Some of the main topics in this chapter are
When working on a computer attached to a network, you might need to adjust hardware settings and configure specific network settings to maintain your connection to the network. Whether you're connected to a Windows NT Server, Novell NetWare, or other network, you might need to make some configuration changes.
You can change, for example, the name of your computer and the domain to which you belong; you also can install adapter card drivers and configure network protocols. You might never need to change any of these settings, but if you install a new or different adapter card, have special needs for logging on to the network, or need to change domains, you can configure the network from your own workstation.
You can configure the network and its components--such as adapter cards, protocols, and bindings--in the Network dialog box available from Control Panel. You must be a member of the Administrators Group for your computer to configure the network from your workstation.
TIP: You can quickly access the Network dialog box by right-clicking the Network Neighborhood and choosing Properties.
Additionally, before configuring the network through your workstation, you should find out any specific information you need from your network administrator. For example, if you change your computer's name, the new name must have an account in the domain to which you'll attach; you'll want to confirm your account with the system administrator. Each of the following sections makes note of any information you will need before explaining how to configure the network component. Open the Network properties dialog box from Control Panel, and you see the dialog box shown in Figure 36.1.
Change computer names, protocols, drivers, and so on in the Network dialog box.
On the network, your computer is identified by a name and--depending on the type of network--a workgroup or domain name as well. When working on a Novell NetWare network, for example, your computer name only applies to your individual workstation; only your username is significant to NetWare. When working on a Windows NT Server network, however, the computer's name is a unique name that identifies the workstation to the network; the name cannot be the same as any other computer, workgroup, or domain name on the network.
The workgroup is a collection of computers grouped together and identified by a group name; workgroups provide convenience and efficiency. You can view workgroups on the network to determine available resources, find files or directories, and so on. A domain is a collection of computers on a Windows NT Server network that recognize the same user accounts; domains provide security as well as efficiency. Anyone on the network can join a workgroup, but only those assigned by the system administrator can be members of a domain.
You might need to change your computer's name at some point--for example, if another computer or domain is added that is the same as your computer's name or to better identify your workstation and resources.
CAUTION: If you're a member of a Windows NT Server domain, check with your system administrator before changing your computer's name; you might not be able to log on to the domain if you don't check first.
To change the name of the computer:
Enter a unique name to rename your computer.
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3. Choose OK once to close the Computer Name dialog box and again to close the Network dialog box.
TROUBLESHOOTING: After you change your computer's name, you might not be able to log on to the domain. You must have an account using the new computer name in the domain before you can log on to the domain. Check with your system administrator to make sure that your new computer name is correct and that you have an account on the domain.
You can join a workgroup or a Windows NT Server domain from the Network dialog box. Make sure that you specify a workgroup name that is not the same as the computer name.
When joining a domain, check with the system administrator to make sure that you're using the correct domain name and that you have a user account on that domain.
CAUTION: You cannot easily change the workgroup or domain to which you belong. To change workgroups or domains, you must reinstall Windows NT Server or change the domain or workgroup from the NT Server that authenticates network logons and receives domain security policy.
To join a workgroup or domain:
2. In the Member Of area, select either Workgroup or Domain. In the text box, enter the exact name of the workgroup or domain.
3. If you've selected Domain and you're the domain administrator, enter the User Name and Password for your account. This is only necessary if you haven't created an account for the computer in the server manager of the domain controller.
4. Choose OK to close the dialog box. If you joined a domain, a welcome dialog box appears; choose OK to close the box.
TIP: You cannot log on to the new domain until you restart Windows.
TROUBLESHOOTING: Sometimes you enter the workgroup name, but Windows NT displays a message saying that the name entered isn't properly formatted. Choose OK to close the message box. You've probably entered a character that doesn't agree with Windows NT workgroup naming conventions. Make sure that you follow the naming guidelines and try again.
When you choose the Express Setup for Windows NT, Setup checks your network adapter card and installs it for you. The adapter card and software (the card's device driver) enable your computer to communicate over the network. You might find a need to install a new or second adapter card--perhaps your old one stopped working or you wanted a better card for reliability purposes. You can install a new card and configure it by using the Network dialog box.
TIP: Windows NT Setup only installs the first network card it comes to; you might have more than one card and need to install the second by using the method described here.
After physically installing the card to the machine, you must install the card through Windows NT. To install an adapter card, follow these steps:
2. Choose Add. Setup prepares the network card choices, which may take a few minutes, and then displays the Select Network Adapter dialog box (see Figure 36.4).
Use the Adapters tab to add, remove, configure, or update an adapter card.
Choose to add a network adapter card to the list of cards your workstation uses in Windows NT.
4. Choose OK. Setup might ask for a disk or the Windows NT CD; insert the disk or CD and choose OK. Setup copies files to your drive.
5. Follow any other directions on-screen. When finished, choose OK to close the Network dialog box. A reminder appears on-screen; you must restart your computer before the changes take effect.
TIP: If you have other changes to make in the Network dialog box, such as Protocols or Services, make all changes before restarting the computer--you'll save time.
TROUBLESHOOTING: Perhaps you have no idea what kind of network card was installed to your computer. You can find out by checking the documentation that came with the card. If you don't have the documentation, see your system administrator.
After installing the adapter card, you must install the software that makes the card work with the system. The software, or protocol, enables the card to communicate with the network. The type of protocol you use depends on the type of network you're on. If you do not know the network protocol, ask your system administrator.
The protocol software might be located on a manufacturer's disk that came with the adapter card, or you might find the software on the Windows NT CD. To install the software:
Install a new protocol from the Protocols tab.
Choose the software, or protocol, you use for the network adapter card.
4. Choose OK. If Setup asks for a disk or the Windows NT CD, insert the disk or CD, and follow the directions on-screen.
5. When finished, choose OK in the Network dialog box, and restart the computer so that the changes can take effect.
If you receive a newer or updated version of an adapter card driver from the manufacturer, you can update the driver in Windows NT in the Network dialog box. An updated driver may contain fixes for previous problems, more efficient software for running the adapter card, or some other improved features or data that make connecting to the network faster, easier, or safer. To update a network component, follow these steps:
2. Choose Update. Windows NT updates the software or the card. Windows NT might prompt for a manufacturer's disk or the Windows NT CD or disks. Insert the disk or CD and follow the directions on-screen.
http://www.novell.com NE2000 NIC drivers can be found on Novell's Web site.
You can remove protocols or adapter cards from the Network Protocols or Network Adapters list. The software is removed from the list but remains on the hard disk. You remove components in the Network dialog box.
To remove the network component, select the component from the list in either the Adapters or Protocols tab, and click Remove. If a dialog box appears, answer any queries to continue removing the component.
TROUBLESHOOTING: If you've accidentally removed some network software that you shouldn't have, it might appear that Windows NT won't let you reinstall it. After you remove network software, you must restart your computer before you can reinstall that software. Shut down Windows NT and then start Windows again. Now try to install the software in the Network dialog box.
You can configure the adapter card and protocol to set IRQ levels, addresses, frame types, and so on, in the Network dialog box. Table 36.1 explains the components you can configure when dealing with adapter cards and protocols.
| Component | Description |
| IRQ Level | Interrupt ReQuest is a line used to gain the system's attention in a timely manner. |
| I/O Port Address | Input/Output address where data and commands are sent to and from the adapter; an I/O address is exclusive in that it cannot be shared with any other adapter. |
| Frame Type | A frame is a packet of data that travels on the network; for example, NetWare 4 supports Ethernet frame type 802.2. |
| Internal Network Number | An 8-digit number that uniquely identifies a NetWare server running in a multinet Windows NT environment. |
Adapter Card. If you're unsure of the settings for your adapter card, refer to the card's documentation or ask your system administrator. The Windows NT Diagnostics program can also tell you the settings and addresses of hardware on your machine. To configure your adapter card, follow these steps:
2. Choose Properties. The adapter's Based Adapter Setup dialog box appears. Figure 36.7 shows the dialog box for a specific network card; your dialog box might look different.
Set an IRQ level and I/O address in the Based Adapter Setup dialog box.
4. Choose OK once to close the dialog box, and again to close the Network dialog box (or continue setting options in the dialog box).
TIP: If there are other settings in the dialog box that you're unsure of, click Help for more information.
Protocol. You can choose the protocol needed from Windows NT supplied protocols, or you can install another protocol. The protocol packages data and sends it back and forth between the computer and the network. When configuring a protocol, you select options from the Network dialog box. To configure a network protocol:
2. Choose Properties. The protocol's Properties dialog box appears. Figure 36.8 shows one type of protocol configuration dialog box.
Configure the protocol in your specific Properties dialog box.
4. Choose OK once to close the dialog box, and again to close the Network dialog box.
Bindings are connections between a protocol and the network boards and drivers. Without a bound protocol, the driver cannot communicate with the network and the computer. More than one protocol can be bound to the same driver and board, and the same protocol can be bound to more than one driver on the server, called layering.
CAUTION: Unless you're extremely familiar with the requirements of the network and software, you should not reconfigure binding settings. You could sever your network connections.
To view bindings for the network components:
Check to see whether any bindings have been disabled.
3. In the Bindings list, any bindings preceded by a red circle have been disabled. You can enable a binding by selecting it and choosing Enable. If you're unsure of a binding for a service, protocol, or adapter, ask your system administrator.
4. Choose Close or Cancel to close the dialog box.
Networking with Windows does not require a client service. Whether you're using Windows NT Server or Windows 95, you can easily attach to the network by adjusting a few settings.
Windows NT networks involve a client and a server, similar to the NetWare network. An NT Server controls the resources, users, groups, domains, and so on. You can attach to the server on the NT network and use any of the resources you have permission to use. Permissions are controlled by the network administrator.
Windows NT Workstation (Windows for Workgroups and Windows 95, too) workgroup networks, on the other hand are peer-to-peer networks, meaning there is no server. Computers are attached to a network, and all computers are utilized as workstations. Additionally, all computers can share their resources--printers, files, directories, and so on.
You need the following on your computer to attach to a Windows network:
You can refer to the previous sections in this chapter for installing and configuring these elements.
To connect to a Windows network, you use the Network Neighborhood. Double-click the Network Neighborhood icon to display the Network Neighborhood window (see Figure 36.10).
Computers on the Windows network are listed in the window.
To access any of the computers on the network, and their resources, simply double-click the computer icon. Figure 36.11 shows a computer's shared drives, folders, and printer.
Use the resources from a server or another computer on the network.
If your computer is a member of both a Microsoft Windows network and a NetWare network, the Windows computers may not appear when you first open the Network Neighborhood. If you do not see the network you want, double-click the Entire Network icon and then double-click the network to which you want to connect to display the server and/or computers attached to that network.
NOTE: The network you attach to at logon and that appears first in the Network Neighborhood depends on the network search order, as described in the next section.
TIP: If you've forgotten your network password, contact your network administrator and ask him/her to change your password.
TROUBLESHOOTING: It's frustrating when, for no apparent reason, you can't see other computers in the Network Neighborhood. Double-click the Entire Network icon and see whether any computers are listed in that window; you may be connected to two different networks. Specify the network that you want to connect to by double-clicking either Microsoft Network or NetWare Network in the Entire Network window. You may have switched to a different workgroup. Specify another workgroup in the Identification tab of the Network dialog box. If there's still a problem, check your network cabling, make sure that your adapter card is installed and configured, and ask the administrator whether or not the network is up and running.
If your computer is connected to more than one kind of network, you can tell Windows NT in which order to search and attach to the network. For example, if you want to attach to the NetWare network first so that you can search, retrieve, and print files, you specify that in the Network Access Order dialog box. Windows NT searches for the NetWare network when it starts up and attaches to the network. Additionally, Windows NT discontinues the search after finding the first network.
You can always switch from one network to the other without rebooting your computer. Open the Network Neighborhood window and double-click the Entire Network icon. Choose the network you want to attach to from the resulting window. If your username and password are the same for both networks, you will have no trouble switching back and forth; if your credentials are not the same for both networks, you will have to log off one network and on to the other.
TIP: After connecting to a network, you can log off and log on to another network by choosing Start, Shut Down. Select Close All Programs and Log on as a Different User.
You can change the order of the search and attach by following these steps:
2. Click Network Access Order. The Network Access Order dialog box appears (see Figure 36.12).
3. In the Network Providers list box, double-click the provider that you want to change--such as network or print providers--if no options are listed below the provider.
4. Click the network you want to specify and then click Move Up to move the network up in the list or Move Down to move the network down in the list. The network at the top of the list is the one Windows NT connects to first.
5. Choose OK once to close the dialog box and again to close the Network dialog box.
Select your preference of networks to log on to first.
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