Use Microsoft Windows 7 Netsh Commands The Windows Netsh commands for a wireless local area network (WLAN) provide the means to configure wireless connectivity and security settings using a command line instead of a graphical user interface (GUI). Benefits of the wireless Netsh interface include easier wireless deployment as an alternative to Group Policy, ability to configure clients to support multiple security options, and even the ability to block undesirable networks. In this project, you will explore some of the Netsh commands. For this project, you will need a computer running Microsoft Windows 7 that has a wireless NIC and can access a wireless LAN.
1. In Microsoft Windows 7, click Start, click All Programs, and then click Accessories.
2. Right-click Command Prompt and then select Run as Administrator from the context menu. This will open the Windows command window in elevated privilege mode.
3. Type netsh and then press Enter. The command prompt will change to netsh>.
4. Type wlan and then press Enter. The command prompt will change to netsh wlan>.
5. Type show drivers and then press Enter to display the wireless NIC driver information. It may be necessary to scroll back toward the top to see all of the information.
6. Next, view the WLAN interfaces for this computer. Type show interfaces and then press Enter. Record the SSID value and the name of the Profile.
7. Now look at the global wireless settings for this computer. Type show settings and then press Enter.
8. Display all of the available networks to this computer. Type show networks and then press Enter.
9. Windows creates a profile for each network that you connect to. To display those profiles, type show profiles and then press Enter. If there is a profile of a network that you no longer use, type delete profile=profile-name.
10. Now disconnect from your current WLAN by typing disconnect and then press Enter. Note the message you receive, and observe the status in your system tray.
11. Reconnect to your network by typing connect name=profile-name ssid= ssid-name as recorded in Step 6 and then press Enter.
12. Netsh allows you to block specific networks. Select another network name that you currently are not connected to. Type show networks, press Enter, and then record the SSID of the network you want to block. Type add filter permission = block ssid=ssid-name networktype = infrastructure and then press Enter.
13. Type show networks and then press Enter. Does the network that you blocked in Step 12 appear in the list?
14. Now display the blocked network (but do not allow access to it). Type set blockednetworks display=show and then press Enter.
15. Type show networks and then press Enter. Does the network that you blocked in Step 12 appear in the list?
16. Click the wireless icon in your system tray. Does the network appear in this list?
17. Click the wireless icon in your system tray. What appears next to the name of this blocked network? Click the name of the network. What does it say?
18. Now reenable access to the blocked network by typing delete filter permission = block ssid=ssid-name networktype = infrastructure and then press Enter.
19. Type Exit and then press Enter.
20. Type Exit again and then press Enter to close the command window.