Starting Over

Hi all,

Just a while back I asked about setting up a network for 2 pc's both running WIN98 on a linksys 4 port router for a local game network between my boys cpu and mine. Newt responded with instructions on how to accomplish this. Well I got the 2 cpu's to see each other but could not create a game on one for the other to join and thats as far as I got.

I had to give up on this task as I have more importaint things to do with work. I now have a new twist to add to this little delema of mine. I have a lap top that runs Win XP home Edition on it and I want to add this to my network.. (if I ever get it going) LOL. If someone could maybe help me to get started I would appreciate it. Also I have Kerio 2.1.5 running on the 98 machines and use the IFC on the xp machine. I do not normally have the lap top connected to the internet it is used basicly for file storage.

This is what I want to accomplish below:

1) create a network so that 2 win98 machines and one xp machine can communicate.

2) set up network so that the xp laptop can use a printer off the win98 machines

3) get the 2 win98 machines to be able to join a created game by the other.

Hope I was not unclear in my post

regards,
FireDancer

 

Very clear Firedancer.

I think I'll save myself some typing though. Click Here.

 

Newt,

Ok, I got the 2 win98 machines working and running the game as a local woohoo! as well my 98 machines see the xp machine but the xp does not see either 98 machine Ughhhh but all I really want the xp machine on the network for is to use the printer. Thank you for the link you gave as well it was very informitive.

I have checked all my settings and all seems right how is it that the 98 machines see the xp but not vise versa?

Regards,
FireDancer

 

Try

- enabling the guest account on XP (done by default on XP-home but not on XP-pro and you didn't say which you have)

- logging on to the 98 PCs with a username and non-blank password.

Also, unless the XP PC has something shared (printer, folder, something) the 98 PCs probably won't 'see' it.

 

Newt,

I have XP Home.


FireDancer

 

Hmmmm,

I am not sure what I need as a set up in XP home Local area connection properites I am sure the problem is there.



Regards,

FireDancer

 

From what you posted, not sure what you think is wrong. Local area connection properites should probably have told me but maybe it's just too late in the evening and I have brain sludge.

- all machines have the same workgroup name
- all machines have a different computer name
- all machines using Client For Microsoft Networks and with File & Printer Sharing turned on.
- all machines with something (anything) shared.
- all machines with users logging on - username & non-blank password
- all machines with IP address and subnet mask that place them in the same network. Since you have the 98 PCs working together, use the same subnet mask and an IP address that is the same except for the last three numbers and set XP to any unused number from 1 to 254.
- if you want XP to reach the internet, use the same default gateway address that works on the 98 PCs.

 

What in the world is different here ?

All I have ever done to get a machine on the LAN is to insert the NIC and give it a name and make sure it is in the workgroup MsHome, ( MSHOME is not the same ) The Router does the rest.

I have nothing shared on any machine ( other than what XP shares by default ) But if I want to transfer anything then I do have to set something as shared. Then I un-Share it again.

They use an IP range of 192.168.1.100 thru 192.168.1.103. Which machine gets which address may depend on the order they are turned on.

Usually this machine ( XP ) is 192.168.1.100 but it was the last one on this AM and I see it is 192.168.1.102.

When we play games between the machine it shows names not IPs.

Could all of this be because each machine is completely independent of the other ? No one machine depnds on any other for anything.

And unless it is well hidden, there is no Guest account on this XP machine. And all machines are logged on with BLANK passwords.

But. I must add this. Things were not this simple when I tried using a D-Link Router. The Linksys Router is a breeze. It does its job very nicely.

Now please remember that I am looking for differences only. Not what is right or wrong because each system can be quite different in setup and requirements.

BillyBob

 

Hi BB

I had origanally posted this and a previous post due to the fact that the extent of my Network knowledge was ICS with no shared files on any of the machines. All the machines have thier own independent firewalls as well as AV's.

Running the machines through a gateway for internet accses only was fairly simple for me to understand as well as pretty secure sitting behind the router with thier own independent security setups. But then I wanted to share a few files and a printer and it got a bit more confuseing for me.

First off I have always used WIN98SE on my machines as I am knowledgable of it. And now I have 2 more machines running WIN XP and I am not very good with it nor do I like it very much. Second off with SHAREING I got into a whole new bag of tricks with what to share and how to make it secure.

I got the WIN98SE to see each other rather fast, but it was a bit more intailed to to get the right settings on both to able to play a local game between the 2 but I did eventually get it to work. I wanted one of the XP machines (my lap top) to be able to hook to the network for file/printer shareing only. I found that in the NETWORK NIGHBORHOOD in XP it is set up differantly in the properties settings and was not sure exactly what I needed to check mark to ensure that I was setting it up properly.

I have since then flopped around in there and got my XP machine to see one of the 98 machines but it will not see the other for some reason all machines have differant names, all are in the same work group, all are set for Client to Microsoft Network and all are shareing something. As far as shareing a printer my XP finds one of the printers on the network but will not let me install it as it is asking for a valid printer name???? shrugs shoulders!!!

At this point I have conceded to the fact that I have made errors some where and need to get back to beginning somehow and start fresh as I am not confident in my settings. I will continue to read more where I can find it to understand better about networking and getting 2 differant OS's to work together. I appreciate all the help I have recieved so far.

From what I have read in your post it seems that you are useing ICS and opening up the network for files as needed, rather then haveing it opened continually but I could be wrong as I am by far no expert. Any one know where I can purchase the manual NETWORKING FOR DUMMIES!?!?!?!? LOL anyways thanks a bunch NEWT and BB for giving me a bit more to think about.

Very Best Regards,
FireDancer

 

From what I have read in your post it seems that you are useing ICS

No. I am not using ICS. ( Internet Connection Sharing ) And I never will. That is the Routers job. ICS would require one machine to be on at all times.

Each of my 3 machines is 100% independent. The only one thing that is shared permanently ( but not for much longer ) is the Printer.

If I do want to transfer some files from one unit to the other I set up the proper partition as shared. Do what I gotta do and then un-share it.

Also with nothing being shared it is also easier ( I think ) to keep Viruses etc. from going machine to machine.

Gotta wait for comments on that.

BillyBob

 

Hi Again,

Not to get off topic but I thought ICS was ONE SINGULAR INTERNET CONNECTION into the modem and from there it links to the Router which in turn allows more then one machine to use the same connection. Am I wrong here? Can some one explain the differance? Anyways not trying to debate here just trying to learn more

Regards,
FireDancer

 

ICS = Internet Connection Sharing = a way to allow multiple PCs at your house to share a modem (be it dial up or broadband) so they can get on the internet at the same time.

Modems, unlike printers and folders, cannot be 'shared' on the network without some special software. ICS is the Microsoft offering and free with the system. Sygate and Wingate were popular (but not free) versions of software to do the same job.

In addition to simply letting several PCs 'share' the modem, ICS will also do some housekeeping jobs like assign IP addresses and suchlike if you want it to.

Very briefly, when you set up ICS you have one PC acting as the host machine and all the others are clients. The host connects to the modem and also to any other machines you have (using a 2nd network card if you run broadband) and does network traffic direction for all the client PCs so that file-share/game/printer requests stay within your network but internet requests go out to the internet.

ICF = Internet Connection Firewall = the very simple firewall that you can turn on in conjunction with ICS if you want it.

 

This is the place to both debate and learn.

I believe that agrees with my thinking. ICS requires one machine ( the one connected to the Modem ) to be ON AT ALL TIMES so that the others can get to the Internet through it. And if it decides to take a trip South nobody gets to the Internet.

I do not have that. All 3 machines are connected DIRECTLY and INDEPENDENTLY to the ROUTER. So not knowing otherwise I guess we just might say the ROUTER is the Host for the Interent.

Unless I am thinking wrong ( Newt should be able to help here ) I do not have any one machine playing Host. Any one can be used for same. All networkable games that we have can be initiated by any machine ( I guess that would make it the Host ) and the others can join.

My Wife can intitiate ( making her the Host ? ) a game and I join her and play with her rules. Next time I can initiate ( making me the host ?) a game and she joins me and we play with my rules.

MY Router does that job. And does it nicely with no help from me.

BillyBob