Database Users

IP Address, Active sync & corporate network security age

After having a good old search through this site, i cant seem to find any reference to my problem that Im experiencing at the moment so am taking the plunge and posting for the first time. I hope some of you experienced chaps out there can assist and stop me from pulling my hair out !
The problem :
Im attempting to connect my XDA Exec to sync with my PC at work. This is being prevented due to the fact my employer runs a security agent (CISCO) which prevents the two from connecting due to the Exec having an IP address assigned to it (169.254.2.2).
Is there any way to avoid this, as my employers are reluctant to alter there firewall settings to allow me in ? If not isnt this a bit of dumb idea from M$ as it surely must effect a whole lot of WM5 users on corporate networks ?
Thanks in advance

I don't think that there's much that can be done. The new version of ActiveSync works by creating a virtual network connection between your computer and your PPC. It's well known that if you're using a software firewall that you need to configure it to allow ActiveSync to work.
You could try syncing through bluetooth or IR, but they may set up a virtual network connection as well - in which case you'd have the same problem. They're also somewhat slower.
Brett

USB / ActiveSync / Internet connection, using Desktop PC

Hi,
A newbie, dummy, etc to the WM5.0, o2 xda exec device and what not + great to see this resource out there. I have got no WiFi or BlueTooth setup, the device set me back heavily for a good little while ;-)
Meanwhile attempting to develop some apps at home, I am trying to avoid O2's call plan data usage and connect to desktop PC (ie. some custom TCP apps running on it) as well as attempt to use its internet connection via USB/ActiveSync.
Have looked around for hours, hit google and more, and all I could find is help topic in ActiveSync : 'Use ActiveSync to "pass through" this computer, which of course I can't see working. For example, pocket IE just comes back with 'address is not valid' for any IP address I specify.
I can see the IP addresses associated with ActiveSync, ping them etc. but for the life of me I can't figure out what's required to use the pocket IE or any TCP client on the device to see the desktop's IP address or use its internet connection.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Andy

In ActiveSync, go to connection setting. At the box "This computer is connected to", choose "The Internet".
It suppose to work now.

Thanks for the prompt reply. Have tried that, and what it presents is 'automatic', 'work', and 'internet'. I would have imagined it would present an option to chose my dial-up connection but nope, only those three choices are there.
None of them work, my setup does use a USB modem but I suspect that might not be a problem (although ActiveSync (4.1) seeems to be touchy about other USB devices judging by some web searches).
What I do see is a new Local Area Connection in network control panel for the mobile device. All its IP properties are set to automatic (private IP is automatic too). Event Log on the desktop doesn't report anything wrong either.
I try to use IP adrresses as URLs in Pocket IE only, hence it eliminates DNS issues or similar. I've also wiped the firewall to make sure it is not interfering in any way but still no luck.
What I am wondering now is whether this automagically works for others, if they had to add new modem connection or something on the device, and whether they had to enable Internet Connection Sharing on their dial-up (which I tried and messed up IP addresses and DHCP to some extent so I reverted back).
Any hints where I could be screwing up appreciated.
Regards,
Andy

From what I understand reading all day long (won't give up easy, is that pass thru is achieved through layered LSPs but somehow it's not working (question being does it really work with an USB/Dial up broadband).
And miserably failing at it, the network connection given to PC has following:
DHCP enabled
IP-Address : 169.254.2.2
Subnet-Mask: 255.255.255.0
Defeault-Gateway: (none specified)
DHCP Server is the Windows CE device and given address 169.254.2.1.
I would appreciate if someone can share their (working) Remote-NDIS Host settings from device in Settings/Network Cards/The Internet.
Thanks in advance.

Found and grabbed the settings off the web and some other forums, (169.254.2.1, and subnet mask of 255.255.255.0), things get "better".
"better" = another mega piece of nonsense.
R-NDIS Host now reconfigured, Pocket IE is still unable to use the USB dial-up broadband (no USB hubs involved on the desktop pc btw)
By some odd accident, started the MSN and while it refuses to check mail or similar (edit: it did allow it eventually), its chat features are working perfectly fine. Looking at desktop trace it goes off to :
ip48.hotmail-ppe.com via https
While that will return nothing to a browser based setup it certainly manages to use the desktop PC's connection as wireless is totally off on the device (called flight mode off is it, or similar?).
If anyone has seen or could explain this, or what on earth to do to get the IE (which consistently refuses with 'The address is not valid') to see the desktops connection from here, I'll be their slave for a week ;-)
Regards,
Andy

Matter solved, notified the networking and hopefully they pass it to IE team.
Put simply, write your own web-browser and it'll work
;-)

layman said:
Found and grabbed the settings off the web and some other forums, (169.254.2.1, and subnet mask of 255.255.255.0), things get "better".
"better" = another mega piece of nonsense.
R-NDIS Host now reconfigured, Pocket IE is still unable to use the USB dial-up broadband (no USB hubs involved on the desktop pc btw)
By some odd accident, started the MSN and while it refuses to check mail or similar (edit: it did allow it eventually), its chat features are working perfectly fine. Looking at desktop trace it goes off to :
ip48.hotmail-ppe.com via https
While that will return nothing to a browser based setup it certainly manages to use the desktop PC's connection as wireless is totally off on the device (called flight mode off is it, or similar?).
If anyone has seen or could explain this, or what on earth to do to get the IE (which consistently refuses with 'The address is not valid') to see the desktops connection from here, I'll be their slave for a week ;-)
Regards,
Andy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fact that you can see the new Local Area Connection (Windows Mobile-based Device #..) proves that your Pocket is connected with your PC.
The “Remote NDIS Host” setting can be “IP address allocated by server” (then you may have an error message, but you should share the PC internet connection with the Pocket), or “Specific IP address” 169.254.2.1 (Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0).
So, your problem may come from the connection that PIE is trying to use.
The settings of “Parameter/Connections/Connections/Advanced/Select Networks” should be “Work Network” (réseau de bureau in French) in which :
General = parameters set name
Modem = “empty”
[VPN = “empty”]
Proxy parameters = “This network connecting to Internet” ticked
“This network connecting to Internet through a proxy server” NOT ticked (unless you are connecting to internet through a proxy server).
Sometimes, when you change from GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks, you must soft reset the Pocket to make sure that PIE will use the newly selected network.
In my case my PC is connected to the ADSL modem through a router, which is used as a DHCP server. Then my pocket is getting an IP address by the router in my local network range (different than 169.254.2.1). I don’t know if the connection of the modem on USB can be a problem, but I don’t think so.
You mentioned “some custom TCP apps running on” the PC, did you try without?
Good luck

Had similar Problem ....
Hi Layman,
Your problem sounds very similar to mine - except that I have a cable connection rather dial-up. Differences aside:
I had a machine at work where I plug-in my XDA and it works fine with the inernet.
It refused to work at home. To cut a long story short ... Check your settings are correct, and DO NOT SHARE THE INTERNET on your machine.
On my XP at home I had a bridge (or connection sharing). Once I deinstalled that everything worked. The symptoms were simialr to yours, I can ping local machines but cannot go to the interenet.
My setup at home,
XP Home Edition
USB connection
Activesync 4.1
CABLE modem connected to a wireless/wired switch router.
This machine is connected to the switch.
NO Internet connection sharing.
Hope thi shelps.
Hope this helps...

Thanks to both of you for reply, I pretty much took it as IE bug and slashed out under (real identity at MS guys but no harm meant etc. All a good thing.
------------------------------------
Glaps, cheers, have tried that on number of occasions and what was weird is that it kept coming back checked, or that everything would be unchecked. I just did the tests again
As per earlier posts I switched to purely flight mode (no wireless), so soft reset wasn't required. Having said that and looking at it, I can confirm the My Work connection to use Internet (not proxy) gets unchecked
on every soft reset (perhaps another bug? Yep, it's a BUG ).
Even in a single boot, when I triple, quadruple checked the proxy was not on and that the setting was still unchecked, and that IE was available on Work connection PIE wouldn't connect. I think I did a hard reset about 100 times as well and none of it helped. I've tried probably 20 variations on the theme with many settings. The fact remained IE-irony was the only app unusable.
(This pretty much makes the Connection/Settings on ActiveSync4.1 to use pass through for work or internet irrelevant, it should be all automatic. I think the idea of it all was that RNDIS and that DTLP feature is intelligent enough to figure out what's local network (work) or internet. Frankly I think it was a mistake taking that route for one scenario at least, but time will tell, no point speculating and certainly off topic..)

------------------------------------
RedJupiter, cheers. I can confirm the above holds for the disabling of Internet Conn Sharing too. It is not a deciding factor for the device or more correctly Pocket IE. With or without ICS, all applications apart from IE work.
To add to this (and encourage the debate perhaps, at least others/I can learn more from other experiences), in the last 3 days I've seen numerous posts on how to configure ActiveSync 4.1 'correctly' (heck even the install is labeled wrong, 4.0, speaks volumes). Suggestions ranging to enable IP routing in registry on desktop XP box, to enable NetBios over TCP/IP, to configure WINS, DNS etc. All of which I just don't see affecting much at all (at least in my own setup)
Here it is a USB modem, no routers, simple Dell 9100 box. So two USBs used: one for device and one for broadband modem. (will post the ROM versions and other stuff later). Ops, add another one for keyboard but surely that shouldn't do interrupts or something ;-
Custom app HTTP requests succeed with no problem at all, all other apps work with internet too. Pocket IE stands out.
Hope I am proven 'wrong', it really don't matter on that front. It's just that I can't test with Pocket IE and must give money to provider just to use the browser with settings (MyISP) that will probably make it work (which btw, I haven't setup yet; and will be surprised if that solves this problem instead . Call it avoiding O2's 'mega-bloat-software' install that smashes the device effect, so I am even scared to set the ISP up since that freezing cold experience lol.
( was an intro, but consider it ignorable as it is just early experience:
Above all together only part of the story because the whole thing is as unstable as it gets, the device (OS really) can get really shaken when running low on memory. Files get deleted as you watch them, ActiveSync can return consistent 0x8007000E error on the device (wonder if anyone is checking this really) although plenty of free RAM is on it. Google just solidifies all this with the number of hits and problems related, but things ActiveSync can do (like add files) are just beyond any bug reason; it needs to be scrapped really and alternatives are available so no more moaning from me there).
Ok just one more , what's more things get far more messy when you involve VS 2005, bugs in all OS-es with SSL usage, cert handicaps, you name it. I guess that tells what I am doing with the desktop, simply
trying to do a full roundtrip and test my own server running on desktop. Turned out a web client was required so went down the route to host the browser and pump the HTTP/S myself. Of course, turns out there are issues with the TCP/IP Winsock interface and limitations not only related to authentification and certificates but more, but it's a start. Besides, I am glad I can hit websites from the device (not just desktop debugging)
Eventful 4 days, and all I can conclude is that coming back to software+hardware, jack changed in last 6 years of software 'advances'. Yet you'll see new AKUs, new issues and what not before all the other important bits are resolved first.. But .NET adoption will keep smashing those devices until they figure out it's not sensible having it at all if all software that will run on it would use it like its Free Money Monday every day; not until they sort out the desktop GUI and RAM eating experience first; and it will still all be classified as 'vis ta bloat' OS. )
Rant over
------------------------------
Device : O2 EXEC DELETE * O2 FROM [CABs]
ROM version: 1.13.82 WWE (ROM Date: 11/30/05)
Radio version: 1.04.02
Protocol version: 42.37.P8
ExtROM version: 1.13.188 WWE

It's going out the window!

OK people, I know this site is supposed to be really great, but I have some simple problems, and I can't find the answers by browsing and searching this site. Hell, I can't even identify which phone I'm using....
I bought an XDA Mini S, so what's that called? A kangaroo or something I guess. anyway - I'm about to see if it'll survive being launched high into the air, that's for sure.
I have a home network, a windows small business server running exchange 2003, an ADSL router/firewall and some PC's.
ALL (!?) I want this damn thing to do is surf the network, and the internet whilst at home using a wireless connection. Then whilst it's out and about - to VPN back to home so I can do the same.
However, the set up of this thing is a right nightmare to understand, "My ISP", "My network", "Work", I can't seem to make logical sense of how this thing operates in a networking environment, and I do understand networks pretty well, so this is VERY vexing, hence why this is flying out the window soon.
Anybody feel they can spare some explanations as to how this thing is structured? If I click on anymore settings I might just go mad gibber dribble.

Paulsco - welcome to the board!
Not to sound like a father, but seriously, go and have a game of Call of Duty or something. That's what I do when I'm stressed. It's not worth throwing the thing out of the window. And if you are in a mood to get rid of it, throw it in my direction. I need a Mini S for development!
Ok, what have you done so far?
Have you got it browsing the net through ActiveSync yet?
Ensure that you can sync, then go to ActiveSync, File Menu, Options, and choose "This computer is connected to " The internet.
Then, ensure that your PDA is set to reflect this as well, the internet.
Then hopefully the two should permit you to browse the net through your ActiveSync connection. Try Internet Explorer on the PDA.
If and when you're doing that, then you can progress to wifi and VPN etc.
For wifi, I've always found this useful:
http://wifi.aximsite.com/wifi_net.html
V

Paulsco said:
I bought an XDA Mini S, so what's that called?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's easy - it's the HTC Wizard.
HTC is the comapny that actually makes it and Wizard is HTC's name for it.

Thanks for the response!
That's for the advice - I think I have worn out all the games...
OK - so here is the sit. Make some tea and take a deep breath!
I've got my "wizard" to to most things, it'll sync with Exchange over wifi OR it will sync with a PC via bluetooth, but it won't do both. that's not a real issue though.
Also I can surf the internet via wifi, and I can do this via GPRS, but here is what I need to sort out:
I have two connections listed under settings>connections>connections
The first is the O2 GRPS My ISP connection, and the second is the "My work network" connection. I have defined a VPN to connect back to my firewall in this last connection, but I had to delete the O2 Active default connection in this connection because it kept dialing grps instead of using wifi.
In connections>advanced>network management I have both boxes set to "My work network". this prevents any GPRS calls, until I change the setting. Great, I'd rather not have to have done this, but it does seem to work...
Only thing is, when I am out I tried to connect back to the exchange box and I got from activesync "Your exchange account does not allow syncing, blah blah" which it obviously does because it works from the local network. I have opened all the activesync ports on the firewall.
I hoped to be able to connect the VPN, but this seemed to be impossible with my current config.
I need to be able to configure this so that I can browse my wifi network both locally and remotely. I have managed to get the VPN to connect, but I have no idea why this works sometimes and not others - when you click on connect, you get a beep...and nothing else, no error messages or anything.
So I want to get exchange mail whilst wifi'd: OK that worked this AM because I told everything to use "My work network" that has no GPRS connection defined, but when I wnet out I hthen changed the setting so that it dialed the O2 GPRS connection for Internet, then I got internet, but no VPN connection. then when I returned to the office, I had to soft boot because no matter what I dod, activesync gave me "cannot connect with current settings" - A soft boot cured that, but it's not a real great solution every time you return to the office.
Any help you can give me would be gratefully received! I'll happily bung cash to people for a solution!!!
thanks and regards,
Paul

WM5 networking as bad as ppc2k3

Please forgive me if I'm asking an already answered question.
Does anyone have any answer to the absolutely pants networking setup in windows mobile? I had exactly the same set of problems on my old machine as I am now having on my new one which proves to me this is an OS problem not something to do with my device.
Its a problem which I'm sure everyone else must have encountered, I don't see how you could use a WM device without getting annoyed by this.
I'm on the wifi at home which connects me to 'The Internet' IE is working away nicely, then I decide to copy some mp3's down to my storage card, when I try to access \\myserver\share in file explorer, it wants a /WORK/ network and starts trying to dial vpn's and wotnot.
So I set the wifi to 'Work', it works fine for files but then when I go back to IE it starts trying to dial up the GPRS because it it believes there is no longer an internet connection.
So of course, I try going into the settings for my 'Work' connection and telling it the work connection does actually connect me to the internet. As there is no proxy on my local LAN I obviously choose not to tick this option.
The 'work connects me to internet' option just won't stay ticked! I had this under ppc and now under WM5 aswell. It makes no difference to the device dialing up a costly connection whenever it wants to sync my email and when I go back into connections it appears unchecked again.
Basicly I have two questions, firstly does anyone have an answer to using one network connection for everything. Ideally I would like the machine to use my wifi at home for everything when its available, and only dialup the gprs as a last resort. If it continues to launch the VPN connection to work for some things I can live with that, its just that connecting to GPRS whenever it feels like it is costing me money! I've had to ditch the idea of using it to sync my email just as I had to ditch the idea under ppc 2003 because its simply not acceptable to have Microsoft choosing to empty credit out of my phone whenever they feel like it.
<rant> (you can stop reading here)
The second question is simply to satisfy my own curiosity.... Why?
Why on earth would this insane networking setup ever come in useful to anyone in the first place? Its as if they did this on purpose just to annoy me!
This Work/Internet distinction seems to be another example of MS living in its own fantasy world, then expecting everyone else to live in it to. In reality its just not as simply as saying 'This network cannot be used to share files', or 'Internet explorer must not use this particular network'... kind of defeats the point of having a network IMO, you know, to enable free easy connection of stuff to other stuff? Microsoft, why?
</rant>

Why? Because what if you had a Work (or LAN) connection that doesn't connect to the Internet? Or maybe it is restricted in some other way (like a slooooow connection to the Internet). Then you might not want to use the Work connection, right? Isn't there a way to setup filters for IP addresses so that only work addresses go to the Work connection?

Choosing between WiFi, GPRS, VPN etc. - any simple utility outthere? plz...

Is there a kind of utility that if a connection is required, asks user how to connect? Something like there use to be on a PC, when You start IE? I don't remember which version of IE/Windows it was but it looks something like this - http://support.bee.net/dial/email/outlook6.gif
The problem is, selecting manually how to connect is very much pain in the ass, I am wondering that if there isn't a software already written for this, why is that. It would be a simple yet very usable - You start IE for example, and the phone asks you how to connect, via WLAN or GPRS or whatever. OR maybe even over BT if You have a BT device for connection over PC or smth.
The second option would be to prioritize the connection list - like tell the PDA that first try WLAN, if it fails then try GPRS etc.
The third option would be somehow to use MortScript for this. It's still better than going to Connection Manager through tens of taps.
Been searching the forums. Looked through at least all threads' titles under networking. But no solution so far.
Any ideas? I would appreciate any help. And still wondering why someone hasn't already solved this... Maybe they have, but cannot find it then

So nobody has ever heard of anything like this? Would there be an enthusiast who would program such utility? It would not be a major application...

How do you manually choose connection?
I have HTC Diamond with Windows Mobile 6. I connect it to my work computer to synchronise with Outlook but I want to use my 3G (or GPRS) connection for internet. What should I do?

i really dislike the way the WM6 autoamatically chooses GPRS has its first connection type.. but then if WIFI is turned off it has no choice
An option to possible enable Wifi rather than GPRS would be nice

Windows mobile's connection manager is horrible. I suspect the group assigned to WM networking at microsoft had little (or no) prior experience and didn't really understand how IP routing, interface stacking, etc. works.
We sorely need some kind of end-to-end communications manager that is aware of all network devices (GPRS, CF wireless/ethernet cards, onboard wireless, bluetooth, USB, etc) and virtual devices (all forms of VPN), and how they interoperate. Something that allows editing of routing rules, per-connection DNS servers, gateway priorities, preferred devices, timeouts, connection persistence, etc.
Worry about things like "dial-on-demand" after the basics are covered.
Today it's virtually impossible to keep a WM device on a VPN connection and even harder when you've got phone calls and wifi to deal with. I have my activesync configured through a PPTP VPN and at least 5 times a day it loses its connection and requires me to manually press "sync." Sometimes that doesn't even work, requiring a reboot. Usually there will be some vague and unhelpful error message like "waiting for network" or "could not connect for an unknown reason."
In fact while I'm on a bit of a rant, is anyone else infuriated by error messages like that?
Obviously there was an error - you don't need to tell the user that. If there was no error, you'd be connected! What is the purpose of telling the user there was an error? There is always an "error" unless there is success. TELL THE USER WHAT THE ERROR WAS. Anything else is useless and frustrating.
The device should also absolutely freak out if it ever loses any connection. If the phone loses anything.. the GSM signal, activesync's connection to the exchange server, the VPN... it should beep, vibrate, flash, and refuse to do anything (sleep, power off, etc) until either one of two conditions is true:
1. The error is no longer present (the phone was able to reestablish the connection), or
2. The user has acknowledged and dismissed the error.
It should never be the case that the phone is disconnected and not attempting to reconnect, unless the user chooses that mode of operation. Anything else leads to lost email, missed meetings, and high blood pressure.
Ugh.
Anyway, I think there's a lot of money to be made by a company that can put together a properly functioning WM connection management system. I'm still looking...

This might help, I've not tried it yet but it looks promising....
http://www.iaccarino.de/silvio/ppcstuff.htm#MobileProfiler

That is a much needed program. WM 6.1 does an awful job with GPRS, WiFi,
Phone, etc.

Thanks joemanb, somehow I missed Your reply. But this isn't exactly what I'm looking for. But thanks anyway. I understand that this proggy would be very useful for many people but I don't understand why somebody with programming skills doesn't want to do it...

I have the very same problem.
I have both symbian and WM phones.
Nokia have had this right since my 9500 when you check email or go on the Internet it prompts you for the connection to use. I got a Imate-Kjam and was shocked that it did not do this. It was subsequently replaced with a E90 that still does it the right way and very well. I just got a Samsung SGH-i780 and it is great but it still has no Idea of how to connect to the Internet the way I would like. having 3g makes it less of a problem as I simply don't use the wi-fi but this bugs me that I can't.
All they need to do is have the phone prompt you when you open a Internet app for the connection to use. How hard can that be to realize ?

Bump bump bump

Um... Bump?

Come on developers, You cannot say You don't miss something like that already...

Bandswitch
I hope too in the developers. While waiting I found "Bandswitch" which make something similar...
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-bandswitch-v1-2-3.html

Disable GPRS connections
Try this. Works fine on my Herald/P4350.
http://www.modaco.com/content/pocket-pc-software/246171/new-free-utility/

Thanks for the suggestions but as far as I can tell, these apps only handle mobile data connections and now Wi-Fi. You can easily disable GPRS by creating a fake GPRS connection with no real access point. That is not what I am trying to accomplish here. But thanks anyway.