Network Interconnect

When we connect two or more computers to share resources (H/w & S/w), is called networking. There are different methods to make networking between different operating system. There is not any problem in Pure networking (same OS). The networking between Win 2k and 98 is easy. But the networking between Win XP and other OS is hard.

Requirement for networking

• Computer name (unique)
• Workgroup name (same)
• Anyone protocol (same)
• NIC (Network Interface Card)
• Cables
• Hub/Switch
• Connectors

Identifying system on network

Select Properties of My computer.
Tab to Network identification and go properties.
Enter a unique computer name and same workgroup on the network. The default name of workgroup in Win 2k is WORKGROUP .
Select Properties of My Network Places.
Select ‘Local Area Network' icon
NOTE: - If there is no icon, it means there is not any NIC.
The information is displayed at left side. If there is ‘ Fast Ethernet card ' then the speed display is 100 Mbps otherwise 10 Mbps.
Select Properties of LAN and configure client, sharing and protocols .
Restart the system to make on network.

To make a connection in Win 2k (pure network)

1. Open ‘My network Places' and see the computers on network in ‘computer Near Me' option.
To share any folder select the folder and select sharing from the right click menu. We can give a different name to a folder on a network, called ‘share name'. We can also limit the users to access the folder. To give the permissions we click on permissions . To configure setting for offline access to shared folder click on caching option. When we share a folder then a hand will come under the folder.
NOTE : - We can share only a folder not a file.
To see the shared folder on network, open My Network Places and then open ‘Computers Near Me', then open any computer it show the shared folders.

At Command prompt

C:\hostname Display the computer name
C:\ipconfig It show the IP address, subnet mask etc.
C:\ipconfig/all It displays all the info. Mainly it displays Mac-address.
C:\net view It display all the computers name on network.
C:\net send * message To send the message to all computers on network.
C:\net send nik message To send the message to single named nik.
C:\net stop messenger To stop the coming message.
C:\net * messenger to again start the service.

To make a connection between Win 2k & Win 98

1. At the time of login remember that ‘Don't press Esc or Cancel'. Always press OK to make the system on network. If we press Esc, then there is no networking.
2. A user which is created in Win NT, Win 2k can access resources.
3. To see the information on network in GUI on Win 9x, Me; we use winipcfg command. This command is not work in Win NT or Win 2k.
4. Mostly all commands of Win 2k also run in Win 9x. But to send or receive message, the software used in Win 98 is winpopup.exe . We open this tool from system tools at the time of chatting.
NOTE: - ipconfig command is not work in Win 95.

To make a connection between Win XP & Win 98

To make networking, we need to configure a wizard in Win XP and then run that wizard in other OS. To configure wizard we need to follow these steps:

1. Select ‘Network setup wizard' from ‘Network Neighborhood' and start.
2. After welcome wizard and before continue, install and connect everything.
3. Select a connection wizard, in other we can select network without Internet .
4. Give computer name and description.
5. Give Workgroup name, by default the name is MSHOME .
6. When we click on ready to apply network then it makes connection.
7. Then there are four options
(i) Create a network startup disk.
(ii) Use network disk, which I have.
(iii) Use Window XP CD-ROM.
(iv) Finish the wizard; I don't need to run wizard on any computer.
8. By selecting (i) from upper point, insert the floppy, which we want to use. First format the floppy then use it.
9. Then it copies the wizard files from HD to floppy.
10. To run the wizard with the network setup wizard
(i) Insert the network setup disk into computer on network.
(ii) Open My computer and then open network setup disk.
(iii) Double click netsetup .
11. Finish the network setup wizard.
12. Restart the system.

Connection configuration

(a) Client

(i) Client for Microsoft Network : - If the client service used on same network of Win 2k.
(ii) Client for Netware : - It is used to make connection of Win 2k with Novell network.

(b) Service
(i) File and print sharing : - It is used to share files and printers.
(ii) SAP Agent : - It is used for advertising the server.

(c) Protocol

(i) Apple talk protocol : - It is used to make network/connection with apple/i-mac computers.
(ii) DLC Link : - It is Data Link Control. It is used to share the ‘ hp ' printers.
(iii) TCP/IP : - It is used for communication on a network and Internet.
(iv) NetBEUI : - It is Net BIOS Extended User Interface. It is the fastest protocol. It is a non routing protocol.
(v) NWLink : - This protocol installed in Win 2k for making connection of win 2k OS network with Novell network.