home networking with TCP/IP and Microsoft Windows

home networking with TCP/IP and Microsoft Windows: "TCP/IP Home Networking
and File Sharing Tutorial"

Im trying to setup my home pcs at home that are connected to the internet via a wireless router, into a little home network. here goes:

First,
Check Your Internet Connection
Ensure all of your computers can connect to the Internet. This is the best way to ensure that your computers have good connectivity between them and have TCP/IP loaded. If all of your computers can connect to the Internet, the rest of this tutorial will be a breeze.

DONE

Next,
Update Windows
All versions of Microsoft Windows have networking bugs - Windows 98, 98SE, ME, NT, 2000, XP all need important updates to work correctly. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you update Microsoft Windows with the latest patches to get your home network running correctly. Do this with the 'Windows Update' selection on your Start Menu Or see How to Update Windows for a step by step tutorial for each Microsoft operating system.

DONE

Configure Windows 2000
with NetBIOS over TCP/IP
From your desktop, right click the "My Network Places" and select Properties.
Be sure 'Client for Microsoft Networks" and "File and Printer Sharing" are both installed. If they are not installed, click the "Install Button" to install them now.
Next, select the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click Properties.
Next, click the Advanced Button
Select the WINS tab. Under the "NetBios Setting" area, select the "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP"

DONE

Make sure each computer is in the same workgroup
A 'workgroup' is simply a logical grouping of computers. On a home network, only a single workgroup is needed. If all of your computers are not in the same workgroup, they may not be able to see each other correctly. Just make one up and stick to it. Keep it simple and easy to remember.
Each computer should get the SAME WORKGROUP name and a DIFFERENT computer name. Again, keep all names simple and easy to remember.
Fun Network Naming Examples
Workgroup: Atom
Computers: Neutrino, Quark, Electron, Proton, Neutron, etc...
Workgroup: Sol
Computers: Earth, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, etc...
Workgroup: Milkeyway
Computers: Sirus, Centauri, Vega, Deneb, Canopus, Proxima, Rigil, etc...

Windows 2000
From your desktop, right click the "My Computer" icon and select Properties.
Next, Select the "Network Identification Tab" and click the "Properties button"
Type in the workgroup name you have selected and a unique computer name that is easy to remember.

THEN
Share a Folder on Each Computer
(All computers are configured)
A folder or printer must be shared on each computer for them to show up in your network neighborhood. The next set of pages will show you how to share a folder. Windows 2000 NOTE: You need to create a NEW SHARE. The default drive shares are not 'network shares'.

What is a network share?
A network share is a logical way for other computers to access portions of your hard drive. Other computers see the share on the network and can load and save data files just like a local hard drive. Remember, a network share just represents shared hard drive space - not shared programs. If a program was installed on computer A, you can't normally run it on computer B unless it gets installed there too.
Share a folder or the whole hard drive?
Many people turn their entire hard drive into a network share. I consider this fairly unwise - especially if you have a wireless (802.11b) network. Wireless networking is vulnerable to hackers. With only a few folders shared, only those folders can be easily attacked.
I always suggest creating a folder on your hard drive called 'shared' and sharing that. In this way, you will never have to wonder what files are shared and what files are not.
Create The Network Share
Create a folder on your hard drive and name it SHARE. Next, right click the new folder and select "Sharing". You should see a display like this.


Select "Share This Folder"
Then click the "Permissions Button"

DONE

User Security - IMPORTANT

An account needs to be created for each uniqe 'login' name on your network. For instance, if you log into a Windows 98 computer with the login name 'ted', then you must create a Windows 2000 login called 'ted'.
From the control panel, double click the admin tools icon. Next, click the Computer management icon. This will bring up a screen like the one below. From here, open the Local Users and Groups tree and add a new user by right clicking on the 'Users folder' and select 'Add new user' .

Create a user name that MATCHES the user name used to log into your other Windows computer. I would suggest assigning a password to this ID. I have sometimes had trouble using 'blank passwords'. You should also UNCHECK the 'User must change password' line and CHECK 'password never expires'.

DONE

User Security - IMPORTANT

An account needs to be created for each uniqe 'login' name on your network. For instance, if you log into a Windows 98 computer with the login name 'ted', then you must create a Windows 2000 login called 'ted'.
From the control panel, double click the admin tools icon. Next, click the Computer management icon. This will bring up a screen like the one below. From here, open the Local Users and Groups tree and add a new user by right clicking on the 'Users folder' and select 'Add new user' .

Create a user name that MATCHES the user name used to log into your other Windows computer. I would suggest assigning a password to this ID. I have sometimes had trouble using 'blank passwords'. You should also UNCHECK the 'User must change password' line and CHECK 'password never expires'.

From your windows 98/98se/me computer, you will see this IPC$ dialog box when trying to access a Windows 2000 network share.
Just use the password you assigned to the user name you logged into the Windows 98/98SE/ME computer with

DONE

THEN
Mapping Drives, Browsing the network
First of all, reboot your computers! We just made a load of configuration changes! When your computers start up, give them a minute or so to become 'aware' of each other. Sometimes you will get error messages if you try to access your network neighborhood too soon.
Tell me more about Network Browsing, Searching and Mapping network drives

DONE


Using your Network for file sharing
Have you rebooted your computers recently? We just made a load of configuration changes so be sure to reboot them! When your computers start up, give them a minute or so to become 'aware' of each other. Sometimes you will get error messages if you try to access your network neighborhood too soon.
Next, open your 'Network Neighborhood' or 'My Network Places'. If you do not immediately see your other computers, you may have to drill through the 'entire network' selection.
Once you locate another computer, double click it to view the network shares available. You can right click a network share and select 'Map Network Drive'. This lets you map the share to a local drive letter - like F:. Now you can use that share just like a local hard drive.

In this picture, drive F: is a network share called 'shared' on a computer called 'dual800'
I can't find the other computer!
Try using the 'search for computer' command
Try to map the share into a drive letter manually
Search for a Computer on your network
Sometimes using the "Search for Computers..." command will force your system to find the other computer. Simply right click the "Network Neighborhood" or "My Network Places" icon on your desktop and select "Search for Computers".
You should now see a screen that looks like the this

Type in the full name of the computer you need to find and click search. Remember when I said to keep the computer names simple? This is why!!
Once the computer is found, double click it and map the share into a network drive. You may start seeing this computer in your network neighborhood now too!
If you still can not locate the computer, try manually mapping the drive
Map a Network Drive
First, collect the COMPUTER NAME and SHARE NAME that you wish to map. Next, right click the "Network Neighborhood" or "My Network Places" icon on your desktop and select "Map Network Drive".
A screen like this should appear
Select an drive letter and then type in the full path to the network share on the other computer. The syntax of the share should be \\computername\sharename as shown above. In this example drive F: will be mapped to a network share called 'shared' on a computer called 'dual800'
Example of a mapped share in Explorer

In this picture, drive F: is a network share called 'shared' on a computer called 'dual800'
You are Finished with this tutorial!
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