X-Account-Key: account1 X-UIDL: 146261 X-Mozilla-Keys: Return-Path: X-ListServer: CommuniGate Pro LIST 5.1.3 List-Unsubscribe: List-ID: List-Archive: Precedence: list Message-ID: Reply-To: "OS/2 Wireless Users Mailing List" Sender: "OS/2 Wireless Users Mailing List" To: "OS/2 Wireless Users Mailing List" X-Original-Message-ID: <47744001.9050503@2rosenthals.com> Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 19:14:57 -0500 From: "Lewis G Rosenthal" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Subject: Re: [OS2Wireless] Dopey on-off switch (was: Re: [OS2Wireless] Terminology) On 12/27/07 06:15 pm, Mark Henigan thus wrote : > Hello Lewis: > > I was under the impression that turning off > the radio via the wireless "widget" was just > as effective as a hardware switch. I know > that when I turn off my Cisco 350 PCMCIA card > the "Plug'n'Play for PCMCIA" applet shows the > card as turned off and the lights no longer > flash on the card. Is it different with the > internal and/or newer cards? > Not necessarily with the mPCI cards, Mark, as they are not (AFAIK) hot pluggable. Thus, it is impossible to actually power down the slot from software. I thought that the hardware switch did this, but thinking on it now, it probably isn't so, as there still wouldn't be a way to recognize the slot upon power up without a PCI hot plug driver. So, essentially, all the switch must do (and XWLAN, for that matter) is tell the card to shut off its radio. This consumes less power and shouldn't allow any broadcasting, but it's not the same as telling Plug'n'Play for PCMCIA to power down a slot. That actually does cut the flow of power (the card should actually cool down, except for the heat generated from inside the machine). At least that's the way I believe it works. In servers, we actually do have hot plug PCI, so I can, for example, pull a Proliant server out of a data cabinet on its drawer glides, open the case with the unit still running, press a button to release a plugged in card (which will cut power to it, avoiding any chance of short circuiting the slot), pull the card, swap in a new one, and power the slot back up. It's pretty neat, and when swapping SCSI cards for tape drives and such, does save a lot of time and hassle, particularly with OSes which self-tune over time (like NetWare), where I absolutely hate the thought of bringing down a server which has been running for five or six months and has just reached a really sweet spot. -- Lewis ------------------------------------------------------------ Lewis G Rosenthal, CNA, CLP, CLE Rosenthal & Rosenthal, LLC Accountants / Network Consultants New York / Northern Virginia www.2rosenthals.com eComStation Consultants www.ecomstation.com Novell Users Int'l www.novell.com/openenterpriseserver Need a managed Wi-Fi hotspot? www.hautspot.com ------------------------------------------------------------ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to the mailing list . To unsubscribe, E-mail to: To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to To switch to the INDEX mode, E-mail to Send administrative queries to To subscribe (new addresses), E-mail to: and reply to the confirmation email. Web archives are publicly available at: http://lists.2rosenthals.com This list is hosted by Rosenthal & Rosenthal, LLC P.O. Box 281, Deer Park, NY 11729-0281. Non- electronic communications related to content contained in these messages should be directed to the above address. (CAN-SPAM Act of 2003) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=