in those locations will help you
develop preconfigured profiles that users can import and use right away. By
capturing working configurations in profiles which can be deployed with the
initial image, support calls can be reduced and users can immediately take
advantage of their network connections without intervention.
An Administrator Feature is available with version 2.7 or later of Access
Connections. This feature simplifies the task of deploying location profiles, global
settings, and control policies to individuals or groups of individuals running
Access Connections in acorporate environment. The deployment of these profiles
and settings can be accomplished during the initial system deployment as part of
the preload image or after systems are in the field using standard remote
deployment methods.
Requirements and specifications for deployment
The current list of supported IBM ThinkPad systems, drivers and configurations is
available at http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/migr-4zlnjb.html#ac .
©Copyright IBM Corp. 2004 9

10 IBM Access Connections Deployment Guide Version 3.3.0

Chapter 4. Deploying Access Connections
After creating the location profiles required for client users, you can also manage
and deploy new, updated, or revised location profiles to client computers.
Access Connections deployment features
The following is alist of features to help IT administrators deploy and manage
Access Connections:
vThe IBM Access Connections Enabler for Administrator Profile Deployment
feature is required to deploy location profiles that you create for client users. The
Enabler is available to IT professionals only at http://www-
3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=ACON-DEPLOY.
vAdministrators can create location profiles and distribute them as part of a
preload image or install them after the client systems have been deployed.
vControl policies can be set for each profile.
vDistribution control lists can be created to limit who can import various
deployment packages.
vAclient configuration policy can be set to configure the operation of Access
Connections on the client computer.
vDeployment packages are encrypted and password protected to be sure that
only authorized individuals can import the location profiles that may contain
wireless security information such as WEP or static password, for example.
Installing IBM Access Connections
IBM Access connections can be installed with using either abundled package that
includes IBM Access Connections software and all the necessary drivers, or the
IBM Access Connections software alone, where you will install the necessary
drivers separately.
Installing the integrated IBM Access Connections package
To install IBM Access Connections 3.0 or later without user interaction, do the
following:
1. Start Windows 2000 or Windows XP, and then log on with administrative
privileges.
2. Extract the Access Connections drivers to the hard disk drive.
3. Click Start,then click Run.
4. Type the following command:
SETUP.EXE /S
You can download the software package along with the installation instructions
from the Web at:
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/think/thinkvantagetech/downloads_support.html.
From that page, click Software download and User’s Guide to download the
software package.
©Copyright IBM Corp. 2004 11

Installing the standalone IBM Access Connections
To install IBM Access Connections 3.0 or later without user interaction, do the
following:
1. Start Windows 2000 or Windows XP, and then log on with administrative
privileges.
2. Extract the Access Connections drivers to the hard disk drive.
3. Click Start,then click Run.
4. Type one of the following commands:
a. For computers that do not automatically restart, type this command:
SETUP.EXE -S -SMS
b. To install from aCD, type this command:
SILENT.BAT
You can download the software package along with the installation instructions
from the Web at:
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/think/thinkvantagetech/downloads_support.html.
From that page, click Software download and User’s Guide to download the
software package
Enabling the Administrator Feature
To enable the Administrator Feature of Access Connections, you must first have
Access Connections 3.0 or later installed on adonor computer.
When deploying location profiles that provide awireless network connection, the
donor and recipient computers must contain wireless adapters which support the
capabilities defined in the location profile. For instance, if the location profile being
deployed is configured for LEAP authentication, the adapters on the recipient
systems must support LEAP authentication.
To enable the Administrator Feature, do the following:
1. Obtain the Administrator Feature Enabler and save it on the computer on
which you will develop location profiles. (http://www-
3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=ACON-DEPLOY)
2. Click Start --> Run,and then click Browse.Select the self-extracting executable
file that you saved in step 1.
3. Click OK.This will extract the Enabler application to C:\Program
Files\Thinkpad\ConnectUtilities.
4. Close the main window of Access Connections if it is open.
5. Click Start --> Run,and enter C:\Program
Files\Thinkpad\ConnectUtilities\AdmEnblr.exe
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6. Select Enable Administrator Feature.
7. Select Exit to close the Enabler.
8. Start Access Connections.
If you have not previously created profiles on the computer, the initial window for
the profile creation wizard will be displayed. After you have created at least one
profile, you will be able to view the main window of Access Connections. A
menu-bar item labeled ″Profile Distribution″will be displayed.
Using the Administrator Feature
To use the Administrator Feature, do the following:
1. Create all the location profiles that users will require. Consider these and other
needs as you create the profiles:
a. Office, building connections
b. Home connections
c. Branch-office connections
d. Connections while traveling
e. Hot-spot connections
2. After you have created the location profiles, click Profile Distribution -->
Create Distribution Package.
3. Select the location profiles that you want to deploy. For each location profile
selected, choose the appropriate user-access policy as shown in Figure 4on
page 14. If aprofile that is selected contains awireless profile with encryption
enabled, the administrator will be prompted to re-enter the wireless settings
data again to ensure sensitive data is not exposed.
Figure 2. Enabler for Administrator Profile Deployment Feature window
Figure 3. Profile Distribution
Chapter 4. Deploying Access Connections 13

The access control policy defines the restrictions that are in place for a
particular profile. Access control policies can be defined per profile and can
have the following values:
a. Deny all changes /Deny Deletion:Users cannot perform operations such
as modify, copy, or delete on the profile.
b. Deny network setting changes /Deny deletion:In this case the network
settings in the profile cannot be modified, deleted or copied. The
non-modifiable parameters are TCP/IP settings, Advanced TCP/IP settings,
and wireless settings. The profile cannot be deleted.
c. Deny all changes /Allow deletion:Users can not modify or copy the
profile; however, users can delete the profile.
d. Allow all changes /Allow deletion:Users can modify, copy and delete the
profile.
Limitation: The above control policies can be applied to local users with
Administrator level privileges. If the local users are configured as Limited
Users, stricter restrictions are imparted by the operating system. Limited Users
can only create dial-up connection-type profiles and can not modify or copy or
delete profiles created by the administrator. Aglobal setting in Access
Connections enables Limited Users to switch between profiles created by the
administrator.
4. When the Allow silent import of this package even after installation of client
checkbox is marked, the IT administrator can export to any client computer
*.LOA files silently regardless of the privileges of the user who is actually
logged on to the client computer. Later packages (consisting of *.LOA and *.SIG
Figure 4. Create Distribution Package window
14 IBM Access Connections Deployment Guide Version 3.3.0