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Installing and Configuring A Windows 98 Network

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In order to use the networking features and components included in Windows 98, you must first select, install, and configure them. This lesson discusses the procedures for installing and configuring network components.

You start the process by giving your computer a unique name to ensure that other computers on the network will recognize it. You install the hardware and software that enables your computer to connect to the network, and then you configure the protocol that your computer uses to communicate with other computers on the network.

After this lesson, you will be able to:

· Identify a computer on a network.

· Assign a computer name.

· Install and configure a network adapter card.

· Install network protocols.

· Configure TCP/IP.

· Troubleshoot TCP/IP.

· Configure network bindings.

Identifying Your Computer on the Network

In order to connect a Windows 98 computer to a network, you must provide a way for the computer to identify itself. You do this by assigning it a unique name.

Assigning a Computer Name

Each Windows 98 computer on a network uses a unique name to distinguish it from all other computers connected to the network. If another computer, workgroup, or domain on the same network has the same name, your computer cannot communicate on the network. Your computer name can have up to 15 characters, and should contain no blank spaces. Although Windows 98 allows you to enter spaces in a computer name, spaces can cause problems with network connectivity. For example, MS-DOS clients cannot connect to a computer with spaces in its name. The names are not case sensitive.

Workgroup

In addition to the computer name, you must also specify a unique workgroup name. The workgroup name, which is used for organizational purposes only, defines your Network Neighbourhood. Whenever you explore the Network Neighbourhood on the desktop, the computers it displays are those that have the same workgroup name as your computer.

You should assign a common workgroup name to computers that share resources such as files and printers with each other. For example, you can assign a common workgroup name to computers that belong to a single department, project, or site.

Computer Description

You may also enter an optional description of your computer. The description will appear to anyone browsing the network, but it has no other function.

If you want to assign a name to your computer, perform the following procedure:

1. Choose Start, Settings, and then Control Panel.

2. Double-click the Network icon and click the Identification tab (see Figure 8.1).

3. Enter a computer name, workgroup name, and computer description for your computer.

4. Click OK.

Figure 8.1 Identifying your computer on a network

Installing and Configuring Network Adapter Cards

You must install a network adapter card that the computer uses to interface with the network. This card provides the physical connection to the network type, media, and protocols.

Windows 98 supports a wide range of network types including:

· Ethernet

· Token Ring

· Attached Resource Computer network (ArcNet)

· Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)

· Wireless technologies, including infrared

· Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

Windows 98 supports up to four network adapter cards in a single computer. After you physically install the drivers for the network adapter card in the computer, you can install the adapter and configure it for Windows 98 using the Add New Hardware Wizard or the Network icon in Control Panel.

Figure 8.2 Installing a network adapter card

Windows 98 automatically assigns the interrupt request line (IRQ) and input/output (I/O) address for the adapter, or prompts you to confirm those resources if it cannot determine what resources to use.

If you want to install and configure a network adapter, perform the following procedure:

1. In Control Panel, double-click the Network icon.

2. On the Configuration tab, click Add.

3. In the Select Network Component Type dialog box, click Adapter, and then click Add.

4. Choose the manufacturer and adapter, and then click OK (see Figure 8.2).

5. Click OK to close the Network properties sheet. After copying the files needed to support the adapter, Windows 98 may prompt you to confirm or change resources for the adapter if there is a conflict. If there are no conflicts, the program will prompt you to restart the computer.

6. After the computer restarts, you can configure the adapter by returning to Control Panel and double-clicking the Network icon.

7. Click the adapter, then click Properties. Depending on the adapter, you can change the driver type and the binding.

NDIS

Windows 98 uses the Network Device Interface Specification (NDIS) to support adapter cards. NDIS is an industry-standard device driver specification that is independent of both the network protocol and the adapter card. NDIS allows a network adapter card to use more than one protocol. Windows 98 supports NDIS 2.0, 3.1, 4.0, and 5.0 drivers. NDIS 5.0 supports a wide range of network media including Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and wide area network (WAN) technology. NDIS 5.0-compliant drivers also provide performance improvements, including NDIS power management.

Important If your network adapter card does not support NDIS 5.0, contact the manufacturer for an updated device driver. For more information on NDIS 5.0, refer to Appendix H, "Introduction to NDIS 5.0."

This course does not discuss earlier NDIS-compliant drivers or Open Data-link Interface (ODI) drivers. For more information on configuring these types of network adapters, refer to the Microsoft Windows 98 Resource Kit.

Installing Network Protocols

In order for two computers to communicate on a network, they must use a common network protocol.

If you want to install a network protocol, perform the following procedure:

1. Open Control Panel and double-click the Network icon.

2. On the Configuration tab click Add.

3. In the Select Network Component Type dialog box, select Protocol and click Add.

4. Select the Manufacturer and Network Protocol you want to add and click OK (see Figure 8.3).

Figure 8.3 Installing a network protocol

Windows 98 can accommodate multiple protocols on a single computer including:

· NetBIOS Enhanced User Interface (NetBEUI)

· Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange (IPX/SPX)

· Microsoft Data-link Control (DLC)

· Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

· Fast Infrared Protocol

In addition, Windows 98 supports Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) using software components that are installed as protocols.

NetBEUI

NetBIOS Enhanced User Interface (NetBEUI) is a fast protocol often used in small networks. Because it does not support routing, NetBEUI is not appropriate for large networks. However, NetBEUI is easy to administer because it has no required configuration. For this reason, it is a good choice for small networks that do not use routers.

IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol

The Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange (IPX/SPX)-compatible protocol is a routable protocol primarily used in a Novell NetWare environment. Because IPX/SPX is not as fast or as universal as TCP/IP, another routable protocol, IPX/SPX is not recommended for use in a non-NetWare environment.

DLC

Microsoft Data-link Control (DLC) is used primarily to communicate with various IBM mainframe and AS/400 computers using the same network adapter architecture. You also can use DLC to print to printers connected directly to the network instead of to a port on a computer acting as a print server.

Although you can install DLC on a Windows 98 computer, you cannot use it to communicate with other Windows 98 computers.

Windows 98 includes both 32-bit and 16-bit DLC drivers. If possible, you should use the 32-bit driver for increased performance and stability.

TCP/IP

The Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol suite is a set of standard protocols and utilities most often associated with the Internet. It is fully routable and is often used as a basis for wide area networks (WANs).

Fast Infrared Protocol

Fast infrared protocol can give a computer wireless LAN access. This protocol supports devices with a throughput of up to 4 Megabits per second (Mbps). Throughput is a measure of the data transfer rate through a typically complex communications system or of the data processing rate in a computer system.

ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is a high-speed network technology capable of transmitting data, voice, and video traffic in real time using fixed-length packets transmitted over reserved network bandwidth.

ATM is a connection-based protocol and therefore must establish a connection before transmitting any data. Three components-ATM Call Manager, ATM Emulated LAN, and ATM LAN Emulation Client-provide a bridge between connectionless protocols such as TCP/IP and IPX and ATM, enabling them to function transparently over ATM networks.

ATM Call Manager

This level establishes the connection (initiates the call) and communicates with the switch (hardware that is analogous to a hub in an Ethernet environment). This level also is called the User Network Interface (UNI). Both the call manager and switch must conform to the same UNI specification, which in Windows 98 is UNI 3.1.

ATM LAN Emulation Client

This core component of the ATM topology facilitates communication between the ATM driver and NDIS. Windows 98 supports LAN Emulation (LANE) Client 1.0 specification, to which the switch also must conform.

ATM Emulated LAN

This layer is used to set up Virtual local area networks (LANs)-VLANs. You can set up bridges to other network segments or partition part of the ATM network to form a smaller segment. For example, on a 10-machine, ATM-only network, you can set up a VLAN to include only five machines. You can then set up the Emulated LAN (ELAN) client to use only the machines listed in the VLAN.

Configuring TCP/IP

The Windows 98 implementation of TCP/IP includes the standard suite of TCP/IP protocols, and is compatible with other TCP/IP-based networks. Standard TCP/IP protocols include:

· Internet Protocol (IP)

· Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

· Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)

· Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)

· User Datagram Protocol (UDP)

TCP/IP requires configuration before it can be used to communicate on a network. At the least, each network adapter you install in the computer requires an IP address and a subnet mask. The IP address must be unique among the computers on the intra- or inter-network, or TCP/IP will not initialize. A subnet mask is used to distinguish the network ID from the host ID, so that TCP/IP can determine whether an IP address is located on a local or remote network.

Assigning an IP Address

You can assign the IP Address and subnet mask automatically using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) or you can assign the IP address manually.

Figure 8.4 IP Address tab on the TCP/IP properties sheet

If you want to assign an IP address, perform the following procedure:

1. Open Control Panel and double-click the Network icon.

2. On the Configuration tab, click the TCP/IP listing for the network adapter you have installed.

3. Click on Properties. The TCP/IP Properties dialog box appears.

4. On the IP Address tab (see Figure 8.4), choose one of the following options:

· Obtain an IP address automatically\Windows 98 can obtain TCP/IP configuration information automatically via DHCP. Choosing this option requires that a Windows NT Server computer or any other computer running a DHCP Server service or maintenance utility program (called daemon for UNIX computers) is available on the network. A Windows 98 computer cannot act as a DHCP server.

· Specify an IP address

If you do not have a computer on your network that can act as a DHCP server, or if you need to assign a permanent, static address to your computer, you should specify an IP address and subnet mask manually.

Important If you use a static IP address, make sure the address is accurate. If you assign an incorrect number, your computer may not be able to communicate on the network. You could also prevent another user from being able to use the network.

5. Click OK.

6. If you need to assign a gateway manually, return to the TCP/IP Properties dialog box, click the Gateway tab, and enter the number you wish to assign.

7. Click OK.

8. If you need to enable a Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) server, return to the TCP/IP Properties dialog box, click the WINS Configuration tab, and click Enable WINS Resolution and enter the appropriate WINS server information.

9. If you need to enable a domain name system (DNS) server, return to the TCP/IP Properties dialog box, click the DNS Configuration tab, click Enable DNS, and then enter the appropriate DNS server information.

10. Click OK.

Obtaining an IP Address Automatically

If the Windows 98 computer has access to a DHCP server, then during system startup, the Windows 98 computer receives an IP address, subnet mask, and other optional parameters from the DHCP server. This simplifies TCP/IP configuration, especially for mobile computers. For example, using DHCP (see Figure 8.5), your notebook computer can move from subnet to subnet or intranet to Internet, and be assigned a valid TCP/IP configuration automatically. If the DHCP servers are configured properly, each client will receive a unique IP address.

Figure 8.5 Obtaining an IP address from a DHCP server

In the absence of a DHCP server, a Windows 98 feature called Automatic Private IP Addressing provides support for automatic IP address assignment. When a computer running Windows 98 starts with TCP/IP configured to obtain an address automatically, Windows 98 will first attempt to locate a DHCP server for the address assignment. If Windows 98 fails to locate a DHCP server, the operating system will use Automatic Private IP Addressing. This new Windows 98 mechanism causes the computer to assign itself an IP address in the form of 169.254.x.x. Windows 98 will continue to use this address until it detects the presence of a DHCP server.

Automatic Private IP Addressing can automatically assign a TCP/IP address to a computer running Windows 98, but it does not generate all of the information typically provided by a DHCP server that uses a name resolution system such as DNS and WINS. Consequently, computers enabled with Automatic Private IP Addressing can communicate only with computers that also have addresses of the form 169.254.x.x; that is, they can communicate only with other computers enabled the same way. Computers that obtain their IP address through Automatic Private IP Addressing cannot communicate with the Internet without a Proxy or Network Address Translation (NAT) gateway.

Assigning a Gateway

In order to access computers on other subnets, your Windows 98 computer must be configured for one or more gateways, a combination of hardware and software that connect two different types of networks. Although you can have as many as eight gateways in the Installed Gateway list (see Figure 8.6), the gateway at the top of the list is your default gateway and will always be used if it is available.

Figure 8.6 Configuring your computer for gateways

If you are using DHCP, a DHCP server probably assigns your gateway assignment. Because gateways entered manually will supersede the ones assigned through DHCP, if you manually enter a gateway assignment, be careful not to override the DHCP-provided default gateways.

Using WINS Server for Computer Name Resolution

Because TCP/IP uses IP addresses rather than computer names for interconnectivity, you need either DNS or a WINS server in order to connect to another computer by specifying its computer name.

If you enable WINS resolution, you can specify the name of a WINS server on which your computer will register its computer name and IP address at system startup. When you attempt to connect to another computer running Windows 98, your computer will query the WINS server to find out the IP address of the remote computer.

Without a WINS server, you need to maintain a text database file that contains computer names-to-IP address mappings to connect to computers on remote subnets.

Note You can browse your own subnet without enabling WINS or having the text database file.

Using DNS for Computer Name Resolution

DNS is a hierarchical naming system that uses a combination of text names separated by periods to create a unique name, such as example.microsoft.com. The DNS server contains a database that converts the name assigned to your computer into a number. The number enables the computer to connect to the network. If you enable DNS, you can use your host name (a name to identify your computer on a local network) plus a domain name or suffix to create an Internet address.

Viewing your TCP/IP Configuration

Windows 98 includes a diagnostic program for viewing your TCP/IP configuration (see Figure 8.7). This utility enables you to see not only your IP address but also your subnet mask and other information that could be critical to your setup.

Figure 8.7 Using Winipcfg to view your TCP/IP configuration

If you want to view your TCP/IP configuration, perform the following procedure:

1. Click Start, then Run and type winipcfg.

2. Click OK to display the IP Configuration dialog box.

3. To view additional information about your TCP/IP configuration, click More Info.

This diagnostic program displays current TCP/IP configuration values, including your IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. Additional information is also available, including DHCP and WINS configuration. You can also release a DHCP-provided IP address, and renew a lease on an existing DHCP-provided address.

Note DHCP assigned IP addresses are dynamic; that is, the DHCP server assigns (leases) IP addresses from a finite pool of available addresses, for limited amounts of time. Releasing an IP address before the lease has expired makes the address available for assignment to other computers.

Troubleshooting TCP/IP

If you are having trouble connecting to your network or communicating with other computers, either on your network or on the Internet, there are two troubleshooting utilities you can use to test your TCP/IP configuration: the ping command or the tracert command.

Troubleshooting a Connection Using Ping

The ping command verifies a connection to a remote host by sending four (by default) ICMP echo packets to the host and listening for echo reply packets. The ping command waits for up to one second for each packet sent and prints the number of packets transmitted and received.

To test a connection, you can use the ping command with the following options:

· An IP address

· A host name

· A computer name

If a ping to a remote host fails, try to ping your default gateway. If that also fails, either your default gateway is unavailable or your computer has an improperly configured IP address and/or subnet mask.

Three commands you can use are:

· ping remote_gateway_IP_address

· ping remote_host_name

· ping localhost

Localhost

You can verify that TCP/IP has initialised on your computer by typing ping localhost. Localhost is a reserved host name that maps to a reserved IP address (127.0.0.1) that represents your computer. When you type ping localhost, the messages are local to your computer; no packets are sent to the network.

If pinging localhost is successful, you receive four replies from IP address 127.0.0.1. If the ping command is unsuccessful you will receive a message that says local host is unknown. If this happens, verify that you installed TCP/IP, and that you restarted the computer after the installation.

Troubleshooting a Connection Using Tracert

If you can ping your default gateway but not a remote host, try the tracert (trace route) command. The tracert command displays the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) and IP address of each gateway along the route to a remote host. The tracert commands you can use are:

· tracert target_name

· tracert IP address

Document the information that the tracert command returns when the remote host is available. Later, if the remote host is not available, you can compare the information returned by tracert at that time to the original tracert report and determine which gateway is unavailable.

Note If your organization uses a proxy server for access to the Internet, you may not be able to use ping or tracert for hosts outside of your intranet.

Configuring Network Bindings

Because Windows 98 can support multiple network adapters, protocols, and services simultaneously, these network components need a way to interface with each other. To do this, the components use a process called binding, which sets up communication between the components.

Bindings are configured between network adapter cards and protocols, and between protocols and services. By default, all possible bindings are enabled, but you can optimise performance by modifying bindings. Here are some sample scenarios:

· Your computer running Windows 98 has two network adapters. One adapter is connected to a TCP/IP intranetwork; the other is connected to a NetBEUI network. By default, both TCP/IP and NetBEUI will be bound to both network cards, even though only one protocol is ever in use on either network. Disabling the unused bindings can improve your computer's performance slightly.

· Your computer running Windows 98 has one network adapter, and is running both TCP/IP and IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol. You have also installed the Client for Microsoft Networks for connectivity with Windows NT servers, and the Client for NetWare Networks for connectivity with NetWare servers. By default, the Client for Microsoft Networks will be bound to both TCP/IP and IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol, even though IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol is used only for connecting to NetWare servers. Disabling the unused binding may improve your computer's performance slightly.

· Suppose your computer uses NetBEUI, TCP/IP, and IPX-compatible Protocol to connect to various type of computers on your network. You use NetBEUI most often to connect to the computers in your workgroup. You can make NetBEUI your default protocol by selecting the default protocol option on the Advanced tab in the Properties dialog box for that protocol (see Figure 8.8). The default protocol overrides other protocols when your computer attempts to establish a session with a remote computer. To optimise performance, you should make the protocol you use most often your default protocol.

Figure 8.8 The default protocol setting on the Advanced tab of the NetBEUI dialog box

To improve performance when you have multiple adapters and protocols, you can modify bindings between adapters, protocols, and clients. If you want to configure the bindings for a network component, perform the following procedure:

1. In Control Panel, double-click the Network icon.

2. On the Configuration tab, choose the adapter or protocol whose binding you want to modify.

3. Click Properties and select the Bindings tab.

4. Select the appropriate bindings.

5. Click OK.

Summary

To use Windows 98 networking features, you must first give your computer a unique name that other computers on the network will recognize. You then install the hardware and software that enables your computer to connect to the network, and configure the protocol that your computer uses to communicate with other computers on the network. Windows 98 supports a wide range of network types including Ethernet, Token Ring, and Attached Resource Computer network (ArcNet). Network protocols supported by Windows 98 include NetBIOS Enhanced User Interface (NetBEUI), Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange (IPX/SPX), Microsoft Data-link Control (DLC), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Fast Infrared Protocol. The Windows 98 implementation of TCP/IP includes the standard suite of TCP/IP protocols, including Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), and User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

Sharing Windows 98 Resources

To share resources on a Windows 98 network, you must set up your computer and other computers so that they can function in a shared environment. This lesson discusses sharing Windows 98 resources, including files and printers.

After this lesson, you will be able to:

· Install and configure Client for Microsoft Networks.

· Configure file and printer sharing.

· Install and configure a network printer.

· Configure the Browse Master.

Installing Client for Microsoft Networks

On a Microsoft network, you must have Client for Microsoft Networks installed in order to enable file and printer sharing. With Client for Microsoft Networks installed, you can enable sharing, and you can modify the properties of folders and printers in order to share them.

Client for Microsoft Networks is a 32-bit, protected-mode network client for Windows 98 that provides network functionality for Microsoft operating systems, including:

· Windows 98

· Windows NT

· Windows 95

· Windows for Workgroups

· Workgroup Add-on for MS-DOS

· LAN Manager network operating system

Client for Microsoft Networks can use any combination of the following protocols:

· NetBEUI

· IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol

· TCP/IP

If the setup program detects your network adapter during setup, the program installs Client for Microsoft Networks by default. You can also install and configure Client for Microsoft Networks manually.

Figure 8.9 Adding Client for Microsoft Networks

If you want to install and configure Client for Microsoft Networks, perform the following procedure:

1. In Control Panel, double-click the Network icon.

2. On the Configuration tab click Add

The Select Network Component Type dialog box appears.

3. Click Client and click Add.

The Select Network Client dialog box appears (see Figure 8.9).

4. Click Microsoft, and then click Client for Microsoft Networks.

5. Click OK.

After installing Client for Microsoft Networks, you can allow other computers on the network to access shared data on your computer by enabling file and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks.

Configuring Microsoft File and Printer Sharing

After you have configured network connectivity, you can share resources among the Windows 98 computers on your network by installing File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks.

File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks is based on the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, and is compatible with other SMB network operating clients, such as:

· Windows NT

· Windows 95

· Windows for Workgroups

· LAN Manager

· IBM LAN Server

· DEC Pathworks

You can configure file and printer sharing using Control Panel (see Figure 8.10.)

Figure 8.10 Enabling file and printer sharing

If you want to configure file and printer sharing, perform the following procedure:

1. In Control Panel, double-click the Network icon.

2. On the Configuration tab, click File and Print Sharing.

· Select the choice(s) you want.

· I want to be able to give others access to my files.

3. I want to be able to allow others to print to my printer(s).

4. Click OK.

Note You cannot install File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks if another sharing service is already installed. Only one File and Print Sharing service can be installed at any time.

Sharing Folders

After you install file and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks, you can share that computer's resources with other Windows 98 computers in a peer-to-peer relationship, or on a Windows NT network.

One issue you must address is security. When you have shared folders, you will want to make sure you can adequately restrict access to important resources. You can choose from two types of access control in Windows 98: share-level access control or user-level access control.

Share-level Access Control

When you implement share-level access control, resource access control is limited to a password (or passwords) associated with the shared folder or printer. This type of access control is called share-level access control, and it allows anyone with the password to access the shared resource. Share-level access control cannot be implemented on a computer running Windows NT.

User-level Access Control

On a Windows NT or Novell NetWare network, you can implement tighter security by applying user-level access control. With user level access control, you can designate which users will have access to shared resources and then assign access rights to those users.

Setting up a Shared Folder

You can share folders using Windows Explorer. If want to share a folder, perform the following procedure:

1. Open Windows Explorer.

2. Click the folder you wish to share.

3. Right-click the folder, and then click Sharing (see Figure 8.11).

4. Click Shared As and enter a name for the shared folder. By default, the Share Name will be the name of the folder, although you can change this if you wish. You can also enter a comment, which is displayed when viewing the list of shares on that computer.

5. Click OK.

Note if you add a dollar sign ($) to the end of the share name, the share name will not appear in Windows Explorer. This type of share is called a hidden share.

Figure 8.11 Sharing a folder in Windows 98

Assigning an Access Type to Share-Level Shares

When setting up a share-level share, you must assign an Access Type, which can be configured as:

· Read-Only

· Full

· Depends on Password

If you choose Depends on Password, specify two passwords: one for users who should be able to only read the contents of the shared folder, and the other for users who need to modify the contents of the shared folder.

Unless you choose Depends on Password, you do not need to assign a password. If you leave the password entry blank, anyone will be able to access the shared folder.

Sharing Printers

When you share a printer using share-level access control, you can assign a password to protect it from unauthorized use. Anyone with the password can send documents to the shared printer. There is only one level of access to a remote printer.

Configuring a Shared Printer

When you configure a local printer as a shared printer, other users have access to the printer. If you want to configure a shared printer, perform the following procedure:

In My Computer, double-click the Printers folder. Right-click on the printer you want to share. Click Sharing. On the Sharing tab, click Shared As and enter a share name for the printer. Click OK. Connecting to a Shared Printer

When you share a printer, you also share your C:\Windows\system folder, with the hidden share name printer$. When remote Windows clients connect to your shared printer, your printer drivers and supporting files are copied from your printer$ shared folder to the remote client's C:\Windows\system folder. The remote client does not have to provide the drivers manually. This is called Point and Print installation.

Note A Windows 98 client will not query the print server for a new driver each time the client prints. In order to receive an updated print driver from the print server, delete the shortcut to the remote printer and add it again.

Installing and Configuring Network Printers

To install and configure a network printer, you follow many of the same steps that are required to set up a local printer. The primary difference is that you identify a network path instead of a local port for the networked printer.

You can use the Add Printer icon in the Printers folder or Point and Print installation to install a network printer in Windows 98.

Using the Add Printer Wizard

When you add a printer using the Add Printer icon in the Printers folder, you must specify that the printer you are adding is a network printer and provide the network path using a universal naming convention (UNC) path name for the printer. You must also select the printer manufacturer and model name. Windows 98 then copies the appropriate printer driver files to the C:\Windows\system folder.

If you have applications (such as MS-DOS applications) that must print to a local port, you can also associate an LPT port with a network path by capturing that port. Capturing the port means that the MS-DOS program prints to the local port, where the print job is then redirected to the network printer.

Using Point and Print Installation

You can add Point and Print-enabled network printers to your computer without specifying the manufacturer and model of the printer. If you want to install a network printer using point and print, perform the following procedure:

1. Use Network Neighbourhood or Windows Explorer to view the computer that is sharing the printer. - Or - Click Start, Run and type the UNC name of the computer that is sharing the printer.

2. Double-click that computer.

3. Click Start, point to Settings, and click Printers.

4. Drag the printer icon from the computer window to your Printers folder. - Or - Right-click on the printer's icon to open its context menu and choose Install.

Printers shared from Windows 98 computers using file and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks are automatically Point and Print enabled. Printers shared from Windows NT servers that are installed as Windows 98 print servers are also Point and Print enabled. Novell NetWare print servers require some configuration on the server to successfully use Point and Print.

Note For more information about enabling Point and Print, refer to the Microsoft Windows 98 Resource Kit.

Configuring the Browse Master

When you explore your Network Neighbourhood or the Entire Network, the list of computers you see is provided by the Browse Master. The Browse Master is a designated computer that maintains the master list of computers in a given workgroup, as well as in other workgroups.

By default, the Browse Master in a Windows 98 workgroup will be the first computer that has File and Print Sharing enabled to initialise in that workgroup. However, you can also configure a Windows 98 computer manually as the Browse Master.

Figure 8.12 Configuring Browse Master in the File and printer sharing Properties Window

Tip Because maintaining the resources list can affect the performance of the computer assigned as the Browse Master, you may want to change the computer assigned as Browse Master. You can use a computer that is always on the network, but is seldom used as a workstation.

If you want to configure the Browse Master, perform the following procedure:

1. In Control Panel, double-click the Network icon.

2. On the Configuration tab in the network components list, select File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks.

3. Click Properties.

4. On the Advanced tab, click Browse Master, and then select the Value you want this computer to have (see Figure 8.12).

5. Click OK.

Tip The other option you can configure for File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks is called LM Announce. You should enable it only when LAN Manager clients need to connect to your Windows 98 computer. Enabling this setting forces your computer to double its announcement traffic so that your server will appear to both Windows 98 and LAN Manager clients. Keeping this setting disabled will help minimize network traffic.

Selecting a Value for the Browse Master
The Browse Master Value setting on the Advanced tab has three possible values:

· Enabled: Specifies that the computer should be the Browse Master. If more than one computer in a workgroup has this option configured, an "election" ensues in which one of these computers will be designated the Browse Master.

· Disabled: Specifies that the computer should never become the Browse Master. Use this setting if the computer has little free memory, or if it is connected to the rest of the workgroup by a slow link and would suffer from poor performance as a result of providing browse lists to clients.

· Automatic: Specifies that the computer may become the Browse Master if the current Browse Master shuts down, and no computers have the Browse Master setting set to enabled. If this happens, those computers that have Browse Master set to automatic perform an election to select a new Browse Master from among that group. This is the default setting, which is appropriate for most networks.

Lesson Summary On a Microsoft network, you must have Client for Microsoft Networks installed in order to enable file and printer sharing. Client for Microsoft Networks is a 32-bit, protected-mode network client for Windows 98 that provides network functionality for Microsoft operating systems.

After you have configured network connectivity, you can share resources among the Windows 98 computers on your network by installing file and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks.

Recommended Practices Here are some recommendations for installing and configuring Windows 98 network components:

· Create workgroups based on people who frequently work together, so they can easily share resources in Network Neighbourhood.

· Create a logical, consistent naming scheme for computers to make them easily identifiable.

· If you are using share-level security, stress the importance of passwords and security to your users. If you are using an NT or NetWare network, implement user-level security for more restricted access.

· If you are using multiple adapters, protocols, or services, disable bindings for those components that do not need to work together in order to increase performance. For instance, you might unbind TCP/IP from Client for NetWare Networks.

· Do not enable the Browse Master on every Windows 98 computer. This can slow down network communications. Instead, configure one seldom used computer as the Browse Master and leave the setting as automatic on the other computers.

Summary The following information summarizes the key points in this chapter:

Installing and Configuring Network Components

· To use Windows 98 networking features, you must first give your computer a unique name that other computers on the network will recognize, install the hardware and software that enables your computer to connect to the network, and configure the protocol that your computer uses to communicate with other computers on the network.

· Windows 98 supports a wide range of network types, including Ethernet, Token Ring, Attached Resource Computer network (ArcNet), Fibre Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), wireless technologies (including infrared), and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM).

· The Windows 98 implementation of TCP/IP includes the standard suite of TCP/IP protocols, including Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), and User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

Sharing Windows 98 Resources

· You must have Client for Microsoft Networks installed in order to enable file and printer sharing. Client for Microsoft Networks is a 32-bit, protected-mode network client for Windows 98 that provides network functionality for Microsoft operating systems,

· To share resources after you have configured network connectivity, you must install file and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks.

· To install and configure a network printer, you follow many of the same steps that are required to set up a local printer. The primary difference is that you identify a network path instead of a local port for the networked printer.

· By default, the Browse Master in a Windows 98 workgroup will be the first computer that has File and Print Sharing enabled to initialise in that workgroup. However, you can also configure a Windows 98 computer manually as the Browse Master.

Review The following questions are intended to reinforce key information presented in this chapter. If you are unable to answer a question, review the appropriate lesson and then try the question again.

1. You are installing Windows 98 on a computer that will share resources with other Windows 98 computers that are connected to the network. In addition, you want to use the computer to access resources on your company's Web servers. Which protocol or protocols should you configure on your Windows 98 computer? What protocol settings should you configure?

2. You want to share a folder that contains inventory reports that are updated frequently. Four other people in your department should be able to change the contents of the shared folder; anyone else should be able to read only the contents. What should you do?

3. A computer running Windows 98 on the receptionist's desk has no function other than printing visitor badges for guests. The computer is connected to the network, and you would like to configure it to serve as the workgroup's Browse Master. How should you do this?

4. You need to restart your computer after installing a new program, but Windows 98 tells you that there are still users connected to your computer. However, Windows 98 does not tell you who the connected users are. You would like to view the user names of the connected users in order to notify them so that they will not lose any data when you shut down your computer. How can you do this?

5. Your computer running Windows 98 computer has two network adapters. One adapter is used to connect to the corporate network, and the other adapter connects to a small NetBEUI workgroup used by interns. How can you optimize your network bindings for the best network performance?

Context Based Servers Reverse DNS DNS Terms DNS Concepts

Setting-up MS DNS Install A Windows 98 Network

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