Lenovo ThinkVantage Access Connections - Manual (Page 5)

Chapter 1. Overview
Access Connections is a connectivity assistant program which helps to configure various network
connections including wireless LANs. Users can create and manage location profiles that stores the network
and Internet configuration settings needed to connect a client computer to a network from a specific location,
such as home or at work. The network connection can be made using a modem, a wired network adapter,
a broadband device (DSL, cable modem, or ISDN), wireless WAN, WiMax, or a wireless network adapter.
Virtual private network (VPN) connections are also supported. By switching between location profiles as you
move your computer from place to place, Access Connections can quickly and easily help users connect to
a network without having to reconfigure network settings manually. A location profile supports advanced
security settings, default printer, proxy settings, web browser home page and automatic application launch.
Access Connections has the ability to support automatic location switching between Ethernet, wireless LAN,
wireless WAN and WiMax connections.
Features
Access Connections has features that enable you to find wireless and network connections quickly and
effortlessly. These features increase the portability of your wireless activity. Access Connections includes
the following functions:
• Create new location profiles
Access Connections provides a wizard that helps you create location profiles that define the settings
required to connect to various types of networks. The Connect to Internet view is opened by default
when Access Connections is started.
• View location profile and connection status
The Connect to the Internet view allows you to view available networks for each connection type and the
status of the network connection associated with each location profile.
• Switch between location profiles
Access Connections allows you to change location profiles. You can simply choose another location
profile from the list and connect to it. A progress indicator window shows the state of the connection. If
the connection fails, a button appears to help you fix the connection.
• Wireless Connectivity
Access Connections software accommodates wireless wide area networking (WAN) and Bluetooth
Technology. With the introduction of 3G cellular technologies, wireless WAN services are emerging
as effective alternatives for high-speed wireless access to networks. Access Connections provides
portability when users are away from the office and not near a public WLAN hot spot.
• Find wireless networks
Access Connections can search for wireless networks that are in range of your wireless adapter. This
feature is useful when you are traveling or in a public place, and you are not sure about what, if any,
wireless networks are available to you. You can attempt to connect to any wireless networks that are
found. If the connection attempt is successful, a new wireless location profile will be created using the
detected wireless network name and default settings. You can also manually create a location profile for
a detected wireless network if you know the appropriate settings.
• Automatic switching of location profiles
If a network associated with your currently applied location profile becomes unavailable, Access
Connection can search for available networks and automatically switch to a matching location profile.
You can automatically switch between wireless location profiles, and Ethernet location profiles. You can
establish a wireless priority list that allows you to define which wireless location profile will be made active
when your computer is in range of multiple wireless networks, or when more than one location profile
uses the same wireless network name.
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