General network configurator

Allow me to put an observation on the table.

Where-ever you <g> GO nowadays, you need the OS to interconnect with other OS's (virtual machines, networks, inter- en extranets etc), different networks on different locations (on laptops), as different users or user-roles and workgroups members etc.

Now IBM's IAK was a neat solution at the time, but times have changed.

We live in hybrid, heterogenous worlds now.

So we need (if you ask me <g>) an umbrella to make managing all those different connection-situations foolproof.

For Windows there are MultiNetwork Manager (http://www.sprint.nl/mnm.html∞) and (huge grin) of course Mobile Net Switch (http://www.mobilenetswitch.com∞) and Netswitcher (http://www.netswitcher.com/)∞. There will be others, but these are which I looked at. I found them difficult to use in some situations. Perhaps (lots of) examples could solve it.

Personally I like the ConfigFree tools on the Toshiba XP Pro notebooks best.

I think those are a good example (try the "find Wifi networks option" <g>) how you could integrate hardware (finding and setup and settings) and network and internet settings (and dialling in, connecting to the ADSL and networks etc, logon procedures) and checks. You can easily ask it to display the current connections and if they are reacting OK. Profiles make changing locations (and also roles) easy to manage too, I think.

To make a long story short, time to integrate the IAK, single NetLogOn, Adapters and Protocols Setup, TCP/IP settings, MPTS / MPTN etc.into one overall umbrella management application.

Not necessarily to create something totally a-new, perhaps an interface with help modules and lots of examples (scripts?) on top of the existing available OS/2 components (checking for conflicts) solves it.

Then about the scripting. I thought that one of the great virtues of OS/2 at the time was that it contained a "database" of settings for DOS/Win session settings tailored to specific games and apps.

If scripts could in the same way "drive" the new single interface to create new profiles etc. that is a way to make it easy for "fools" to set everyting up.

Something like www.HitManPro.nl for fighting adware, trojans etc. in Windows with the existing available freeware apps.

Ergo ... the foolproof interface for all connections!

Now, the reason I wrote it in English.

Perhaps <g> "we" need developers from outside this country for it to mate- railize. I'll donate two units for the upcoming developer conference (mind it: these are not "earmarked", developers need freedom to pursue what they feel is worth it especially if there is no huge salary to compensate).
I am not a developer myself, so it is better spent this way than going there myself. At least I think so.

best regards
from Leeuwarden
PC4U (PC for You!)
Ing. M.P. van Dobben de Bruijn