How to setup a Peer to Peer connection 1

[Paul7905]

Hola !

I have two computers, both are running Windows '98 (vanilla '98, NOT ME or SE)

One is a laptop, one is a desktop.

Both have 10/100 ethernet adapters in them. I routinely connect the laptop to a workplace NT network and that works fine.

Now i want to be able network my home PC to My laptop using a Cross Over Cable (no hub).

I am having no luck. On the home desktop I set up the Client For MS networks, setup TCIPIP, put in a workgroup name.. and computer name etc etc..... that all seemed fine, the network neighborhood shows the desktop just fine, when i connect the laptop the green lights on the adapter light up ~

But, I am having no luck in getting the network setup so the computers can see one another ~

Anyone done this? anything i am missing ? hints?

(I do notice the laptop comes up at startup wanting to log onto the NT domain (which is the workplace enviornment I normally use this laptop in).......

Thanks for any assistance
Paul

 

[proudusa]

Do you have file and print sharing service installed on both ?? via network neighborhood properties?

Make sure both same workgroup, same subnet mask, both TCP/IP with valid addresses, file/print sharing

 

[SPYDERIX]

I believe their is a Home Networking Wizard on the Computer somewhere (Network Neighbourhood), run that, specify the computer name and workgroup name, and enable file sharing and then you should be set.

One thing to note is becuae one computer is already being hooked up to the NT domain, then you should keep that computer name and workgroup for that computer, and use the same workgroup name on the other computer, but obviously you have to change the computer name on the other computer.

If Windows 98 doesn't have that Network Wizard, post back and I will put all the files from my Network disk into a zip file and then give you the web address to download it, or I can just email it to you, which ever you prefer.
Nate
"If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space!"

 

[MISAdmin]

I believe the Home Network Wizard was a product of... *shudder* Millenium edition. There is absolutely nothing that wizard will do for you that you can't do youself.

Besides adding file and print sharing... you say you have link lights, but are you sure the machines can actually communicate? Try pinging one form the other and make sure you at least have a connection over IP... If you can verify that, then it's time to start looking at the Windows settings harder... If you can't ping the machines and get things working in the IP world, there isn't much you'll change that will enable the two Windows boxes to see each other...

If you are normally using the laptop in a WOrkplace NT Domain, how is the laptop configured to get it's IP address there? Is it using DNS or are you using a static address? You know that you need to have the IP numbers for your desktop and laptop in the same subnet, right? Are you trying to use your businesses IP #'s at home?? That could be bad if your machines connect to the web and those are registered addresses... Try changing the laptop to a static address of 10.0.0.2 and the desktop to 10.0.0.3 with a subnet of 255.255.255.0 on both... (Or use 192.168.0.x or whatever... just make sure they aren't registered IP's)

I guess a little more background on your IP setup would be helpful...

 

[Paul7905]

Really appreciate all the responses !

I spent hours searching the microsoft web site for basic information on how to connect two pc's peer to peer but alas.............all I really ran into were vague references to a "wizzard" which I do not apparantly have on my win '98 machines (but which the microsoft site explicitly says i should have on win '98!...... if i do, i cannot find it)

Basically, the laptop does log onto an NT domain at work.

The NT network does not use static addresses, I am sure it's set up to do addressing dynamically based on the card that is in the PC. I think the setting for this was done on the compaq server (I don't recollect doing anything regarding this setting on the pc's on the workplace NT network at all)

When I look at my settings on my home desktop, I can find a place in the adapter card advanced settings "network address". There is no address in the field.

When i look at my laptop, for the same "advanced" tab on the adapter, there is no entry whatsoever for "network address" (this baffles me a little).

I was hopeful that i would be able to leave my laptop setting alone and merely configure this desktop. apparantly this is not possible? I did "uncheck" the box on the laptop that said "Log onto NT Domain".
This had no affect actually.

I am stumped as to where on the laptop to put in a "static address for i am unable to find a place to put it. also, i don't see any references anywhere to "SubNet"?? or even to "MainNet" for that matter.

Hope this all helps give more info on the setup (I am not trying to use the internet with this at all, I merely want to be able to get at files on one machine from the other across this orange cable!

Paul

 

[SPYDERIX]

In response to MISAdmin;
Ya Windows ME, is pretty buggy, but it has a lot of really good features.

Paul7905, Again I ask you:

Do you want me to send you a zip file with the Home Network Wizard in it.

I takes only a minute to setup and it's really easy. It runs on Windows ME, 98, & 95.

When you run it on the Computer that logs onto the NT domain, the Wizard will ask if you want to edit the Network settings. Just say yes to that, and look at the Workgroup name (only do this if you don't know the name), then run the Wizard on the other computer and keep the same Workgroup name, but change the computer name. Then you reboot the computers, and it should be all setup for you. You may have to manually setup the file sharing. Post back if you want me to email it to you!!!
Nate
"If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space!"

 

[Paul7905]

Nate, yes, please email this wonderful wizard to me at Arizman2@aol.com

many thanks

 

[FlashTag]

This is a grate site for learming how to setup a network
has everything from 95 to NT.

http://network.fament.com/helmig/j_helmig/win98.htm

 

[Guest_imported]

When trying to to a direct connect with an xover cable you must install ipx protocals. What I did for the longest time when I only had two pc's was to start clean from the card install and follow these steps: Connect the two pc's with a pre tested cross over cable. On both computers go to network properties click identification tab and set the same work group name and an individual pc name, click back to configuration then add ipx protocal, (make sure your net card displays a binding with ipx if you have any problems after restart), dont restart yet, now enable sharing of both printers and files, allow the pc to restart, when you log back in you may be prompted for a windows net logon, you may have to set a password. After your logged in properly click on network neighborhood and see if the pc is visable. As long as you dont get the error "unable to browse the network" your connected. Im not sure why but I have had trouble getting the computers to appear in network neighborhood, when they are in fact functionally connected at full duplex speeds. (For max speed insure that your cards are full duplex.) To get to your pc the first time, right click on network neighborhood and select find computer. Type in the computer name and then right click and drag to the desktop, select make short cut and your done. Do this on both pc's, then make sure you actually share some files or a printer otherwise you wont see anything after clicking on the remote computers desktop icon, this give alot of people the illusion that the pc's arent connected. They do not relize that they have to share a specific drive or file to make is visable and usable on a network.

 

[Paul7905]

Many thanks to everyone that responded to my question, these boards have been a godsend to me; it's really refreshing to find so many people readily willing to share their hard won knowledge which is contrary to what I have experienced in the corporate workplace where, as a manager of IS departments for many years (in a Mainframe environment), I found the majority folks protective of what they know, like pulling teeth to elicit sharing of technical knowledge amongst one another.

With that out of the way, the solution to my problem ended up being rather simple, but not readily apparant.

Nate, the issue was solved before your "Wizard" arrived, I have not used it yet, but look forward to trying it out at the first opportunity.

MISAdmin, it was your post that ended up being the clue to the issue, at first, I had not uncovered the wherabouts of the settings for IP addresses, I had been looking at the settings for the adapter card and not the communications protocol...... eventually I happened to click on the TCP/IP protocol I had set up (which is what our NT network is using at the office) and discovered these ..... I keyed in an IP address on both machines (did not key a subnet, these appeared later on their own). Anyway, after keying the addresses as you outlined, everything worked!

FlashTag, thanks for the web site, I spent considerable time there and it's a great site, I'll no doubt spend more time there in the future !

SStech, I did not have to use IPX (TCP/IP worked fine, I will try IPX too just to see what happens)

ProudUSA, heck, you no doubt had named the problem in your post (addresses) but I was too ignorant at the time to understand ! Thanks anyway !

Learned a lot from trying to do this and all your input ! Thanks so much !

Paul in Arizona

 

[MISAdmin]

Wow!
Sorry I got back to checking on this post so late. I probably could have helped you out a little more clearly with the added info (specifically pointing you toward where the IP settings were and whatnot...

No, you really can't keep the IP settings the same for the laptop if it's using DNS at work and expect it to work with your desktop. Not unless you know the IP scheme used on the NT network and pick a static Address on that scheme for your desktop... but then, you'd need a static address on the laptop for that scheme too... so....

One final thought for you, although it seems like you have things resolved... No offense to DellComputerUser, but, as much as I hate Windows ME, I also hate NetBeui... But I think for your needs... it may be the solution. If you load the NetBeui protocol on both the laptop and desktop and change the workgroup name so that it's the same on both (and load Microsofts file and print sharing) you should be able to share things between the two computers... AND, because it's using NetBeui, you can leave the IP settings alone on your laptop so it doesn't mess with your work settings...

As for SCStech... you don't NEED IPX on both machines to work on a crossover. ANy protocol will do fine as long as it's configured properly on both ends. IPX is a protocol commonly used by Novell. If your not using Novell, I really see no need to have it installed on your machine. But, you are correct, like Netbeui... if you configure it properly on both sides... it will work.

 

[tlcscousin]

A word of caution if using one computer at work to hook to the domain, I would not change the domain to a workgroup it might be ok with NT4 but if they go to W2K you will be needing the IT department to allow hooking back to the domain.
If you leave the laptop as in the domain and change the others workgroup name to the same name as the domain, (dont try joining the domain just make the workgroups name identical) you should be able to communicate with the two,when at home.