A wireless configuration utility, wireless configuration tool, wireless LAN client,[citation needed] or wireless connection management utility[citation needed] is a class of network management software that manages the activities and features of a wireless network connection. It may control the process of selecting an available access point, authenticating and associating to it and setting up other parameters of the wireless connection.

There are many wireless LAN clients available for use. Clients vary in technical aspects, support of protocols and other factors. Some clients only work with certain hardware devices, while others only on certain operating systems.

Comparison

The table below compares various wireless LAN clients.

GopalCreatorFirst public releaseAuthenticationSecurityLatest stable version (Release Date)CostOperating systemsLimitationsTarget audience
Cisco Secure Services ClientCisco2008PEAP/MSCHAPv2, PEAP/TLS, PEAP/GTC, TTLS/PAP, TTLS/CHAP, TTLS/MSCHAP, TTLS/MSCHAPv2, TTLS/EAP-MD5, TTLS/EAP-MSCHAPv2, FAST/MSCHAPv2, FAST/GTC, FAST/TLS, TLS, LEAP, MSCHAPv2, GTC, MD5WEP, WPA(TKIP/AES), WPA2(TKIP/AES), CCKM(TKIP/AES)5.1.0TrialWindows90-day full trial/Unlimited wired only.Enterprise, Desktop, Workstation, Server, Windows users
Intel PROSet WirelessIntel—N/aLEAP or EAP-FASTWEP, WPA,WPA210.5.0.0FreeWindowsOnly for intel wireless modulesDesktop, Workstation, Server, Windows users
ThinkVantage Access Connections ManagerLenovo2006-APR-21LEAP, EAP-TLSWEP, WPA,WPA24.42FreeWindowsOnly for intel PRO/wireless modulesDesktop, Workstation, Server, Windows users
Cisco AironetCisco—N/aLEAP, EAPWEP, WPA,WPA2verFreeWindows—N/aDesktop, Workstation, Server, Windows users
Microsoft Wireless Zero ConfigurationMicrosoftOctober 25, 2001 (with Windows XP)PEAP-ELS, PEAP-MS-CHAP v2WEP, WPA,WPA2verFreeWindows XP, Windows Server 2003noneDesktop, Workstation, Server, Windows users
Dell Wireless LAN Card UtilityDell—N/a—N/aWEP, WPA,WPA2ver 3.0FreeWindowsOnly for Cisco Aironet productsDesktop, Workstation, Server, Windows users
Broadcom WLAN UtilityBroadcom—N/a—N/aWEP, WPA,WPA2ver 6.0FreeWindowsOnly for Broadcom wireless modulesDesktop, Workstation, Server, Windows users
Juniper Networks Odyssey Access ClientFunk/JuniperOctober 22, 2002EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS (inner: PAP,CHAP,MSCHAP,MSCHAPv2,PAPToken,EAP-GTC,EAP-MD5,EAP-SIM,EAP-AKA,EAP-POTP,EAP-MSCHAPv2,EAP-JUAC), EAP-PEAP (inner: EAP-GTC,EAP-POTP,EAP-TLS,EAP-MSCHAPv2,EAP-JUAC), EAP-FAST, EAP-MD5, EAP-GTC, EAP-LEAP, EAP-SIM, EAP-AKA, EAP-POTPWEP, WPA, WPA25.20 (June 2010)Varies, 30-day trialWindows, Mac OS XnoneEnterprise, Government (FIPS Edition), Desktop, Workstation, Server, Windows users
NetworkManagernm—N/a—N/aWEP, WPA, WPA2ver 0.6.4Free (GNU)LinuxWireless drivers must support HALDesktop, Workstation, Server, Linux/Unix users

See also