Post by thread:Network hardware questions

part 0 3053 bytes There is no real magic in networking a couple (or a couple of hundred) computers together. An ethernet starter kit is a good place for a beginner to start. They usually include enough instructions to help you get going. You will not miss the 100mbs hub speed. For most small networks, 10mbs is fine. Upgrading later to a 100 mbs hub is do-able by unplugging your cables from the 10 mbs hub and plugging them into your 100 mbs hub. You can use any brand hub or card, as long as they are speed compatible and the same topology (unshielded twisted pair - UTP for example). Coax cannot run 100 mbs, so stick with UTP. As for getting started. 1. Install NIC in each computer. 2. Power on - if you are running Win95 or Win98 it should recognize that new hardware is present and start to install. It may ask for the floppy that comes with your NIC for drivers. 3. After installing the NIC, you need to load networking. Again, assuming Win95-98 goto Control Panel/Networking. You should see you NIC listed as installed. 4. From the Add button you need to add Client/Microsoft/Client for Microsoft Networks. 5. From the Add button you need to add Protocol/Microsoft/NetBEUI. 6. Click on the button File and Print Sharing. Click yes to sharing files and printers. 7. Click on the Identification tab. Give the computer a unique name (just different from the other computer - one and two are fine!). Give them the same Workgroup name - THIS IS CASE SENSITIVE - so make sure they are really the same! And finally give them a Computer Description (i.e. development computer, game computer) 8. Click on the Access Control Tab. Click on the Share-Level Access. 9. Close out and reboot. You will be asked for a user name and password when Win95-98 starts backup. Enter any name (that you remember) and if you do not want to mess with passwords, leave it blank. You will be asked to confirm you password. 10. Cable the computers together. NIC -> HUB -> NIC. If the hub has a X port, stay away from it. That is used to connect two hubs together and uses different pin configuration than going from hub to nic. Try your local book store for a reference. I am afraid I can not suggest any. Please feel free to email me privately if you need more help - I will be delighted to help you as I can. David V. Fansler Network Administrator AutoCyte, Inc. 336-222-9707 Ext. 261 spam_OUTdfanslerTakeThisOuTautocyte.com Now Showing! http://www.mindspring.com/~dfansler/ {Original Message removed}