Networks and Policies

You can set a variety of policies to govern network usage.

Network Policy

Network policy controls how your users interact with networks in Open Mobile. Network policy has two aspects: Network Ranking and Auto-Connect policies.

Network Ranking

Network Ranking settings control the order in which networks are ranked and displayed in the Open Mobile Available Networks list, with highest-ranked networks shown at the top of the list. Ranking is determined by a complex algorithm that factors network type, connection history, signal strength, and provisioner type to determine the display order. The most influential factors in your particular network ranking depend on the ranking option you select from the following:

  • Favor previously connected networks (for consistency): Ranks any networks to which the user has previously connected.
  • Favor known networks (for security): Ranks networks about which Open Mobile has information. In order of priority, these are personal networks, networks that are listed in a directory, and any networks to which the user has previously connected.
  • Favor Wi-Fi (to reduce costs): Ranks Wi-Fi networks above others, but connection history, directory, and signal strength are also considered, and due to these factors, Wi-Fi may still not be the top network.
  • Favor signal strength (for best performance): Ranks the wireless networks (that is, Wi-Fi or Mobile Broadband) with the strongest current signals.
  • Favor Mobile Broadband (for access): Ranks Mobile Broadband networks above others, but connection history, directory, and signal strength are also considered, and due to these factors, Mobile Broadband may still not be the top network.
  • Show Mobile Broadband at the top of the list: Mobile Broadband networks will always be shown at the top of the list, independent of any other considerations.
If enabled, then Prefer, Prohibit, and Rename (PPR) rules will supersede Network Ranking settings.

Peer-to-Peer Connections

Available for version 2.4.0 and later

If Disable peer-to-peer networks is not selected, users can use Open Mobile to connect to ad hoc, peer-to-peer networks (created through Windows). Note: Selecting the check box will disable this feature.

Due to a limitation in the Operating System, connecting to some ad hoc networks may not work on Windows XP.

Internet Connection Sharing

Available for version 2.4.0 and later

If Disable connection sharing is not selected, users can right-click on an Ethernet or Mobile Broadband connection and select Share to share their connection. Note: Selecting the check box will disable this feature.

Auto-Connect

You can select the network types to enable for Auto-Connect (corporate and Wi-Fi networks, personal Wi-Fi, and Mobile Broadband). Users will be automatically connected to these networks, when possible. (Credentials must be saved locally by users in order for them to Auto-Connect.)

Mobile Broadband Policy

Mobile Broadband policy settings enable you to set usage thresholds for warning messages to be displayed to Mobile Broadband users, as well as usage limits on a monthly basis. You can set separate policies for roaming usage, non-roaming usage, and personal hotspot usage, as well as customize messages displayed to users when thresholds are exceeded.

Prefer, Prohibit, Rename Networks

Connectivity for Mobile Broadband and Wi-Fi is enabled by a set of network directories that contain the networks to which the user is granted access. You can set special rules on networks in your directories, changing the way that Open Mobile treats them.

  • Networks can be preferred, which causes Open Mobile to connect to that network when possible. Preferred networks are sorted to the top of the Available Networks list.
  • Networks can be prohibited, preventing users from connecting to them. Prohibited network types can be shown as disabled (grayed out) or even removed from the Available Networks list entirely.
  • Networks can also be renamed, giving them an alias that can be informative or friendly to the user. For example, if the corporate network at your main office had an SSID of corp-hq-1234, you could rename the network so it would be displayed in Open Mobile as Corporate Headquarters.

Time-Based Session Limits

To help control connection costs, you can impose limits for the duration of Wi-Fi and Dial connection sessions. Currently, Time-Based Session limits may only be imposed on GIS access points.

For information on configuring time-based session limits on the Open Mobile Portal, please click here.

Any change in the Time-Based Session Limits requires a restart of the application after the profile update.

User-Defined Limits and Alerts

Users can impose their own monthly data usage limits, and set alerts to warn them as their usage approaches those limits. Each of these usage types may be limited:

  • A personal Wi-Fi hotspot, which the user designates.
  • Mobile Broadband roaming usage.
  • Mobile Broadband non-roaming usage.

For each usage type, users can set the following values:

  • Usage Limit: The maximum usage permitted for the month. After usage for this type exceeds this level, the user will be disconnected and no further connections of this type will be permitted.
A five-minute grace period extends from when the limit is detected to when the user is disconnected. The user may exceed this limit slightly if downloading something within that grace period.

If Connect Before Logon (CBL) is enabled for this profile and the user has reached the defined limit, CBL will no longer work.

  • Initial Alert Level: The monthly usage level at which a user is initially warned that their usage is approaching the limit.
  • Reminder Alert Level: After the Initial Alert Level is exceeded, each time usage surpasses the Reminder Alert Level, users will be warned again, up to the monthly Usage Limit.
  • Billing Period: A user can select the day of the month their usage period will begin. Usage totals against the limits are reset at the beginning of this period (at local midnight).

Go to: Open Mobile for Windows Help

 

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