x86's Guide to Networking Windows 98 
_Windows 98 Networking_

In this section is a very brief description of what we will be doing to 
setup the network between 2 or more windows 98 (win98 boxes, which will
be refered to as the "boxes") computers. 

You will be needing to setup the network by installing the cards 
(NIC's) in each of the boxes, and run the correct cabling from computer
to computer or from computer to hub to computer. Then you will be 
installing the correct protocols in Network Settings, set up the 
Identification of the machines, and setup other minor settings. In 
this process, reboots are often required.


_Step 1_

As said above, you have to install (hardware wise) your NIC into each 
of the boxes on the network, and plug-in all cables correctly. If you 
have more than 2 computers then your cabling will look like this...

______
|comp 3|
|______|
|
|
______ _|___ ______
|comp 1|______| hub |_____|comp 2|
|______| |_____| |______|

...and so on and so on, you are pluging each computer into a hub or a 
router. If you only have 2 computers (and no hub) on your win network 
than your setup will look like this...

______ ______
|comp 1|______|comp 2|
|______| |______|

...thats a tad bit simpler now isn't it? alright, time for step 2

_Step 2_

Now, once the NICs are installed in the computer, and the cables are 
plugged in, its time to boot all the computers up, so go ahead and 
fire all the boxes up. Once the computer starts, you are going to want 
to open control panel, and click on Network. Here is where you will be 
doing most of your work. Make sure that the NIC is listed in this list 
of protocols, devices, and services (i.e. tcp/ip, dial-up adapter, 
anything that is listed inside that window).

You are going to need to make sure that all of these are in the list, 
if they are not, install them!

You Need...
1. TCP/IP - if not installed, click Add, click protocol, choose 
Microsoft, and choose TCP/IP and hit OK. Also, once this is setup and 
on the system, it shouldn't be listed as just "TCP/IP" it should be 
divided (if you have a Dial-Up Adapter like this...) TCP/IP-->NIC and 
TCP/IP-->Dial-Up-Adapter.
2. The NIC - this one's pretty obvious, if its not listed, make sure 
you installed it correctly.
3. Dial-Up Adapter - use this only if you already have it, and are 
connecting to the internet via dialup connection, or have other use 
for this.
4. Client for Microsoft Networks - if not installed, click Add, click 
Client, choose Microsoft, and click Client for Microsoft Networks. You 
will want this set as the "Primary Network Logon".
5. File Sharing - Click the "File and Print Sharing" button, and choose
the options you want. If you want to share files and a printer on the 
network choose both, if you only want to share files, only choose the 
first one, if you only want to share a printer (weird) choose the 
second one.

In this process, you probably rebooted a good bit didn't you? Time to 
move to Step 3


_Step 3_

Now that we have the network capable of working, its time to set it up.
Open up the "Network" window again. Choose "TCP/IP-->NIC" and click 
Properties. Now, you need to decide on a server and workstations. On 
all the boxes you are going to want to choose "specify an ip address" 
which is on the properties window. For the server, use the IP 
"10.1.1.1" with a Subnet mask of "255.0.0.0" and for the other 
machines use "10.1.1.X" replacing X with a number.. if you are setting 
up a 3 computer network, one of the workstations needs to be "10.0.0.2"
and one "10.1.1.3" both using the subnet mask of "255.0.0.0" this will 
require a reboot.

Once rebooted, click the identification tab in the Network menu of 
Control Panel, specift a unique name for this computer. The Computer 
name of all the boxes needs to be different, but the Workgroup needs 
to be EXACTLY the same on all. Computer Description is not necessary. 
This also will require a reboot. Now to step 4


_Step 4_ 

Lets make sure everything is correct with the setup. Here is a Checklist...

1. The NICs are installed and working, and cables are plugged in 
correctly.
2. I have all the necessary devices, protocols, and services installed 
in the Network menu of Control Panel.
3. I have set the correct Ip (10.1.1.X "10.1.1.1 being the server") 
for all the computers that will go on the network.
4. I have set the Workgroup name and computer name for all workstations
on the network.

that should be everything... Now, to setup the file sharing, and test 
out the network... You have the file sharing protocol installed, but 
no files/folders are being shared yet. You are going to want to open 
up My Computer on the computer that you have a file you want to be 
accessible to the network, find the file/folder in My Computer.. and 
second mouse click on it, and choose "Sharing". Click on the button 
that says, "shared as" and set the properties for that folder/files 
sharing. Now click okay, do this on all of the computers to any files/
folders on them that you want shared. 

Now to test this puppy out, restart the computers, login with your 
usernames, and click on the icon on the desktop labeled .. "Network 
Neighborhood" you should have some icons in there with the names of 
the workstation(s) under them. You can double click on these 
workstations to view the files, or double click on the server from the 
workstations to view those files. 

_End_

this is my first text written, I hope that I have been accurate in 
this tutorial, and hope that it may have helped someone. 

-x86