Questions on Networking XP/98 wireless router

Hi All!!!

I am wanting to network two home computers running XP and 98.
XP has a ethernet plugin but the 98 computer does not. It is my understanding that I have to install a card???

This may be a dumb question but if I am using a wireless router, and want to have both computers on the net, do I have to have them both plugged into the phone line? The room where the other computer in has no phone jack.

My internet connection will be ADSL.

If someone could give me some steps on how to connect all this and what hardware I will need, that would be great!

Beamuse

 

XP has a ethernet plugin but the 98 computer does not. It is my understanding that I have to install a card???

Yes you do. In theory you could use USB but it isn't really a pleasure to work with on a new OS and 98SE is even worse so an ethernet network card is best. Wireless if that's what suits your needs.

I am using a wireless router, and want to have both computers on the net, do I have to have them both plugged into the phone line?

No you don't.

To give you specific help here, need some details.

- dial-up or broadband?
- what router?

 

Thnxs for the info Newt!

We finally have ADSL in our area and I will be hooking that up on Tuesday.

I have been pouring over info on networking and whew! talk about mindboggeling!

So, this is what I understand so far.....

1. I buy an ethernet card for the 98 Computer (and type better than the next?)

2. I buy a router (any suggestions for brands?) I am thinking wireless as the other computer is in another room thus no cables running everywhere.

3. I plug the router into the ADSL modem and then into the Xp.......the other part of the wireless paraphanalia will be plugged into the ethernet card on the 98 computer.

I think I will hook up ADSL and get that working first on XP first and then go from there.

So, hopefully I have a some idea what I am going to be doing. Will appreciate any input.

Have a great evening
Beamuse

 

Additional question

I have an additional piece to this. I am looking to network several machines with a lynksys wireless router/switch to a win98 machine which has a modem to connect to the internet. I want to set it up so the win98 machine will autodial out when a internet connection is requested by any other computer. We have a XP,WinME,and 98 machine all hooked up to the network. (Or there will be on Saturday) Is there a utility to help set up the Win98 machine to act as a server for the internet connection? Or else where do I look to set this up?

 

beamuse - sorry for the delay in answering but I somehow managed to miss your reply.

The whole networking thing is sorta strange but if all goes well, the tough parts will be mostly done for you.

Brand of router/switch - no real preference. Just make sure you get the features you want. A google search using soho wireless router switch firewall should give you quite a list to select from. SOHO = Small Office Home Office and is short talk for a home network device like you want. Firewall should list those with a firewall built into the router which is the best way to go. Wireless should get you one that will talk to a wireless network card which saves you from needing another piece of harware (WAP - Wireless Access Point).

Ethernet Card - with only a couple of PCs, get the cheapest one you can locate. With wireless that isn't gonna be real cheap though.

And bear in mind that wireless today is lots slower than wired so if speed is an issue, you might want to run cables.

Setup with the XP Pc connected to the DSL modem should be pretty automatic.

Once you get the router and a card in the 98 PC, you will need to do a couple of things.
- hook the DSL modem to the uplink port on the router so the ISP sees it and assigns the real-world IP address to the router.
- hook both PCs to the switch ports and have them set to use automatically assigned values. The router will take care of that.

If you also want the PCs to be able to share files or printer(s), you also gotta:
- put both PCs into the same workgroup. Any name is fine as long as 15 characters or less, no spaces, and no characters other than alphanumerics or - or _ so that
... My-workgroup would be fine
... My %&&^ Workgroup would not be fine
- set both PCs to use 'Client for Microsoft Networking' and enable 'File & Printer Sharing' then set something on each to be shared. Folder, printer, whatever.
- Log on to both PCs using both a logon name and a non-blank password. Easiest is to use the exact same for both PCs but if that isn't good for your situation, post back for more 'gotta do' stuff.

Darlid01 - your router/switch should do the job for you so no need to have a PC doing it.

If for some reason you really want the 98 PC to do the work, just use the switch part of your router/switch to network the PCs. Then
- hook the 98 PC to the modem. If dial-up, normal modem hook up. If Ethernet, you'll need a 2nd network card in it.
- set up ICS (internet connection sharing) with the 98 PC as Host and the others as clients. A search of your Help for ICS should give you specifics.

 

I understand everything, except I need to have the 98 machine dial out on demand and disconect on demand. That's where I need the help.

 

How To enable ICS on-demand dialing.

 

Bring up Internet Options (Either using IE pull-down menu Tools/Internet Options, or Start/Settings/Control Panel/Internet Options). Click Connection tab. If you only have one ISP in the Dial-up box click 'dialup whenever a network connection is not present'. If you have multiple entries, select the one you want as the default; choose setting/properties/dialing... etc. When you open IE browser your default DUN should try to connect. That's one way.