ConfigFree for easy connectivity Wireless connectivity has become essential to anywhere, anytime communications, enabling notebook users to stay connected, no matter where they go. However, managing multiple connections is sometimes difficult and often time consuming. Even when reconfiguring a network connection is simple, it still takes time to change the default printer, browser settings, or make other changes to connect to peripherals in the new location. Toshiba notebooks come complete with ConfigFree software to provide hassle-free, location-based connectivity for wired and wireless (802.11 networks and Bluetooth devices) networks in order to make mobility easier and users more productive. ** NEW: ConfigFree 5.0 introduces ConfigFree Summit for virtual meetings and the quick exchange of files ** What is ConfigFree? ConfIgFree is a unique software utility that makes it easy to manage wired and wireless connections. Incorporating wireless productivity features, ConfigFree enables you to use wireless networking for enhanced data exchange and meeting functionality. There are four main elements to ConfigFree, including: 1. Wireless Radar Screen point and draw connectivity 2. Connectivity Doctor diagnose and solve connectivity problems 3. Profile Settings easily capture, store and switch among profiles 4. ConfigFree Summit enjoy enhanced wireless productivity with net meeting functionality and more. Using the ConfigFree Launcher, you can easily access all of the functionalities of ConfigFree. For added convenience, you can even set the ConfigFree Launcher to automatically hide beyond the edge of the screen when you re not using it. Moving the mouse pointer to the edge of the screen prompts the launcher to slide back into view for quick and easy use. Hovering over the System Tray will also allow you to quickly see connectivity information, such as the receive/transmit indicators. These features make ConfigFree inuitive and easy to use. Next, we will look at the ConfigFree features and benefits in more detail. 1 Wireless Radar Screen for point and draw connectivity ConfigFree provides a utility you can use to search for nearby wireless connection possibilities: Wi-Fi access points, ad-hoc networks, and Bluetooth devices. The utility presents the information in a clear, circular radar screen user interface. For Wi-Fi networks, stronger signals appear closer to your own computer at the centre of the graph. You can position your pointer over a signal s icon to find out more information about it (its SSID or name, MAC address, current signal strength). EXPERT ConfigFree Page 1 of 5 EXP-2005-02-ConfigFree-EN
You can connect your computer to Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices directly from this radar screen. First, click the access point or device, then drag to draw a line to the centre of the graph to your computer. If this is the first time you re making a connection to this SSID, the ConfigFree software presents you with a settings screen so you can enter the SSID/WEP information. When connecting to this SSID in the future, ConfigFree will open the Windows Connection dialog for you. ConfigFree offers help, identifying the settings that may need to to be changed in order to connect. The utility provides a clear, graphical interface to indicate with an exclamation icon where a problem might be; clicking on the icon provides you with information about the problem and can help you arrive at the solution. For companies, the Connectivity Doctor also provides functionality to assist technical support staff. Users can also create a log file of the system configuration, thus enabling the help desk to take over the troubleshooting process and resolve connectivity issues on behalf of the user. 2 Sharing with Bluetooth devices Sending a file to a Bluetooth device is even easier. You can drag and drop a file to any Bluetooth device shown in the Bluetooth connection radar screen to copy the file to that device. You can quick share files to Bluetooth devices, too. Drag and drop a file onto the Bluetooth radar icon in the ConfigFree launcher, and you can immediately choose a local Bluetooth device to receive the file. Or, right click on a file and select Send to Bluetooth Devices from its context menu. 3 Connectivity Doctor: troubleshoot common networking problems The Connectivity Doctor helps you resolve problems that might occur with your device s connections. For example, your IP address may be incorrect, power to your wireless network card may be turned off, you may not have a valid WEP key, and so forth. 4 Capture profile settings for seamless connectivity and productivity You can use ConfigFree to build and manage a list of location profiles. Each profile can include detailed information about the network connection used for a particular location (Home and Office, for example). This way, you can quickly and easy reconfigure your computer s network settings as you move from one location to another. For each location, you can also store the default printer, default internet settings (like a homepage). You store each snapshot of location settings under a location name, so that switching all the settings whenever you need to is as simple as choosing a name from a list. Corporate environments can create location profiles that describe the corporate location settings their employees EXPERT ConfigFree Page 2 of 5 EXP-2005-02-ConfigFree-EN
should use, and then each individual PC can import these profiles; this ensures a consistent and more productive network environment in the office. 5 Automatic and semi-automatic profile switching Now, in version 5.0, ConfigFree can switch automatically between Home and Office profile settings; close the notebook at work and when you open it at home, it switches to the new profile. Also, when you open the notebook in the locale of a known access point, ConfigFree can present you with a list of all the profiles that include that access point s SSID. Additionally, ConfigFree can detect when you plug in an Ethernet cable, and then automatically turn off the power to your WLAN card. Once you unplug the network cable, it can turn on the WLAN card again, and connect back to the local access point. 6 ConfigFree Summit for net meeting productivity and easy file sharing With ConfigFree Summit, you can quickly send files to other computers and devices in the local area, as long as you can connect to them through a LAN (wired or wireless) or PAN (Bluetooth connection). Using Summit from the ConfigFree launcher, you create a virtual meeting room, inviting all the local computers you want to have access to your file. ConfigFree will display a circular room showing icons for all the connected participants. Then, you can simply drag and drop a file into the middle of the pictured room to share the file with all the participants. Or, drag a file and drop it directly on one of the pictured participant icons to send the file directly to that participant only. Summit also provides a quick share feature. Drag and drop a file onto the wireless radar icon in the ConfigFree launcher, and you can immediately choose a local computer to receive the file. You can also right click on a file and select Send to Summit Devices from its context menu to use this quick share feature. Have fun with Toshiba ConfigFree You can now add a line of text of your choosing to the ConfigFree screen saver. Use the Radar Screen to see wireless devices in your vicinity. Use the auto-hide feature and watch ConfigFree slide in when you really need it. No access point in sight? Create and ad hoc network using ConfigFree Summit. Use Quick Connect and supported Toshiba devices in your area will appear simply click on the icon and connect. Automatically switch to a new network as you move using Profile Settings. EXPERT ConfigFree Page 3 of 5 EXP-2005-02-ConfigFree-EN
Summary ConfigFree makes it easy for non-technical users to connect to Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices and share files amongst locally connected users. Additionally, the utilities make it convenient and efficient to maintain a number of location configurations and switch among them as needed. With ConfigFree, users are instantly connected and ready for work or play in any of their favourite environments. Now, that is letting mobility work for you. EXPERT ConfigFree Page 4 of 5 EXP-2005-02-ConfigFree-EN
Summary of Features and Benefits for ConfigFree Feature ConfigFree Launcher and Intuitive Interface Benefit Easily summon the launcher program when needed; slides back beyond the screen edge when no longer needed System tray shows connectivity status: hover the mouse pointer over the icon to see a small information pane containing more information and activate receive/transmit indicators for traffic on network devices. Quickly connect to a LAN/WLAN access point or Bluetooth device from the appropriate radar screen by dragging a line from the AP or device to the local computer s icon. Wireless Radar Screen Connectivity Doctor Profile Settings Summit utility Quick Connect Utility Get more information: the Wireless Radar Screen can show the precise protocol (802.11 a/b/g) used by each access point; it can also show the availability of hidden access points, but won t show their SSIDs until you connect to them. In the Bluetooth radar screen, click on the line for an established Bluetooth connection to quickly disconnect it. Easily troubleshoot network connections: find out quickly where the connectivity problem lies and how to solve it. Create a log file when there are problems, making it easier for support staff to resolve potential connectivity issues. Easily configure specific corporate network connection profiles and then deploy them on company devices. Easily configure a network connection and save all the location-related details for use under a single profile name. You can also press the Details button to view all the current settings (and modify them) before you save a location profile. Support for automatic and semi-automatic switching to profiles configured for locally available SSIDs. Easily share and transfer files to all connected computers in the local network; transfer files quickly and easily to a local Bluetooth device. Create a net meeting and boost productivity Quick Connect: if you have no local access point, switch all local computers to Toshiba Link Device and you can connect them in an ad-hoc network and use the Summit feature to share files. Quickly connect to supported Toshiba devices by clicking on the icon that appears for the product, such as for the Toshiba Wireless Data Projector. 2004. Toshiba Europe GmbH. While Toshiba has made every effort at the time of publication to ensure the accuracy of the information provided herein, product specifications, configurations, prices, system/component/options availability are all subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date product information about your computer, or to stay current with the various computer software or hardware options, visit Toshiba s Web site at pcsupport.toshiba.com. EXPERT ConfigFree Page 5 of 5 EXP-2005-02-ConfigFree-EN