Wireless Communications and Windows

Updated: December 23, 2002

Microsoft and the hardware industry continue to work together to expand and deepen the promise of wireless. The goal for wireless networking is to deliver full mobility with seamless roaming between networks, smarter applications and services, simple ad-hoc connections, and secure access to network resources and services.

On This Page

  Scenarios to Design For
  Technical Directions for Wireless Communications
  Windows and PC Wireless Support
  Windows and Wireless for Handheld and Embedded Devices
  Industry Standards and Windows
  Resources and Call to Action

Scenarios to Design For

Microsoft is striving to make certain key user scenarios possible in its operating systems, services, and applications.

Basic Wireless Networking Terms

• ad hoc network - Informal networks of devices that are configured without servers or infrastructure, often using wireless connectivity

• Wireless LAN, WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network, for connectivity in buildings with a range of up to 300 feet, depending on the network configuration

• PAN - Personal Area Network, for ad hoc connectivity with ranges up to 30 feet between PDAs, cellular phones, and other mobile devices such as mobile PCs, printers, or cameras

• WAN - Wide Area Network, for connectivity where each air link has coverage around a country. Wireless cellular technologies are the most common WAN technology

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Technical Directions for Wireless Communications

Zero-Configuration Networking

Eliminate the need for manual configuration of network devices.

Design Wireless Access Points for Zero Configuration
A longstanding goal shared by Microsoft and the hardware industry has been to design Windows and edge devices (modems, network adapters, and wireless access points) to require little or no intervention on the part of end users—the device "just works" without complex manual configuration.

Currently, wireless access points are extremely difficult for end users to set up, which is a substantial barrier to widespread adoption of wireless networking in the home environment.

Design edge devices for zero-configuration to provide Plug and Play broadband networking solutions that work with simple low-cost gateways.

• Implement Universal Plug and Play.

• Pre-configure the device with an SSID, a WEP key or similar security mechanism, and firewall security features.

Take Advantage of RNDIS Drivers for Windows Platforms
RNDIS provides ease of use for add-on network and broadband connectivity, with driverless installation for network devices on dynamic Plug and Play I/O buses such as USB.

Wired and wireless net-based devices that implement RNDIS are also easier to design and manufacture than devices for other networking architectures:

• In most cases, the manufacturer does not need to develop or install RNDIS drivers for the device—the operating system provides the drivers.

• "Driverless" installation also makes it easier for the end user to set up a network.

RNDIS drivers are available for Windows platforms where the operating system supports a particular bus technology and there is sufficient demand for network devices on a particular bus.

Implement Standards-based Infrastructures for Zero Configuration for WWAN
Standards-based infrastructures for configuration and authentication enable easy global transparent roaming between WLAN and WWAN environments:

• Systems can determine network characteristics and configure mobile devices so users can just connect and stay connected while mobile.

• Users can access wireless services world wide, without having to reconfigure their devices every time they get off an airplane or cross a border.

The following are essential components of zero configuration for WWAN:

• 2.5G technology-based packet-based network service such as the ETSI-BRAN General Packet Radio Services (GPRS)

• "Always connected" network interface model that enables the wireless network to push data without requiring the user to establish a dial-up session.

• Internet standards such as RADIUS 1x, DHCP, and IEEE 802.1x for compatibility with Internet services and the Windows operating system.

• Preparation for 3G technology as defined by the ITU IMT-2000 global standard.

Support Universal Plug and Play as the Standard Communications Protocol for Electronics Devices in the Home
Universal Plug and Play is essential to zero-configuration network setup and integration of both PC and non-PC devices on home networks.

• Industry support for Universal Plug and Play as a common control protocol based on IP will make it easier for the industry to provide Microsoft .NET services to UPnP-enabled devices.

• Universal Plug and Play will help consumers find more uses for their PCs, which will make it more compelling to purchase additional PCs for the home.

A UPnP-enabled PC can control and monitor Universal Plug and Play devices in the home and act as a gateway for Internet services to these devices, making possible scenarios such as the following:

• Control lights in the home from the PC.

• Receive a notification when the dryer is finishing its cycle.

• Place a maintenance call when the refrigerator or dryer is using too much energy.

The PC as the Preferred Mobile Device

Eliminate barriers to worldwide roaming.

Widespread Deployment of 802.11
Wireless 802.11 enables seamless roaming between private, public, and personal networks. Expanding the reach of 802.11 will provide wireless access and connectivity wherever people travel with mobile PCs:

• Airports, hotels, conference centers, temporary locations such as trade shows, popular destinations such as coffee shops.

• Offices and conference rooms, with the ability to detect and use locally available printers, projectors, and other shared network resources.

Successful expansion of 802.11 depends on the following:

• Simplified network setup for wireless service providers to set up and manage public networks.

• Zero-configuration and 802.1x authentication to make it easy for roaming users to connect to wireless networks and be confident that their data is secure.

Implement Universal Plug and Play and IPv6 to Support Ad Hoc Synchronization
As Bluetooth-capable cellular phones and handheld devices become more widely available, more users will want to synchronize more kinds of data—not only calendars and contacts, but email, music, and media files.

Solutions for Bluetooth wireless technology that are based on Universal Plug and Play and IPv6 support ad hoc synchronization for data:

• Universal Plug and Play provides on a standard mechanism for devices to connect and synchronize with the host PC.

• IPv6 provides significantly increased address space without need for NATs (network address translators).

• IPv6 mobility and security features provide significant advantages for ad hoc synchronization.

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Windows and PC Wireless Support

The PC remains the most abundant source of personal data, and the valuable hub in a home or business network. Windows support for wireless technology is key to the usability of wireless technologies.

Windows XP builds on Windows 2000 security, networking, and Plug and Play capabilities with the features listed in this section.

Windows XP Automatic Network Detection, Identification, and Selection
Change detection for IEEE 802.11 LANs can trigger updates in clients, applications, and the network, based on media sense in network adapters.

Media sense is wireless aware, with capabilities enhanced by these new features:

• Intelligent network interface selection based on speed and media type

• Active network performance indicator

• Network Repair function

• Network context (location services)

• Network aware proxy detection

Windows XP Remote NDIS Support
This allows easy addition of network devices on external serial buses such as USB.

Windows XP Zero-Configuration IEEE 802.11
This support allows:

• Automated transition between corporate network and home ad hoc network without user intervention.

• Association with user-defined preferred infrastructure in public places, without user intervention.

• Previewing the visible home or office infrastructure and ad hoc networks, allowing the user to select a particular network for association.

Windows XP Security Improvements for Wireless LANs
This includes automatic key management, user authentication, and authorization prior to LAN access.

• Supports wireless LANs (IEEE 802.11) and Ethernet, using IEEE 802.1x.

• Enables interoperable user and machine identification, centralized authentication, and dynamic key management.

• Builds on existing standards such as EAP and RADIUS.

Network Location API
Support is provided through Windows Sockets (Winsock):

• Provides applications with capability to discover network context and use that information for configuration.

• Can be used in addition to existing APIs to provide network-aware applications.

Power Management
In addition to improved power savings features in Windows for mobile PCs, enhancements can be made by vendors to improve the radio power management.

Windows XP Digest Access Authentication
Provides LDAP for wireless and remote wireless devices, and includes Security Support Provider Interface (SSPI) functions: security package, credential, and context management, plus message support.

Windows 2000 Support for Wireless
Windows 2000 delivered key support for wireless computing:

• Easier to use, robust support for IrDA.

• Improved performance, with TCP/IP optimizations for wireless communications requirements.

• Enhanced QoS support and improved security.

• Always on, easy-to-use connectivity—automatic detection of changes in the network connectivity to trigger updates, enabled by media sense.

• Wireless LAN drivers from many vendors included with the operating system.

• TCP performance enhancements for wireless communications.

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Windows and Wireless for Handheld and Embedded Devices

Windows CE .NET
Windows-powered devices are wireless-ready out of the box providing short-range-to-WAN connectivity. Windows CE .NET, the successor to Windows CE 3.0, offers an open-standard platform for which many companies provide add-on hardware, software, and drivers to support wired and wireless connectivity.

New technology support in Windows CE .NET ensures great support for creating wireless handheld devices. For example:

• Support for Bluetooth wireless technology as a short-range replaceable wireless solution.

• Built-in support for Universal Plug and Play, to enable discovery and control of devices on IP networks.

• Support for Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), XML, and Internet Explorer 5.5 and later.

Windows CE .NET, with support for technologies such as NDIS (dynamic binding), Plug and Play, Internet Connection Sharing, Point to Point Protocol (PPP), virtual private networking (VPN), and configuration options for TCP/IP, enables devices to access or receive data any time, anywhere.

Support for short-range connectivity in Windows CE .NET includes Bluetooth and IrDA. Windows CE. NET uses these protocols to provide dial-up networking and data exchange support through OBEX. The services are also exposed through Winsock and Serial APIs that allow applications to take advantage of these wireless protocols.

Wireless LAN support in Windows CE .NET includes NDIS miniport drivers for popular IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi) adapters, enhanced security through 802.1x, and Zero Configuration to make configuring 802.11b easy for users.

Wireless WAN support such as GPRS or CDMA can be implemented through one of the following models in Windows CE .NET:

• Always On. Write only an NDIS miniport driver to expose the device as an IEEE 802.3 device.

• Connect on Demand. Write an NDISWAN miniport driver that uses TAPI and its TSP to establish a connection.

Windows CE .NET network drivers are written under NDIS, which is largely based on the same specification as Windows XP. Porting existing drivers from the desktop operating system is extremely easy.

Microsoft Windows XP Embedded
Windows XP Embedded is the successor to Windows NT Embedded 4.0. This operating system is designed for embedded products and devices. It includes built-in, secure networking, and communication services including TCP/IP, Winsock, and all other network services and protocols supported by Windows XP Professional. Windows XP Embedded networking protocol support includes:

• IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.1X

• Universal Plug and Play

• IrDA

Mobile Terminal Server Client (Windows and Windows CE)
This client can be used to turn a handheld PC into a Windows-based Mobile Terminal that can access a network to run applications when connected to a Windows Terminal Services server, over wired and wireless LANs or dial-up connections.

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Industry Standards and Windows

Information about the key wireless standards where Microsoft is investing resources

5GHz Wireless
Microsoft encourages participation in the 5GHz Wireless LAN Industry Advisory Group, initiated by Compaq, Intel, and Microsoft to drive industry convergence on a single global WLAN standard for a commercially attractive product for home and business environments.

Two competing proposed standards, IEEE 802.11a and HiperLAN2, are being developed for higher-frequency wireless networking. Issues to be addressed:

• Co-existence of standards: frequency sharing;
  interference robustness

• Interworking between two standards

• Regulatory issues

IEEE 802.1x
This is a standard for port-based network access control to provide authenticated network access for Wireless LAN and Ethernet networks. The IEEE 802.1x standard defines the physical layer and media access control (MAC) layer for a wireless LAN.

Windows XP includes changes to support functionality in NDIS miniport drivers for IEEE 802.11.

• IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi) is a WLAN standard for enterprise and SOHO environments, operating in the 2.4-GHz band, with typical ranges of up to 150 meters free space, with data transfer rates of 11 Mbps.

• IEEE 802.11a, a standard for future products in 5GHz band with data transfer rates of up to 54 Mbps.

• Key IEEE 802.1x working groups.

Remote NDIS
Remote NDIS (RNDIS) is a specification for network devices on dynamic Plug and Play I/O buses such as USB. It includes two components: a bus-independent message set and a description of how this message set is conveyed across the buses or networks on which it is supported.

Bluetooth Wireless Technology
Microsoft is working to ensure that Windows-based PCs can interact with Bluetooth-enabled devices. Microsoft is delivering an extensible architecture based on Bluetooth Specification, Version 1.1:

• Device configuration (discovery and bonding)

• HID for mouse, keyboard, and joysticks

• HCRP for printing

• PAN (IPv6)

• ESDP (Universal Plug and Play over PAN)

• Dial-up networking

  • Cellular phone as fax/modem

  • Null modem for peer-to-peer and LAN access

• Extensible architecture: APIs enable value-add development of third-party applications

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Resources and Call to Action

Device Manufacturers
For wireless devices that will interoperate with Windows-based PCs or Windows-powered devices:

• Write LAN-like, always-on drivers (use NDIS and power management support, as provided in DDK):

  • Better performance and support in Windows.

  • Ease of configuration and use.

  • Intelligent media selection and sense.

• Take advantage of RNDIS drivers for Windows platforms

• Build devices that support IEEE 802.1X network access control.

  • IEEE 802.11 access points.

  • Ethernet switches.

  • Support the new NDIS OIDs with IEEE 802.11 network adapter driver and firmware.

• Design wireless access points for zero configuration:

  • Implement Universal Plug and Play.

  • Pre-configure the device with an SSID, a WEP key or similar security mechanism, and and firewall security features.

• If you are planning to build Bluetooth devices:

  • Base your implementation on Bluetooth 1.1, with thorough testing for interoperability and compatibility:

  • Implement Universal Plug and Play and IPv6 to support ad hoc applications and services for Bluetooth devices.

• Support Universal Plug and Play as a common control protocol for devices.

• Cooperate in standards work for a single global solution.

• Implement standards-based infrastructures for network configuration and authentication:

  • 2.5G technology-based packet-based network service such as the ETSI-BRAN General Packet Radio Services (GPRS).

  • "Always connected" network interface model.

  • Internet standards such as RADIUS 1x, DHCP, and IEEE 802.1x.

  • Prepare for 3G technology as defined by the ITU IMT-2000 global standard.

• Explore the engineering and market potentials for creating new types of devices with Windows XP.

PC Manufacturers
Include wireless support with Windows-based PCs:

• Include embedded wireless devices in PCs.
  Many system manufacturers are shipping laptops with antenna embedded, but without internal cards.

• Deliver "mobile enabled" devices, applications, and services for both home and business users.

• Ship devices that support IEEE 802.1X enabling secure network access.

• Select products that support Remote NDIS or the NDIS model for wireless WAN, LAN, and PAN to ensure easy-to-use, always-on connectivity.

• Cooperate in standards work for a single global solution.

Resources
See Wireless Technologies

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