The Task

I wanted to be able to network two Windows computers: one running Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and the other Windows 98 Second Edition.

I wanted to be able to share files, and a modem on the Win 98 machine to access the internet and my e-mail from the Win 3.11 machine.

And with the invaluable help of Mr. Paul Ferguson, this is how I managed it...

Note: since writing this I have upgraded the Windows for Workgroups 3.11 PC to Windows 95... across the network, and apart from initially installing the wrong Windows 95 network card drivers, it has held up well. The concepts of networking described here work for all versions of Windows. Probably!

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It *is* possible to connect Windows for Workgroups 3.11 with Windows 98 across a LAN using an Ethernet network running a Windows network for the file-sharing, and a TCP/IP network for the internet connection (using a Proxy server on the Win98 machine).

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1. 10Mb ISA Network Interface Card (NIC) for the Windows for Workgroups (WfWg) 3.11 machine ($20). Make sure that it has drivers for WfWG 3.11.
   

2. 10Mb ISA or 10/100Mb PCI NIC for the Win98 machine. ($20)
   

3. 10BaseT hub ($30)
   

4. 2 CAT-5 Ethernet cables (RJ-45 plugs) ($30)

Instead of 3. & 4. you could also replace the hub and both Cat-5 cables with a single crossover wired Cat-5 cable. This limits your network to 2 machines only but it is quite a bit less expensive.

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1. Network Interface Card (NIC) drivers

 

2. Windows for Workgroups 3.11 installation disks

 

3. Windows 98 installation CD-ROM

 

4. TCP32B.EXE from ftp.microsoft.com - this is 32-bit TCP/IP support for Windows for Workgroups 3.11 *only*

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In this example I'm going to set-up 2 Windows computers, one running Windows 98SE and one running Windows for Workgroups 3.11 using a single crossover CAT5 cable (RJ-45 connectors) rather than using a Hub. Obviously if you were connecting more than two PCs you would need to use a Hub and non-crossover CAT5 cables.

Advice given to me was to first set up a 'simple' Windows network under NetBEUI protocol - get that up and running and *then* set-up a TCP/IP network so that you can share a modem and run internal email and WinPopUp.

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1. What we need to do first is fit the NICs into the respective computers. A piece of advice given to me on a newsgroup was this:

"The real trick is to get the network card setup and working in the WFWG 3.11 machine - and for that - you have to follow manufacturers instructions exactly - loading the proper drivers and setting non-conflicting IRQs etc. Win 98 will probably recognize the 'new hardware' on its' machine without too much manual intervention."

Simply open up the computer case - okay, switch off the power first! Insert the cards - if they are new then they will come with instructions and perhaps even a diagram on how to do this. Just remember to hold the cards by the edges, and make sure they are fitting snuggly in the ISA / PCI ports.

 

2. Next up install the drivers. When I was setting up my network it co-incided with me re-installing Windows 3.11 from scratch, so Windows picked up the Network Interface Card (NIC) on installation. Win98 being Plug and Play also picked it up and I installed the drivers from the drivers floppy disk.

 

3. Both computers will want to reboot when the drivers are installed.

 

4. Next up you need to install a Networking protocol.

Windows for Workgroups 3.11
Like I said, I reinstalled Windows 3.11 so installed the protocol on setup. But you can do this at any time from the "Network Setup" icon in the Networks group. IPX/SPX installed along with NetBEUI, which I set as the default - as this is regarded as the most stable, and fastest for a simple Windows to Windows network. You need the Windows for Workgroups 3.11 installation disks for this.

Windows 98 SE
On Win98 Client for Windows networks was already installed, as were NetBEUI, IPX/SPX and TCP/IP. If they are not however, you can install whatever you need easily. Control Panel | Network - Click Add button select either Protocol or Client and select. You will need the Win98 CD-ROM (unless you've copied the whole CD to a folder on your Hard Drive!).

The PCs will reboot after a new protocol or Client has been installed.

 

5. Inside a Windows for Workgroups network you need to assign a name to each PC and a common workgroup name - pick a simple one to start - one without special characters or spaces. I have chosen to name each PC according to its location, so I've got STUDY and BEDROOM, and the workgroup is <imaginatively> called WORKGROUP - this is the default name given by Windows 3.11 on installation.

    

6. The next step is to share resources and any printers. There are two steps to this for each computer.

In Windows 3.11 for Workgroups open Network Setup and click the button marked "Sharing..." Here you can tell the PC to allow resource sharing.

Now open File Manager, select a folder to share. In the Disk menu select Share As... and give the folder or drive a name, e.g. "HARD DRIVE C".

In Windows 98 open Control Panel | Networks click the button marked "Add" select Service and "File and Printer Sharing for Windows networks"

Click OK - you may be required to reboot.

Now in Windows Explorer select a file to share - right-click and from the context menu select "Sharing..." give the folder a 'network name'

 

7. You need to log-on to the network on the Win 3.11 machine, unless you've already done so. (When you install Win 3.11 at the end of the installation you will be asked for a log-on name).

   Open 'Network Neighborhood' on the Win98 machine you *should* be able to see the Workgroup and the two computers attached to it.

8. Well done! You've now got a network!

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Assuming that this does work we now need to set up the Win 3.11 machine to share an internet connection through the Win 98 machine. This is assuming that (as with my PC) the Win 98 machine has a modem and the Win 3.11 machine doesn't.

 

1. For this you will need a Proxy server, such as the Freeware one which is available at AnalogX and it is only 253 Kb to download! and a doddle to install and configure.

   Download the Proxy and install it on the Win 98 machine. Open and print out the readme.txt file - which is very easy to read and handy to have in your hand when you are popping back and forth between PCs.

 

2. Set the browser on the W3.11 PC to access the net through a Proxy Server.

Where it asks for the name of the Proxy server, input the IP address of the Win98 PC - in this example, 192.168.0.1.

It will also ask for a Port number which in the case of Proxy is 6588 for Web browsers - that is explained in the readme file.

If you don't have a browser on your Win 3.11 machine then install one! If you've got a CD-ROM on the Win 3.11 machine then many magazine cover CDs (certainly older ones) will have the likes of Internet Explorer 4.0 and Outlook Express 4.0 on them. If not then you can use your new network to install it off the CD or DVD-ROM drive of your Win 98 machine - or download it off the Internet and transfer the installation file via your new Windows NetBEUI network. Hey! aren't networks cool already!

 

3. If you want to do more than allow the W3.11 PC web browsing facilities then I`d suggest you read the short but concise readme that comes with the software. In the case of POP3 and SMTP mail you will need to set up mail accounts as normal, but when it asks for your POP3 and SMTP mail server addresses, simply give the IP address of your Proxy server, e.g. 192.168.0.1

   On the Win98 machine right-click the Proxy icon on the Taskbar and select "Configure". You'll have an option for "Configure Email Aliases" select this and enter your email address AND your username if these are different. For example, I have an account with the ISP Freenetname, so my default email address (which is also my username) is frgr@freenetname.co.uk, but having been assigned a domain name which is managed by Freenetname, my usual email address is gareth@garethjmsaunders.co.uk Proxy needs BOTH in order to both send and receive email. If you only include ONE then it may send but not receive.

4. Another option for e-mail is to use a POP3 server such as VPop which you can download at PSCS.co.uk They offer a 30 day free trial so it may give you an idea of whats involved. Another option is Sharemail (don`t have an URL for that one) which isn`t too bad but doesn't seem to like you trying to set up more than 3 users. The other machines on the network just need to have their e-mail software configured to collect mail from the Win98 machine by using the IP address of the machine that VPop is installed on and a minor bit of configuration on the VPop server and you`re away.

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Here you have a printer attached to the Windows 98 machine which you would like to share with the Windows for Workgroups 3.11 machine.

On the Windows 98 Machine:

1. Open Control Panel | Printers
2. Right-click the printer you would like to share and select 'Sharing' in the context menu
   
   If Sharing is not an option you may have not enabled File and Printer Sharing in the Networks settings in Control Panel
   
   
3. In the Sharing tab of the Printer properties make sure the 'Share As' button is selected and assign a name (essential), e.g. EPSON, a comment (optional) and password (optional).
4. Click OK

On the Windows for Workgroups 3.11 machine

1. First install the printer drivers for the printer you wish to connect to.
   
   In my case it is the Windows 3.1x driver for the Epson Stylus Color 440 which can be found on the Epson CD-ROM -- I installed it over the network from the CD-ROM drive on the Win98 machine.
2. Open Print Manager
3. On the menubar select Printer | Connect Network Printer...
4. In the dialog select a Device Name: -- your options are LPT 1:, LPT 2: or LPT 3: -- select one which is currently free.
5. You can now either assign a PATH: manually, or...
6. Allow Windows to work it out for you. Navigate the network in the "Show Shared Printers on" and "Shared Printers" boxes. When you select a printer the PATH: box is automatically completed.
7. Click OK.

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• Install Zone Alarm — Personal FireWall
  (Free for personal use).



• Review your 'binding' options in Control Panel | Networks — read the excellent advice and directions on the Shields Up website.

I have included more information about PC security on my Security page.

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