Home Network?

[Kov-Ice]

I'm hoping to set up a workstation for my wife with my old 98se computer. I want her to be able to print through my XP machine, as well as back up files.

Mine will have a 3COM Gigabit LAN on it. I guess I'd have to buy a network card for the older computer. Then do I connect directly, or will I need some sort of router or hub?

I have only dial-up internet connection. Can this be set up so that the workstation can dial out through the new computer, or would I just split the phone line so that each machine dials out when needed?

Sry, I know little in this area...
Thx.

[Boone]

You're right, you will need an additional gigabit network card for the older computer. The computers can be directly connected using a crossover cable. This will allow you to share files and printers.

I'd say that the best way to go is to split the phone line so that each computer can dial out as needed. The only drawback there is that both computers can't be connected to the internet at the same time.

Win 98se and Win XP do both support ICS or internet connection sharing which would allow you to surf the net at the same time but that would require your Win XP machine to be on and connected to the internet in order for the other machine to surf the net.

You can check www.homenethelp.com for more info on setting up and configuring everything.

[kissfan]

A 10/100 NIC will suffice for the Win98 rig.

If the PC's aren't too far apart then you can use a xover cable to connect them.

Use ICS to allow the 98 rig to access the net from the XP one, the XP machine will need to be on tho', also you will have to drop the connection from the XP rig as if I remember correctly, the Win98 rig will not do this using ICS.

HTH

[Kov-Ice]

I think just putting a splitter on the phone line is the best bet for Internet connection. My dial-up is so slow that they both couldn't surf at the same time anyway. I just hope that a Y-junction doesn't downgrade the phone line any further, as it is already terrible where I am...

As for the network card, a D-Link 10/100 NIC adapter for $10 will do the trick for simple file sharing etc.? Also, is distance really a concern on a network cable? I'll need a 25 ft crossover cable to do this.

By the way, what is "Wake-on-LAN" feature on the network card?

Thx.

[glc]

25 feet is fine, Cat5 is certified to 100 meters.

The $10 D-Link is fine.

Wake on Lan is a feature that will start up a computer upon signal from a server, it's not something you do on a small home peer-to-peer LAN.

[TysonTY1]

Originally posted by glc 25 feet is fine, Cat5 is certified to 100 meters. The $10 D-Link is fine. Wake on Lan is a feature that will start up a computer upon signal from a server, it's not something you do on a small home peer-to-peer LAN.

GLC

Why not use WOL? I am running WINxp client, D-Link Router and WIN2K Server (for school labs). I was concidering enabling WOl on the Server just to see how it works.

Thanks

[glc]

2K Server is a different story, I was responding to someone running an XP box and a 98 box peer to peer.

All WOL is going to do for you on peer to peer is cause the machine to restart instead of shut down.

[Kov-Ice]

I'm revisiting this a week later, but...

If the two comps are networked, is there any way for XP to act as a server of a program for the other machine? Or are file sharing and ICS the basic functions allowable?

Thx.

[glc]

Depends on the program and whether it's a networkable version.

[Kov-Ice]

OK. Setting up XP w/ a 3COM Gbit card to connect to 98se w/ a D-Link 10/100 adapter using crossover cable.

Do I have to assign Static IP adress for both?

[glc]

Nope, when you share out the dialup connection it will automatically set the IP on the nic to 192.168.0.1 and you set the other box to use DHCP. Just use the wizards.

[Kov-Ice]

I set everything up for the network. I followed HomeNetHelp step-by-step info. The step for "configuring NetBIOS in 98se w/ Internet sharing enabled" was not available on the site, so I had to go by the XP version for my older computer. Both comps are enabled NetBIOS over TCP/IP. Both have same workgroup name.

When I go to view workgroup computers in XP, I get error msg:
"(Workgroup) is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact administrator to find out if you have permissions. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available."

One reboot the 98se found the name of the XP computer, but it gave me a "no access' msg or something like that. Mostly it couldnt see the XP machine at all.

Any idea what I could be missing?
Thx.

[kissfan]

I think that you maybe need to set up some shares.

Right click on anything you want network access to and select the sharing option.

HTH

[Kov-Ice]

I already had some shared folders set up on each. Still getting that msg, tho.

[kissfan]

You are sure that you have, your I.P settings in the same range and also the same subnet addressing? Or you can have the 98 box to auto collect an IP address. These should be set under TCP / IP for your NIC in each machine.

HTH

[Kov-Ice]

I have both machines set to obtain IP automatically.

Originally posted by glc when you share out the dialup connection it will automatically set the IP on the nic to 192.168.0.1 and you set the other box to use DHCP. Just use the wizards.

Since I don't have ICS set up yet, is that the difference in my computers not recognizing each other? Should I assign static IPs first to be sure the network is functioning properly? Then when I install ICS, I would change back to automatically assign?

Thx.

[Kov-Ice]

I'm at a loss here. I've never even attempted any sort of networking before. Any other ideas?

[glc]

To test the network, just add the IPX protocol to both machines. On the 98 machine you will have to enable Netbios over IPX (its in the IPX properties), XP will take care of that automatically.

[TysonTY1]

I would set up each IP manually (static) ex: comp1 192.168.0.1 and comp2 192.168.0.2. I don't understand how you could even use DHCP here unless you have DHCP services running on a server or a router. Make sure each computerr has a different computer name and make sure they are on the the same work group....don't forget about that crossover cable.....good luck

[glc]

TY: When you run the XP networking wizard, it makes the XP machine a quasi-DHCP server, the 98 box only has to be set to use DHCP.

[Kov-Ice]

Well, I'm not sure what exactly I did, but my mini-network is functioning at the moment.

I think I got rid of the 'permission' msg in XP by lowering the security level of my PC-Cillin firewall to medium. I had disabled the XP firewall, but forgot the AV program came with one as well.

I tried assigning IPs, but was unsuccessful. When I went back to auto IP on both systems, the network began to be recognized. I must've rebooted each machine fifteen times or more experimenting with settings, but it's working now!

I often had the 98 box hanging up due to errors. For example, I had several times where I was told to reload due to an error loading VMOUSE. I'm assuming that network settings were causing alot of that, but it seems to have recovered now.

Ah well. That's what's happening! Thx all.