WLAN AutoConfig

General Information

None at this time

Windows 8

Default Description

The WLANSVC service provides the logic required to configure, discover, connect to, and disconnect from a wireless local area network (WLAN) as defined by IEEE 802.11 standards. It also contains the logic to turn your computer into a software access point so that other devices or computers can connect to your computer wirelessly using a WLAN adapter that can support this. Stopping or disabling the WLANSVC service will make all WLAN adapters on your computer inaccessible from the Windows networking UI. It is strongly recommended that you have the WLANSVC service running if your computer has a WLAN adapter.

Additional Information

None at this time.

Default Startup Type

Service Names

Service Name (registry): WlanSvc

Display Name: WLAN AutoConfig

Default Path and Command Line Options

C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalSystemNetworkRestricted

Log On As

Account: Local System account

Dependencies

Note: No dependencies are listed for any service in the WDP build I used to draft this information.

Windows 7

Default Description

The WLANSVC service provides the logic required to configure, discover, connect to, and disconnect from a wireless local area network (WLAN) as defined by IEEE 802.11 standards. It also contains the logic to turn your computer into a software access point so that other devices or computers can connect to your computer wirelessly using a WLAN adapter that can support this. Stopping or disabling the WLANSVC service will make all WLAN adapters on your computer inaccessible from the Windows networking UI. It is strongly recommended that you have the WLANSVC service running if your computer has a WLAN adapter.

Additional Information

This service is required for Wireless Networks as well as the following group of services:

• CNG Key Isolation
• Extensible Authentication Protocol
• Wired AutoConfig (not required for Wireless Networks)
• WLAN AutoConfig

This service may be set to Automatic by default if the system that Windows 7 was installed upon has an internal wireless card. WLAN AutoConfig, if set to Manual, will not start automatically if you use a hardware switch (such as those on laptops to turn on and off the wireless network card). If you require wireless connectivity on your computer, keep the listed services above on the default values as well as place WLAN AutoConfig into Automatic. If you do not have a wireless card installed on the system, or do not require authentication on your wired network card, the group of services can safely be disabled.

Default Startup Type

Service Names

Service Name (registry): Wlansvc

Display Name: WLAN AutoConfig

Default Path and Command Line Options

C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalSystemNetworkRestricted

Log On As

Account: Local System account

Dependencies

What service WLAN AutoConfig needs to function properly:

• Extensible Authentication Protocol]] (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
  • CNG Key Isolation(S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
    • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)(S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
      • DCOM Server Process Launcher (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
      • RPC Endpoint Mapper (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
  • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)(S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
    • DCOM Server Process Launcher (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
    • RPC Endpoint Mapper (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
• Native WiFi Filter (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
• NDIS Usermode I/O Protocol (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
• Remote Procedure Call (RPC)(S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
  • DCOM Server Process Launcher (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
  • RPC Endpoint Mapper (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)

What other service require WLAN AutoConfig to function properly:

• None (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)

Windows Vista

Default Description

This service enumerates WLAN adapters, manages WLAN connections and profiles.

Additional Information

This service is required for Wireless Networks as well as the following group of services:

• CNG Key Isolation
• Extensible Authentication Protocol
• Wired AutoConfig
• WLAN AutoConfig

This service may be set to Automatic by default if the system that Vista was installed upon has an internal wireless card. WLAN AutoConfig, if set to Manual, will not start automatically if you use a hardware switch (such as those on laptops to turn on and off the wireless network card). If you require wireless connectivity on your computer, keep the listed services above on the default values as well as place WLAN AutoConfig into Automatic. If you do not have a wireless card installed on the system, or do not require authentication on your wired network card, the group of services can safely be disabled.

Default Startup Type

Service Names

Service Name (registry): Wlansvc

Display Name: WLAN AutoConfig

Default Path and Command Line Options

C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalSystemNetworkRestricted

Log On As

Account: Local System Account

Dependencies

What service WLAN AutoConfig needs to function properly:

• Extensible Authentication Protocol(HB, HP, B, U)
  • CNG Key Isolation(HB, HP, B, U)
    • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)(HB, HP, B, U)
      • DCOM Server Process Launcher (HB, HP, B, U)
  • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)(HB, HP, B, U)
    • DCOM Server Process Launcher (HB, HP, B, U)
• Native WiFi Filter (HB, HP, B, U)
• NDIS Usermode I/O Protocol (HB, HP, B, U)
• Remote Procedure Call (RPC)(HB, HP, B, U)
  • DCOM Server Process Launcher (HB, HP, B, U)

What other service require WLAN AutoConfig to function properly:

• None (HB, HP, B, U)

Additional Reading

• CNG: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb204775(VS.85).aspx
• EAP: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensible_Authentication_Protocol
• IEEE 802.11: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11
• IEEE 802.1X Authentication: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/802.1x
• VPN: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network