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R1CH's Networking Guide
for Win9x
This guide tells you how to setup two or more
computers with Ethernet network cards to share files, play games and more. Instructions
are given for Windows 95, 98 and 98 Second Edition. The details outlined will not be applicable
to Windows NT or other Windows versions. Note that at resolutions lower than 1024x768 this
guide might look a little squashed, but is still usable.
DISCLAIMER: I
accept NO responsibility for any damage caused by following any of the
guidelines outlined in this document. I have set up many networks at LAN
parties, schools and my own one at home and everything is fine using methods
similar to the ones below. However, if something does go wrong and your computer
blows up etc, don't come knocking on my door.
Network card and cabling
There isn't much I can help you
with here, as cards vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Usually you will
have a nice PCI plug and play card which should just slot in and auto configure
itself.
The cabling is the bit I'm interested in. There
are two main types of network cable. RJ-45 and coaxial. RJ-45 has ends that look
like telephone socket connectors, and coaxial has 'T' connectors. Your network
card should come with both types of ports, or some faster 100mbit cards only use
RJ-45. If you are networking two computers, either type will work ok. You will
need a crossover cable if you choose Rj-45, this looks identical but has
different wiring inside. NOTE that if you do use a crossover cable, you can't
add any more computers to your network, since you won't be using a hub.
Coaxial cable is the best bet for small (2-4)
computer networks. Simply connect all the 'T' connectors together, and plop
terminators on the ends where no more computers go. This way, you can easily add
more computers to the network. However, this has a big disadvantage, as if one
part of the coax. is damaged, the entire network will stop working and it is
very difficult to isolate the fault, and is generally not suitable for computers
in different rooms (ie, for a LAN party setup)
 The
best bet is standard RJ-45 cable with a hub. This means that the cable comes out
of the RJ-45 port on the network card and plugs into a hub which you have to
buy. You can get a standard 10mbit 8 port (allows 8 connections) hub very
cheaply. This way, you can very easily add extra computers, and because most, if
not all hubs have diagnostic lights, you can easily see if any cable is damaged
and it won't affect the rest of the network.
Once you have all your cabling and hardware
sorted, you're ready to move on.
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Driver Installation
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This is arguably the most
difficult part in setting up a network card. Firstly, the driver
installation for your network card needs to be done. Hopefully, if you have
a plug and play network card, when you turn on your computer and boot into
Windows, you will get a message notifying you that Windows has detected new
hardware. You will then be prompted to insert the disk which contains the
drivers for your card.
You may get a dialog box similar to
the one shown right. In any case, press next until Windows asks you to
insert the disk your network card drivers came on.
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| Sometimes Windows can find the
drivers on the disk for you. Other times, you may need to choose to Browse...
the disk and look for a folder called \Win98 or \Win95 depending on which
version you use. The drivers are more than likely to be there. |
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| Once Windows has done it's stuff, and you
have rebooted after the drivers are installed, you should be able to goto Start...
Settings... Control Panel and double click on the Network icon.
The Network control panel applet should
launch, and show something similar to the setup below (Note: it will
be different depending on your network card, what version of Windows you
have, and many other factors) |
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Configuring Bindings
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OK this is where the fun
starts. If you have an Internet connection from the computer you are trying
to network, you will also have a Dial-Up Adapter shown in the list,
with TCP/IP -> Dial-Up Adapter protocol installed too. Whatever
you do, leave these alone or your Internet connection may stop working.
NOTE:
If you do not have IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol listed, but instead
have TCP/IP then follow the steps below, but add IPX/SPX-compatible
Protocol instead of TCP/IP.
What you will need to do is Add... a
protocol. Click the Add... button and when a list appears, choose Protocol.
When the next list appears, choose Microsoft
and TCP/IP, and press OK. In your main list (shown left) you should
now have something that looks like the following diagram below. |
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| If you have an Internet
connection, it may look somewhat different (see the grey section lower down).
The next step is to Remove the Client
for NetWare Networks. You will not need this. After that, press the File
and Print Sharing... button to bring up the sharing dialog. If you would
like people to access your files (this will NOT allow people on the
Internet to read your files) then tick the top box. If you have a printer on
your computer and would like other computers to be able to print to it, tick
the bottom box too. Choose OK to return to the dialog shown right.
In the dropdown list box that says Primary
Network Logon choose Windows Logon unless you want to be prompted
every time you load Windows to enter a username and password (useful if
multiple people share the computer)
Press OK and then you should end up with
something similar to this next dialog below. |
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This is what you should end up
with so far. NOTE that so far I have assumed that the computer you are using
does NOT have an Internet connection through a Dial-Up Adapter
(modem).
If it does, see below for more
instructions. |
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The
following section with the grey background only applies if you have a
Dial-Up Adapter installed and use it to connect to the Internet (typical
with modem connections) |
| Now this is where it gets
tricky. You need to configure the Bindings so that TCP/IP is
bound to BOTH the Network card (in this case, the Intel 21140 based
10/100 mpbs Ethernet Controller) and also the Dial-Up Adapter. But
you only want IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol bound to your network card.
What you need to do is select the one's that
shouldn't be there (typically IPX/SPX->Dial-Up Adapter) and press Remove.
You should end up with something like the diagram on the right. (NOTE:
Dial-Up Adapter is shown, it is unfortunately scrolled off the list on the
top)
This should be all you need to do to
have your Network and Internet connection working in harmony.
Be aware when enabling file sharing, be VERY sure to UNCHECK the 'File and Print Sharing' option of
bindings to the 'Dial up Adapter' (similar to the instructions for turning it off for IPX below) or you could find yourself inadvertently sharing your hard disk
with the entire Internet! (You'd be surprised at the number of people who have their hard disks shared
with full access to the Internet, I often stumble across them just from looking at my web server logs). |
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Configuring Protocols
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| Now for the second boring bit.
You need to configure the Protocols. A protocol is like a language two
or more computers use to communicate. Most games and programs have the option
of TCP/IP or IPX/SPX, so we want to configure both of them. |
| To start with, choose IPX/SPX-compatible
Protocol and choose Properties. You should end up with a dialog
similar to the one right.
NOTE
that the dialog won't start on the Advanced tab. So click it, and go
down to Source Routing and choose from the list on the right 16
entry cache.
Then switch to the Bindings tab.
There should only be one binding (ie, tick box), the one that should
be ticked is Client for Microsoft Networks, like the top diagram to the right.
This is all you need to do for IPX/SPX. However, some games may not see other computers
on the network when using IPX/SPX. To remedy this, make up some random number and fill in the Network Address
with this number. Do the same for every computer on the network, making sure each computer has a unique number. If
problems persist, try changing the Frame Type to Ethernet II or other variations, making sure you use the same
on all computers. |
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| Now to configure TCP/IP. Each
computer will need a unique IP Address which identifies it on the
network. To do this, choose TCP/IP from the main network components list (or
TCP/IP -> [your network card] if you have a Dial-Up Adapter)
You should have a dialog similar to the one
on the right (although by default Windows chooses the top option)
This setup is NOT good for a Network.
You must assign a unique IP Address to each computer. To do this,
choose the Specify an IP Address option and enter 10.0.0.x, where x
ranges from 1-255. Any IP address beginning with 10. or 192.168. is reserved
for private LANs. You won't find any computers on the Internet with those addresses. This ensures
your network is private from everyone elses.
You have the option of using 10.0.0.x or
192.168.0.x (personally the 10.0.0.x is easier to remember for me) as the IP
Address. So the first computer could be 10.0.0.1, the second computer
10.0.0.2, etc.
The subnet mask should remain at
255.255.255.0 unless you have over 255 computers (in which case, 255.255.0.0
and IP addresses 10.0.x.x) |
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| Once the IP address is done, move to
the Gateway, WINS and DNS tabs. All three should be set
to DISABLED.
Choose the Bindings tab. TCP/IP
should be bound to everything listed in there, usually that is Client for
Microsoft Networks and File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks.
Move to the Advanced tab and choose
the option at the bottom (if it is available, it does not matter if it is
not) to Set this protocol to be the default protocol. Ignore anything
in the list box (such as the Allow Binding To ATM in the diagram)
Choose OK to return to the main Network
Properties screen.
Almost there! Just one last thing to do. |
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Setting the Identification
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| From the main Network Properties dialog,
choose the Identification tab. Here you must assign a unique Computer
Name to every computer on the network. You can call them anything, this
will be the main name by which you access them. (NOTE:
It's a good idea NOT to use spaces in the name, even though Windows lets you
- this just adds complications later)
All the computers must also be in the same Workgroup
for them to see each other. Call this whatever you like, but again, try and
avoid spaces in the name.
You can optionally enter a description if
you want to, eg at a LAN party you could call it 'Quake2 Server' or
something, although this isn't necessary.
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That's it! Press OK to save and apply your changes.
Windows will require you to reboot and (hopefully) after that, everything should
work. If not, check out any documentation that came with your network card in
case it needs any special settings, or try the manufacturers web site. Common problems include broken / damaged cables,
forgetting to turn the hub on, and loose connections to the network card. Take a look at your hub: if all the computers on
your network are turned on, there should be a light for each of them. If not, check the cabling as this is almost certainly
where the problem lies.
Common questions after your network is working
Q. How do I allow access to my
hard drive from the other computer?
A. Go into Windows Explorer and right-click on the hard drive (or folder) you
want to share with others. A dialog will appear like the one to the right.
Enter a Share Name. This is what the drive or folder will appear as
when viewed under Network Neighborhood. Optionally assign a Comment or
Password. Again, try to avoid spaces in the Share Name as this can cause
problems with some applications. Then press OK.
To see shared folders, simply open Network
Neighborhood on the desktop or in my computer. Expand or double click the
computer's name you want to find files on and then you will see a list of the
shared folders. Click one to view its contents.
This is what it should look like from Windows Explorer.
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Q. I have just set up a two computer network
and want to play my friend at Quake 2. How do I do this?
A. Both of you should open Quake 2. One of you (preferably the one with the
fastest computer) should then choose Multiplayer from the menu, and choose Start
Server. After choosing which level, press Begin. The other player should then go
into the Multiplayer menu and choose Join Server, and select the server that
appears.
Q. I am trying to start a network game of
something and it is offering me a list of options such as Internet Connection,
IPX/SPX, DirectPlay Serial Connection, etc. Which one should I choose?
A. Your main Protocol should always be TCP/IP. Choose this. If the game asks you
for an IP address, you must enter the ones you assigned above. If TCP/IP or
Internet Connection is not on the list (common for DOS based games) choose
IPX/SPX.
Well, that's it. I hope you found this guide
useful. Nice email is always welcome, but PLEASE
no requests for help, I simply do not have time and your email will be deleted.
Copyright ©1999-2001 www.r1ch.net
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft
Corporation. Thanks to D-Link
Systems for the image of their hub. You may make copies of this guide and
redistribute it so long as no profit is made whatsoever.
R1CH
First version: 21/11/1999
Revised: 29/10/2001 |
