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amerretzFlag for Australia

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Deploy Internet Dialup Connection to Multiple Laptops

Hi,

Does anyone know of a way to deploy the settings for 'Create new connection settings' in XP for a dialup connection to multiple users?

I need to send out a new dialup connection to all my roaming laptop users with the ISP telephone number, username and password details within the connection settings.

Is there a way to automate this procedure via group policy or some other method?

Thanks All...



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SteveH_UK
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You need to use the Connection Manager Administration Kit, part of Windows 2003 and Windows 2000, but possibly available separately and as part of the administration tools.

It creates an executable file that you can then deploy by whatever means, such as login script, Group Policy or software distribution mechanism.  It also can prevent users from changing settings and allows the creation of a company phone book.

Give it a try!
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ASKER

Will using the group policy setting under User Configuration> Widnows Settings > Internet Explorer Maintenance> Connection, work sucessfully?

I have tried this and it does not seem to retain the username and password for the connection.
I don't think so, no, but you can use Software Distribution (part of Group Policy) to distribute the settings to the laptops automatically.

For myself, I don't like Group Policy's software distribution, so I tend to adapt a login script that creates a file indicating status, but if you are not comfortable with that then go with Group Policy!
I have investigated using CMAK and it states that version 1.3 does no longer support dialup connections.

As a test, I was able to deploy a dialup connection sucessfully which retained the username name and password. The only problem I was left with is that once deployed the default connection interface (COM1) was not selecting the modem card. Is there a way to get dialup connection to select the correct modem device?

You mentioned that you would deploy this connection via a logon script, can you please give an example how I could do this?

Thanks.
I forgot to mention, in the test I was using group policy to deploy.
This is an edited version of a .cmd batch file we use for installing printer connections.  If you don't need it to be per-user, you can save the lock file somewhere else, but the user will need permissions if you choose All Users or Program Files
@echo off
 
setlocal
 
set SettingsPath=%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\COMPANY
set UpdateLockFile=Update20071110.lock
 
IF NOT EXIST "%SettingsPath%" mkdir "%SettingsPath%"
IF NOT EXIST "%SettingsPath%\CONNECTIONS" mkdir "%SettingsPath%\CONNECTIONS"
 
IF EXIST "%SettingsPath%\Printing\%UpdateLockFile%" goto file_end
 
 
REM  DO EVERYTHING HERE
 
 
 
 
 
:file_end
endlocal

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SteveH_UK
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See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/284269/en-us for a reference on this process.
You would need to create a log-in script to copy in the new phonebook, or else create a custom installer app.
Note that I'm pretty sure that you can't provide access details with this method.  You could copy a text file into the users desktop folder, but that's not pretty!  CMAK is the right tool for this purpose.
Thanks Steve, you have been really helpful. Appreciate it!