Networking

[Zach Elfers]

Sorry for sounding like an idiot but... can someone tell me how to set up a Network for a 95 and 98 machine to be connected?

[Yonatan]

Two computers - no hub/switch:

If you want to connect only two computers, you can (arguably) save costs by not getting a hub/switch, which isn't really required in this case.

In each computer, make sure a NIC (Network Interface Card) is present. These have a port similar to a phone line and are either inserted into a PCI slot, or are onboard (popular with newer boards).
If you have an old NIC that's 10mbps, it's recommended that you buy a new one. Today NICs are at least 10/100mbps (meaning they support both), and are pretty cheap. If you want 100mbps, both NICs must support 100mbps.

Connect the two computers using a CAT5 crossover cable. A regular cable will not work in this configuration, make sure it's crossover. (You can find manuals on the Internet for how to turn a regular cable into a crossover cable and vice versa, but if you're lazy/inexperienced with that, you can buy them already crossed.)

If you use a DSL/cable modem that requires its own NIC, then you will need one extra NIC in one of the computers. In this computer, one NIC connects to the modem, and the other NIC connects to the other computer.

That's pretty much it - the rest is software configuration.

Note that you can similarly connect more than two computers without a hub/switch, but this is usually not worth it (waste of PCI slots, and usually money too).

Two or more computers - using a hub/switch:

First, the differences between a hub and a switch:
Hubs and switches are devices used to connect multiple computers to a network. They have a capacity in ports - "4-port hub/switch", "8-port hub/switch", etc. - the more ports, the more computers you can connect, and the more expensive the hub/switch will be.

A hub is a pretty "stupid" device - as it receives data in from one of its ports, it sends it out through all the other ports. It doesn't care "who" the data was for - everyone on the network gets it. This has obvious weaknesses: It generates more of network traffic, it takes slightly more CPU processing time on the target machines to discard all those unwanted incoming packets, and a hacker on a network that uses a hub can easily spy on the connections of everyone else on the network, by checking the "unwanted" incoming packets.

A switch is smarter, but naturally more expensive: It receives data in from one port, and sends the data only to the port that it was intended to.

If you're a home user with a few computers, a hub is definitely okay.

How to connect everything:

Every computer must have one NIC. Connect each computer to a port in the hub/switch using a regular cable.

The trouble starts when you want to add a DSL/cable modem.

1) Theoretically (I've never done this), you can just connect it to the switch/hub - but all the computers in the network will have "control" over it.
2) You can add an extra NIC to one computer, and connect the modem to it. This computer will be the "server", and will supply the Internet connection to the network.
3) A (hardware) router is like a very advanced switch, with flexible configuration options. You can get a router instead of a hub/switch, and then configure IP routing options. This is the most popular choice since it is the most flexible, but if you're inexperienced it can be confusing and hard to configure.

Those are the basics. Post if you want more info.

[Dude1]

Hi, I'm in the process of setting up a network myself. Basicly you need to have a host(the computer with the internet connection) and a client(the second computer without internet) and connect the two either using a hub, or by doing cross over cables. This brings me to my question. Anyone know how to properly set up cross over cables? What I did was set up two ethernet cards on my host comp and one on the client. The host has the internet connection and is connected to the client through the second ethernet card. But I must have crossed the cable wrong, because it doesn't work and I'm too cheap to buy a hub . If anyone knows a site or something on doing cross over cabling, please help us!

Thanks.

[Yonatan]

http://www.google.com
First hit:
http://www.makeitsimple.com/how-to/dyi_crossover.htm

[Zach Elfers]

Questions:

1) How to I tell if I have a NIC board and the other stuff I need. Exactly what software steps do I go through to set up the Network. I know that you go to Start > Control Panel > Networking, but after that, I am not sure what to do.

2) I want to hook my computer and my friends computer. He does not have the internet, but I do. I want to give him the internet by doing this, and so that we can share our files and memory. If he is using the internet on his computer at his house, will it tie up the phone line at my house?

3) You say that a NIC card is cheap. Do you mean cheap as a relative to other cards prices meaning that this card could cost 50.00? Or do you mean cheap like 10.00?

4) After the network is created and all the cards are in place and everything, how do we connect the computers together through the network? Do we do the Start > Run > \\IP or do we do it through Telnet or some other way?

[VisionIT]

Hi Zach.

You need to take a look at the back of your system for an RJ45 port. This is where your cable will be connected. The cable you need is a 568A to 568B (crossover cable).

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Cost:

NIC 10/100mbps card are around £10, or more for a better one.

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Setup for PC 1 (HOST):

You need to assign both PC's a different IP address. Goto Start >> Settings >> Control Panel >> Network Adaptors >> TCP/IP.

You need to set the first system (HOST) to...

IP: 192.168.0.1
Subnet: 255.255.255.0

Leave all other addresses alone for now.

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Setup for PC 2 (Client):

Repeat the process listed above, but change the IP variables, like this.

IP: 192.168.0.2 (Note the 2)
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.0.1 (Required for DNS requests & Internet)

Primary DNS: 192.168.0.1
Secondary DNS: THIS IS NOT REQUIRED UNLESS YOU HAVE NATIVE/PASSIVE ADDRESSING!

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I wouldn't recommend DHCP assigned IP's, as some proxy servers & dialers need static IP's. DHCP assignes the Client systems a different IP each time.

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In order for your friend to use the internet... your HOST system must be switched on, and be connected to the internet (unless you enable On-Demand Dialing). While you/your friend are online, it will always tie-up your phone line, unless you have broadband or ISDN.

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You can communicate with the other system by... Start >> Run >> \\192.168.0.1 (or 2). You could also do this... Start >> Run >> \\host or \\guest (where host & guest are the names of the system)

You cannot share memory, as you said earlier. Although you can share hard disks & internet. Be sure to enable sharing on all the directories you wish your friend to see.

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You MUST enable ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) on the dialup connection, or your friend will not be able to connect at all! Do this by...

Start >> Settings >> Control Panel >> Internet Connections >> Right clicking your Dialup connection (IE Freeserve or BT) and clicking properties. On the far right tab, click Enable ICS on this connection >> Apply >> Close.

That's pretty much it! If i've missed anything, feel free to give me a call.

Regards,

Paul.

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New Website & Technical Support Forum opening soon...
http://forums.e-visionit.co.uk (Non Secure Server)
https://forums.e-visionit.co.uk (Secure Server)
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[Zach Elfers]

Thanx alot! The only problem is, I have Windows 95 so everything is a little different. I couldn't find that thing for enabling the internet with I DICS thing, but I found the thing where I specify an IP.

[Pc_Madness]

I'm trying to setup a Win95 comp myself... and its far more complicated than on later OS's.

Having alot of issues with the 95's Hostname.