What is a good netwrk manager?

[unicorn]

I recently was lucky enough to get a new laptop thanks to my employer. Now I need to use it at different locations within different networks.
Is there a good neverfailing and decent network manager that is able to let me change all the network settings with a few clicks and not force me to reboot (except when absolutely necessary). I like to have the machine in "wait status" and load it quickly.

Is there anyone here that have experiences from using such utils? I checked Globesoft's site and read about their multinetwork manager but it seems as it works during the bootprocess. Are there other and better solutions?

Any help is appreciated!

[billybob3]

Are the networks DHCP? What operating system are you running? If it is 2000/XP, and the networks are BOTH DHCP, then they should automaticly assign you network information, without a reboot. Although, they probably use different domains/workgroups.

[nnuxx]

i never found one good enought that would convince me
but i once used a laptop without any particular app for it... depending of what u will really need in the LAN u're working in m8

u can always use yr machine in a MS NT/2k/2k3 domain environment without joining that domain every single time... once u do it the first time, reboot, log on one time so the S.O. can create the Domain profile for yr specific user, reboot and then u can authenticate yrself with user="domain\user" or user="user@domain" (this last one in a 2k/2k3 domain only) and yr respective pass for that account, first time the Domain Controller, Proxy, exchange server or whatever, asks u to validade ,
and u can keep on addin IP addresses to yr NIC's list (so u will always have a valid one in a static IPs LAN ), if u dont use dhcp, that is... , cause if u use all that info can be included in the DHCP server scoupes options or even in domain policies for every comp connected to the LAN
not much of a real help maybe but it worked for me then...

[unicorn]

Thank you nnuxx. And billybob, the OS is XP Home, noone of the different networks use DHCP, I'm not sure about the Domains.
So, maybe I have to go for some solution that sets everything at bootup then? What settings are there that can't be changed without a reboot?

[JacKDynne]

When I worked for an integrator a while back we had one that worked so-so. I will see if I can find it and dig it up for ya uni but have not used one for a bit now - and I am pretty sure the one we used had to reboot (but that was a few OS's ago) perhaps they have better ones now.

And if you want to join a domain you may have to get xp pro - home doesn't let you do it BUT you can give yourself a static ip and access network resources regardless...

/JD

[Cactus]

Hi .unicorn

Did you already have a look at this: http://www.mobilenetswitch.com/. I wanted to use it but I never found a 'patch'for it. I seems like this could be what your looking for.

[unicorn]

Thank you JacKDynne,

for the moment let it rest in the archives though. I got some information about MultiNetworkManager that sounds promising. According to a friend to a friend you can change the settings either during the bootprocess (when you suddenly find that you are at a place you didn't know you should get to), or whenever, f eks when turning the machine off before takeoff (when you know where you are going). Then you are forced to reboot only if necessary.
I guess this is the best that can be done.
The networks I'll visit doesn't force me to join a domain (I think, I'm not that a network guru), but just wanting me to be a member of a workgroup and then sign in using a fixed IP).
I'll get back here with afollow-up in case there should be anyone interested inthis particular setup.