WLAN Autoconfig

The WLAN Autoconfig service enables automatic configuration of Wireless Network (IEEE 802.11) Policies. Microsoft has worked with wireless communications vendors to automate the network adapter configuration process, which associates the network adapter with an available network and improves the wireless roaming experience in the Windows operating system.

The wireless network adapter and its Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) driver provide support for NDIS object identifiers (also known as OIDs) that query and set device and driver behavior. The network adapter scans for available networks and passes the information to the Windows operating system. The WLAN Autoconfig service configures the network adapter for an available network. When two networks cover the same area, the user can configure a preferred network order. The computer tries each network in order until it determines an active one. It is also possible to limit association to only the configured, preferred networks.

In Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7, the WLAN AutoConfig service enumerates wireless adapters, and it manages wireless connections and the wireless profiles that contain the settings required to configure a wireless client to connect to wireless networks. The WLAN AutoConfig System Services Group Policy settings in Windows Server 2008 R2 enable administrators to specify the service startup type of the WLAN AutoConfig service for domain member computers running Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 that have wireless network adapters and the associated Windows 7 adapter drivers installed.

WLAN AutoConfig Group Policy settings enable administrators to prevent domain member users from altering the startup mode of the WLAN AutoConfig service.

This service is installed by default and its startup type is Manual.

When the WLAN AutoConfig service is started in its default configuration, it logs on by using the Local System account.

The WLAN AutoConfig service is dependent upon the following system components:

  • Extensible Authentication Protocol
  • CNG Key Isolation
  • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
  • DCOM Server Process Launcher
  • RPC Endpoint Mapper
  • Native WiFi Filter
  • NDIS Usermode I/O Protocol

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