Connecting to 802.1x wireless Network after logout

Question

Level 1

0 points

Connecting to 802.1x wireless Network after logout

Hello,

We are running a 802.1x wireless network and got our first Mac running 10.7 last week and are having a heck of a time getting it to stay connected after a user logs out. We have added it to our 2003 domain via a wired connection and are able to connect to our WPA2 wireless network when someone is logged in. Once that user logs out it drops the connection to wireless and noone can login without an Ethernet connection.

We are running Cisco ACS to connect the wireless authentication to our domain. I have loaded a .moblileconfig file that has the security settings in it. If I login with an Ethernet connection plugged in I get connected wireless right away, But when I logout the Mac drops the wireless connection and I can’t log back in without an Ethernet connection?

Any thoughts?

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Dec 15, 2011 7:21 AM

Reply

Answer 1

U-96

Level 1

51 points

Dec 15, 2011 8:15 AM in response to sdamlo

If you're connecting by ethernet then the machine will look for that same connection type the next time it's logged into or booted up. Have you gone into Systems Preferences > Network and looked at what is Red, Green, or Yellow? Try connecting by ethernet again, once connected go to the System Preferences > Network and then choose Wireless.

If you click the Advanced button you'll also find many configs and options for your proxies, 802.1x, DNS, and WINS, etc.

Lastly check the System Preferences > Users and Groups. Look in the Login Options for Network Account Server.

Reply

Answer 2

sdamlo Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 15, 2011 11:31 AM in response to U-96

Thank you for the response. What is happening is the moment I logout the computer is no longer authenticating against the ACS server as the 802.1x settings in the .mobileconfig profile and not being applied if no one is logged.

My question is how to you configure how the Mac talks to the wireless when it is setting at the login window?

Reply

Answer 3

U-96

Level 1

51 points

Dec 15, 2011 11:50 AM in response to sdamlo

OK, bare with me here if I ask obvious or dull questions, I'm trying to help.

First questions:

1. How many user accounts are on this particular computer? Just you?

2. If the answer to question 1 is just you, do you have administrative privileges on your account?

3. Have you ruled out your server's authentication measures? Generally have to set it to "always" ask for authentication or "never" or "remember" or something like that.

If you guys are way past this level of troubleshooting then sorry. There's just too many individual factors, settings, etc. to troubleshoot this easily without being there.

Message was edited by: U-96, for a better tomorrow

Reply