I like networks and I love networking. Ive worked with old unix stuff, linux stuff since the oct31 red hat release, windows 95 to server 2003 etc.

However, I have never seen a mess like networking is on Windows Mobile! Holy HELL! Talk about legacy cram time. The whole area of this has bad design and even worse implementation. So, I need to better understand whats going on here.

Under Connection Settings I have two options -- Programs that automatically connect to the Internet should connect using: and then Programs taht automatically connect to a private network should connect using:

Easy enough -- two profiles to be defined. One for public internet access and one for LAN or VPN access. However, in any give program I don't get to say "Okay, connect A or B" so these become kind of guess work.

To configure from there raises all kinds of eye brows. First they have a tab for MODEM. Who has used a modem with their Pocket PC since CE 1.0? But I digress. Sometimes you get an option to specify VPN information and other times you don't. You can tap-hold to connect to the VPN but no status on how that went.

TL;DR - This crap doesn't make sense. So, if you are more familiar with this let me describe the three things I want to do.

1) Home network w/ Wi-Fi. Here everything should work. Active sync to the home exchange server, active sync to the main PC, web browsing. No proxy connections, no VPNs. I am on the LAN so it should go.

2) Hot spot roaming. All internet traffic should work. I should be able to specify that I want to connect to my home PPTP VPN and I should see just like in windows some kind of sign that I am connected. Once connected, just like when I connect my laptop to my VPN, everything should just work.

3) Bluetooth Modem w/ Proxy Server. Finally I should be able to switch to another connection that just has HTTP traffic over a proxy server. Nothing else is going to work but I should be able to painlessly switch in and out of this mode.

SO -- Can I do this under the current goofy profile setup with the oudated widgets or do I need something else.


Thanks for the help - this is just hurting my head.

First, let me point you to the WiFi Guide linked from my signature.

As for modems, I think people that connect through a cell phone (which is pretty common with a PPC) use this tab.

You are right, much of the details in the networking seem to be legacy hold overs from very early versions of PPC. I think 'work' is more accurately read as 'network' and typically is the best option for both dropdown lists on the Select Networks page if you are using a wireless network (whether at home or work). 'The Internet' will probably work for most commercial or free hotspots.

-Ike-

     

But when we use that we are using a bluetooth modem. Luckily the bluetooth software on the axim took care of setting all that stuff up for me. Pshew.

I have it down (finally) where I can seemlessly switch from my bluetooth modem connection and wifi.

The VPN stuff is still not right