Setting up a NetBEUI Peer-to-Peer Network

Materials:
Two Working complete PC's with NIC's
Blank Diskette
UTP Ethernet cross-over cables
Student Diskette, "New Boot A Ver 2.0+"
Student CD-ROM, "Room 6359"
Objectives:
The student will become familiar with the concept of Peer-to-Peer Networking, and
Learn how to install and configure the NIC and its drivers, and
Learn how to remove and install network protocols for the NIC, and
Learn how to connect the systems to each other using a UTP cross-over cable, and
Learn how to setup the networking components in the Network Control Panel applet to establish a Peer-to-Peer network.
Competency:
The student will understand the nature and function of the Windows 98 Network Control Panel applet and the related concepts including network components, protocols, services and clients and how to install and remove these Windows networking components, as well as be able to configure them in order to establish a Peer-to-Peer network. The student will gain experience in the installation of a Network Interface Card and connecting the cross-over cabling between the two systems to establish physical connectivity of networked PC's.
    Preparation
  1. First install the network interface cards into each machine. In this lab we will use the 3COM 3C905-B TX NICs which are PCI and fully PnP. The drivers are built in to Windows 98 so upon reboot the system will announce that it has found the card and start the Add New Hardware Wizard. Follow it with Next > Next > Next > ... until it offers the dialog box for the location of the Windows 98 installation files. Insert the Student CD-ROM for Room 6359and type in "D:\WIN98SE" then press [Enter]. When the copy of the driver files is complete click Finish and then Yes to the offer to reboot. Remove the CD-ROM. At this point attach the UTP cross-over cable between two systems and the configuration procedure can then begin.

  2. Procedures
  3. Once a NIC's drivers have successfully been installed the Network Neighborhood icon will appear on the desktop. If it does not then the drivers did not install properly, or completely or the device itself is malfunctioning. In this event check the device in Device Manager. Here it is assumed that the driver install went properly. Right click on Network Neighborhood and select Properties:


  4. Select TCP/IP -> whatever and click the "Remove" button. Do this for every entry for "TCP/IP -> whatever" that is listed:


  5. Select the 3COM adapter and click the "Add" button:


  6. Note the four types of networking component that can be added: Client, Adapter, Protocol, Service and the associated icons for these. Single click on Protocol and click the "Add..." button:


  7. In this new window select (single click) "Microsoft" in the left hand window pane and then scroll down the right hand side and select "NetBEUI" then click the "OK" button:


  8. If the NetBEUI protocol stack also attached to the Dial Up Adapter (a virtual device) then remove the "NETBEUI -> Dial-Up Adapter" in the main Networking Properties sheet (do not remove the Dia-Up Adapter itself). The situation should now look like this:


  9. At this point the NETBEUI protocol has been configured. Click Apply and supply the system with the Windows 98 installation CAB files if requested. Then click OK and restart the PC. In the classroom the student will need to rename the computer and the student will also need to set up a shared folder and map a drive letter to a shared folder.

  10. In the other modules the system should have been renamed, the File and Print Sharing Service should be installed and a share folder should have been created. Upon reboot from setting up the components as described in this module you should be met by the Microsoft Client for Windows logon screen. You MUST login for the operating system to start the networking components. If you cancel this Window you will come to the desktop but you will not have access to any networked resources. Type in "student" and press [Enter]:


  11. At the desktop open Network Neighborhood. The local system appears but the other one may not appear yet:


  12. Open the Entire Network and the Workgroup icon is visible. Opening it should reveal all members but it may not be updated yet:


  13. Another way to access the network browse service is Start > Find > Computer:


  14. Type in the computer's NetBIOS name and click "Find Now". If it finds the computer it can be opened by double clicking it:


  15. Another way to force the browse service to attempt to contact the system is: Start > Run, then type in the UNC name of the distant system: "\\PC001" in this case, and press [Enter]:


  16. The My Computer window will launch displaying the contents of the distant host:


  17. Open the shared resource and the contents will appear and can be opened as if they were on the local system with a double click:


    In many circumstances it will be a good idea to control which system is acting as the browse master. This service is the reason for the update delays in the Network Neighborhood. Here is the tutorial on how to do this.

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