Network Diagnostics Framework Support for Wireless Connections

To provide a better user experience when encountering network connectivity issues, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 include the Network Diagnostics Framework (NDF), a set of technologies and guidelines that allows a set of troubleshooters (also known as helper classes) to assist in the diagnosis and possible automatic correction of networking problems. When a user experiences a networking problem in Windows Vista, NDF will provide the user the ability to diagnose and repair the problem within the context of that problem. This means that the diagnostics assessment and resolution steps are presented to the user within the application or dialog box that they were using when the problem occurred or based on the failed network operation.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 include a troubleshooter to diagnose failed wireless connections. If a wireless connection fails, Windows displays a dialog box with information about the error. The dialog box includes a Diagnose button that launches the wireless NDF troubleshooter. In the diagnosis session, users can repair their wireless connection problem without needing to involve IT support staff. The wireless NDF troubleshooter will help users resolve many common issues that arise with wireless network connectivity, such as:

• The network adapter radio being turned off
• The wireless AP not being powered
• A missing or mismatched configuration of security options, encryption types, or network keys between the wireless AP and wireless client
• Disconnected media
• Missing certificates

Windows logs all wireless connection attempts in the System event log. When Windows Network Diagnostics runs, it creates additional events in the System event log that contain the following information:

• The name of the wireless network adapter and whether its driver is designed for Windows Vista and/or Windows Server 2008.
• A list of visible wireless networks with the signal strength, channel, protocol (such as 802.11b or 802.11g), and operating mode (infrastructure or ad hoc) for each.
• The list of preferred wireless networks and each network's configuration settings.
• The diagnostic conclusions, such as, "The wireless connection on this computer appears to be working correctly," "The Internet connection on the wireless router or access point might not be working correctly," and "The computer has a low signal strength from ContosoWLAN."
• The repair options offered to the user, such as, "Try moving the computer to a different location, eliminating any sources of possible interference, and then try connecting to ContosoWLAN again."
• The repair options chosen by the user and whether the repair solved the problem.

You can view these events in the Event Viewer snap-in to understand the network environment at the time the problem occurred without needing to re-create the scenario, and you need no longer rely on users to explain the symptoms of the problem. To obtain additional information about the diagnostics process, Windows creates a detailed diagnostic log that is separate from the System event log.

1. In the Event Viewer snap-in, in the tree view, open Applications and Services Logs/Microsoft/Windows/Diagnostics-Networking.
2. Click Operational.
3. In the contents pane, view the events for the wireless diagnostics session.