Games won't recognize IPX Network

[ladysmee]

My problem is that my family can't play games which need an IPX network, such as Warcraft 2 and Diablo. Diablo, for example, recognizes an IPX network well enough to create a game but then the other computer can't see the created game to join. Can anyone help?

I have two computers networked using 98SE (Client for Microsoft Networks with Windows Logon) and a broadband router/gateway. Both computers appear in Network Neighbourhood and are sharing printer, ADSL internet connection and files. The IPX/SPX protocol is installed. It doesn't seem to matter if I have Netbios enabled or not. (Aside: What is Netbios anyway?)

Are there any gamers out there who have IPX working? What is missing or what am I doing wrong? Any help will be appreciated.

Mary

[christo418]

IPX/SPX is a protocol for Novell NetWare. Use TCP/IP, instead. Why do you need an IPX network to play Diablo?

[ladysmee]

Originally posted by christo418 IPX/SPX is a protocol for Novell NetWare. Use TCP/IP, instead. Why do you need an IPX network to play Diablo?

Well, Diablo2 plays on TCP/IP but the original Diablo and Warcraft2 are older and need IPX. I solved the problem though. When I originally installed the IPX Protocol, it bound itself to every Adapter I had already installed. So it turned out that all I had to do was unbind it from everything except the NIC and it now works fine.

Thanks for your suggestion, and I will certainly use TCP/IP for all games that support it.

Mary

[3DDonut]

In addition to the TCP/IP tip. Make sure all your computers are on the same range of IP addresses. If you use DHCP you shouldn't have to worry other wise you have to set them all in the same range eg. 192.168.???.???

No game that I can think of requires an IPX network protocol. So unless you are running Novell just ignore that completely.

[christo418]

Good point, 3D. Same workgroup, same subnet. DHCP does configuration for you.
Ladysmee-does this give you a clue as to what type of server they're running those older Blizzard games off of? Personally, I wish that Novell would get off their butts and recapture some market share.
Bindings-if you have any more problems, also check what your frame type is listed as, should be 802.2

[ladysmee]

Thanks for the suggestions, gentlemen, but I have to admit that the previous two posts were above my tech level. I am a network newbie, but fortunately setting up two computers using a broadband router is a software no brainer. I haven't tried running an older game over the Internet yet, just on the LAN, which now works fine using IPX since I unbound it from everything but the NIC. Kali has always worked well in the past for older Internet games so my kids will probably continue to use it.

Could one of you tell me what DHCP means? I run across that acronym a fair bit and am curious.

Mary

[melloman]

DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
It basically a method of dynamically assigning an IP address to a computer joining a network. The joining computer makes a request for an IP address, the DHCP server makes an offer of an IP, and the joining computer accepts. Contrast this to static IP, where the last detail needs to be set (IP, subnet mask, default gateway, etc) and one digit off can mean no connection.

[ladysmee]

Thanks, melloman. I think I may even understand all that!

I doubt I am using DHCP since the computers are networked through a hardware broadband router/print server. When I set them up, I used "winipcfg" to check that the static IP was in the range recognized by the router yadda yadda. To the best of my knowledge there is no host computer. If the router is on, either computer works with the Internet and if both are on, they are networked.

When I get a little more confidence, I think I will fiddle around with different sort of netowrking, just for fun. In the meantime, the inhouse LAN works and the kids are happy campers.

Mary