Module Overview

This module introduces the Windows 7 networking user interface changes. These improvements make it
easier to connect to networks, view network status, and share resources.

Goals
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
• Outline the key changes to network connection steps in Windows 7.
• Demonstrate how to find information about your current network connection.
• Discuss the changes to Wireless network connections in Windows 7.

Expected Time for this Module

This module takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Labs in this module take an additional 30 minutes to complete.

Overview
Networking is a fundamental part of the Windows computing experience. It is also extremely complex and
challenging for average users to setup and manage. Windows 7 focuses on two major areas to both
centralize and simplify the Networking interface:
• Network system icon and tray
• Network and Sharing Center

The Networking Tray Fly-out is intended for everyday use and to make it easy for users to get connected and
stay connected to a network as they move around with their PC. The purpose of the Network and Sharing
Center is to be the one place for users to discover and access all onetime networking related tasks.

Getting Information about the Network Connection

Helping a customer determine the current state of their network connectivity can happen in several
different places. The two common places that we can use to determine whether or not the customer is
connected to the network are the Networking tray icon and the Network and Sharing Center. Let’s start by
looking at the Networking tray and system icon.

In one location, we can get a clear picture of the current state of the network. The first place that a user
will go to get connected to a wireless network, or check the state of their Internet connection is going to
be the network tray and system icon.
The second major focus area for networking in Windows 7 in the Network and Sharing Center. This
interface was originally introduced in Windows Vista, but has been streamlined for this release. This
interface is intended to be the first destination or jumping off point for any network setup or configuration
task, such as the following:
• Create or join a HomeGroup
• Change or verify IP configuration
• Turn on File Sharing

We will walk through the interface in the section below in order to get familiar with the new layout and
the tasks that can be accomplished from each area.
 The topmost section of the Network and Sharing Center is designed to communicate to overall state of
network connectivity.
• The left icon represents the local computer.
• The name of the computer is shown
• An icon to the left of the name indicates that that computer is part of a HomeGroup.
• Clicking the icon will open Windows Explorer.
• The center icon represents the network that the computer is connected to.
• The icon represents the network location that the network is configured as (Home in
this case)
• The name of the network is displayed.
• Clicking this icon will open the Network browse window.
• The right icon shows whether or not the computer is connected to the Internet.
• Clicking here will open the default browser.
• Click the See full map link to open the Network map.
• This map was introduced in Windows Vista.
 The center section is designed to show more information about the networks that are currently connected,
and the way that the computer is connected to the network.
• Again, the network name and icon is shown.
• Clicking link below the network name will allow the user to change the network location that is
configured to Home, Work or Public.
• Access type shows whether or not the network is connected to the Internet.
• HomeGroup shows information about the HomeGroup, such as whether or not one exists, is
ready to join, or that the computer is already a member. (HomeGroup is discussed in the Home Networking
module.)
• Connections show which network connections are connected to the network listed on the left.
• Click the Connect or disconnect link to open the Network tray.

The bottom section has links that assist with configuring or troubleshooting your network.
• Set up a new connection or network brings up a wizard that allows the user to create or
connect to several different types of networks.
• Connect to a network opens the Network tray
• Choose homegroup and sharing options opens the HomeGroup control panel item
 • Troubleshoot problems displays a list of the Network and Internet related Troubleshooters that
are available.

At the top of the task pane we see three entries for advanced network tasks.

• Manage wireless networks provides an interface for managing all of the wireless networks that
the computer has connected to. Some of the tasks that can be performed here include the following:
 • Reorder the wireless networks so that the preferred network will be connected to if
multiple networks are available.
• Create wireless network connections for ad hoc wireless networks or to connect to
wireless networks with hidden SSIDs.
• Delete a wireless network so that it will no longer be automatically connected to when
that network is detected.

Change adapter settings opens the network adapter configuration screen, where they can perform several
tasks.
• Enable or disable a network connection
• Create or use an on-demand network connection such as Dial-up or VPN
• View or change their IP configuration.
 Change advanced sharing settings opens the Advanced sharing settings Control Panel item, which provides
the majority of the settings that were at the top level of the Network and Sharing Center in Windows Vista, as
well as several Windows 7 specific options. All of the settings here can be configured separately for the Public
and Private (Home/Work) network locations.

These settings were available in Windows Vista:

• Network Discovery
• File and printer sharing
• Public folder sharing
• Media streaming
• Password protected sharing
These settings are new for Windows 7:
• File sharing connections -This setting configures the encryption level used for file sharing,
either 128-bit (the default) or 40- or 56- bit (for backwards compatibility).
• HomeGroup Connections - This setting configures whether HomeGroup will automatically
manage the authentication between HomeGroup computers, or if they would prefer to continue using
Windows user accounts and passwords between HomeGroup members.

The bottom of the task pane contains links to related Control Panel items.
Connecting to a Wireless Network
With the addition of the Network tray in Windows 7, the method for connecting to a wireless network has
changed as well.

1. When Windows 7 detects that a new wireless network is available, the Network system
icon will overlay a glowing orb to indicate this.

2. Clicking the Network system icon will display the network tray, which shows a list of the
available wireless networks.

3. Hovering over any of the wireless networks in the list will display more information about
that network, such as signal strength, security type, radio type, and SSID.
4. Select the network you wish to connect to, and click the Connect button.

Note: If you remove the check mark next to "Connect automatically", it will prevent the wireless
network from being saved as a profile in the Manage Wireless Networks Control Panel. Any
subsequent connections will need to be manually initiated, and the wireless network key will
need to be entered again.

5. Enter the WEP or WPA key when prompted, and click OK to continue.

6. Windows will now connect to the wireless network using the key that was provided.
 7. Now when we look at the Network tray we can see that the target wireless network is now
connected, and the Network system icon has changed to a signal strength indicator.

Manage Wireless Networks

After connecting to a wireless network, if the user left Connect automatically checked, information about
wireless network will be saved in a wireless network profile in the Manage Wireless Networks Control
Panel.
Manage wireless networks provides an interface for managing all of the wireless networks that the
computer has connected to. Some of the tasks that can be performed here include the following:
• Reorder the wireless networks so that the preferred network will be connected to if multiple
networks are available.
• Create wireless network connections for ad hoc wireless networks or to connect to wireless networks
with hidden SSIDs.
• Delete a wireless network so that it will no longer be automatically connected to when that network
is detected.

In addition to all of these, Windows 7 also adds the ability to recover a forgotten wireless network key. To
accomplish this, open the properties of the wireless network, and from the Security tab check the box next
to Show characters. This will show a previously entered wireless network key, so that it can be recovered
without resetting the router back to factory defaults. Viewing the wireless network key in this manner
requires administrative rights.
. Lab: Core Networking
Lab Overview
This lab provides hands-on experience viewing and configuring networking on Windows 7. .

Expected Time for this Lab

This lab takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Requirements
To perform this lab you will need the following:
• A PC with Windows 7 installed
• Internet Connectivity

Exercise: Network Configuration

This exercise explores changes in the connection management interfaces for network connections in
Windows 7.
1. Find and note the location for the following information on your network connection:
a. Network location (Home, Work, Public)
b. IP Address
c. DNS Server address
d. Network adapter make and model
e. Network adapter driver version
2. Is the location for this information generally the same as where you found it in Windows Vista?
3. When you have found each of the above, compare your results with the class. See if there are alternate
locations for the same information.
Exercise: Network Troubleshooting
This exercise uses the Network Adapter and Internet Connections Troubleshooters to resolve network
connectivity issues.
1. Internet Connections Troubleshooter
a. Choose one of the misconfiguration options listed below to break your internet connection:
i. Disconnect the network cable.
ii. Configure a bad static IP configuration (e.g. 10.0.0.2, Subnet Mask 255.0.0.0, DNS
10.0.0.99).
iii. Disable your network adapter in device manager.
iv. Restart the PC and disable your network adapter in the BIOS.
v. Configure a bad proxy server setting in the Internet Options interface.
b. When you have completed the change above, open Internet Explorer and note the symptom you
see.
c. Run the Internet Connections Troubleshooter. Note the diagnosis given or root cause found.
If the troubleshooter recommends action, note that as well.
d. Did the troubleshooter resolve the problem, or provide specific instructions to correctly resolve
the issue?
i. If so, was the resolution successful?
ii. If not, did the problem symptoms change?
2. Network Adapter Troubleshooter
a. If the issue was repaired, repeat the misconfiguration to break the connection again.
b. Run the Internet Connections Troubleshooter. Note the diagnosis given or root cause found.
If the troubleshooter recommends action, note that as well.
c. Did the troubleshooter resolve the problem, or provide specific instructions to correctly resolve
the issue?
i. If so, was the resolution successful?
ii. If not, did the problem symptoms change?
3. Compare and discuss your results with the class.