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1. Introduction 1.1 What is TCP/IP Access to a network computer?
TCP/IP provides "network-level"
access via telephone-and-modem from your home computer to a network
computer and to the worldwide Internet. With TCP/IP access, you
are able to use the same microcomputer client software that you
might use on a computer with a direct (Ethernet) connection to
a network computer: Telnet, Netscape, Microsoft Internet Explorer,
FTP, POPmail programs such as Eudora, Netscape Mail, Microsoft
Internet Mail, Microsoft Exchange Mail, and so on.
By comparison, conventional
telephone-and-modem access to a network computer and the Internet
involves using a simpler communications program, HyperTerminal
for example, so that your computer can emulate a terminal. This
enables you to log into a large host computer where you may be
able to use Telnet, Lynx, FTP, and E-mail, but only with the host-provided
interface.
When connected via TCP/IP,
your computer temporarily becomes a part of a network computer.
The home computer uses a modem, and only relatively small quantities
of data can be moved quickly across its link. Hence, some common
Internet activities (such as downloading large files or accessing
and displaying remote graphics files) may proceed slowly. 1.2 Obtaining an Account and Other Requirements
In order to use TCP/IP, you
must obtain a network computer TCP/IP Account from an internet
provider. Look in your local yellow pages, under Internet or Computers
for available internet providers.
The network computer TCP/IP
Account is a special kind of account which permits you to dial
into a special modem pool at your internet provider and access
the network with TCP/IP-based software. It is not
an account on a computer you log into and use for e-mail or other
communications purposes. To have an e-mail account, you must subscribe
to another online provider or the same internet provider as your
TCP/IP account, but you must also request and probably pay for
the e-mail account. To summarize: a network computer TCP/IP Account- permits network-level TCP/IP access
to a network computer
Most network providers support
the following IBM-type PC hardware/software configuration for
TCP/IP access to a network computer: * IBM-type PC running Microsoft Windows 3.x and Windows 95 * 10 megabytes or more of free hard disk space * High-density floppy disk drive * Trumpet Winsock TCP/IP software running on Windows * Any error-correcting modem. A 9600/14400 bps or 28.8+ Kbps modem is strongly advised. To support speeds greater than 14400 bps, a
modem should support the
V.34 high-speed modem standard.
To use your new TCP/IP account
with Windows 95 you must have both your modem and Dial-up Networking
properly installed and configured. To configure your modem check
the on-line help for Windows 95 or the manual for your modem.
Please note that after you complete some of these steps Windows
95 may suggest that you restart your computer. Follow the instructions
that Windows 95 recommends and then continue configuring Dial-Up
Networking where you left off. To configure Dial-Up Networking
please read all of the following information. If you already have
dial up networking installed skip to section 3.
This document describes requirements
and installation procedures for using Microsoft Windows 95 for
remote access to a network computer.
Many other hardware and software
configurations in addition to those listed above are possible,
and a wide variety of commercial software packages supporting
TCP/IP access are available. 1.3 What Phone Number Do I Call?
The phone number of the network
computer TCP/IP modem pool is given to you when you subscribe
to your internet provider. This is the number you call to connect
to the network computer and the internet.
2. Installation 2.1 Software Requirements * Microsoft Windows 95 with Dial up networking installed
* TCP/IP software, e.g. Netscape,
Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.2 Hardware Requirements * 4 or more megabytes of memory * 10 megabytes or more of free hard disk space * High-density floppy disk drive * Error-correcting modem, configured for hardware (RTS/CTS) flow control; a 9600 bps modem or faster is strongly advised; a modem
faster than 14400 bps should
be a V.34 standard modem 2.3 Installation Checklist
Check off each of the following
items as you make sure you've met the stated requirement or followed
the specific installation instructions for each. ____ 2.3.1 Hardware and Software requirements Does your PC meet the software and hardware requirements
stated in section 2.1 and
2.2 above? ____ 2.3.2 Account(s) obtained Have you obtained your network computer TCP/IP Account
username and password? ____ 2.3.3 Software obtained Have you obtained the PC software described in Section 2.1
above? ____ 2.3.4 Networking software installed Have you installed optional software provided by your Internet provider and/or have you installed Netscape or
Microsoft Internet Explorer?
____ 2.3.5 Configuring Dial-Up Networking: Double click the My Computer icon located on the Windows 95 desktop and look for a folder inside of it called Dial Up Networking. If it is present go to step 2.3.6. If it is
not, then go to the next
step. Click on the Start button from the taskbar, then select Settings, and then Control Panel. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon. Select the Windows Setup tab, then click on the Communications option and press Details. Make sure that the Dial-up Networking option is selected and click OK and then again. Windows 95 will attempt to install the needed drivers, so make sure you have your Windows 95 installation disks or CD readily available. Follow the Windows 95 installation instructions and continue with the TCP/IP Dial account setup. Please note that you will probably have to restart your computer after installing Dial-Up Networking, so you might want to quit any applications you have running before proceeding. At some point through the installation procedure you will be prompted to put in a Windows username and password and your workgroup name. Put in any information that you like and click OK. ____ 2.3.6 Verify that the Dial-up Adapter and TCP/IP Protocol are installed: Pressing the start button from the taskbar, next select Settings, and then Control Panel. When the Control Panel folder opens double-click the Network Icon. Click on the Configuration tab and make sure that the Dial-Up Adapter and TCP/IP protocol are present. If they are both installed go to step 2.3.7. If the Dial-Up Adapter is not present go to
the next item. If the TCP/IP
protocol is not installed skip the next item and go on to the
one after it.
To add the Dial-Up Adapter,
click on the Add button, double- click Adapter, select the Microsoft
option by scrolling through the available list of choices, then
choose the Dial- Up Adapter and click OK.
To install TCP/IP, click
on the Add button, double-click on the Protocol option, then select
the Microsoft option, then select TCP/IP, and click OK. The Computer
will restart.
Check your Network settings
again. The Network dialogue box should now have the Dial-Up Adapter
and TCP/IP listed in it. Keep the Networking control panel dialogue
box open since there is still some configuration to do here. ____ 2.3.7 Configure the Dial-Up adapter to use the TCP/IP protocol:
From within the Networking
Configuration Dialogue box select the Dial-Up Adapter, click on
the Properties button, then click on the Bindings tab, and make
sure that the TCP/IP box is checked, click OK to close the Bindings
tab. Again do not close the Networking Dialogue Box. ____ 2.3.8 Configure your TCP/IP Protocol for Dynamic IP Addressing:
Click on the TCP/IP protocol
and press the Properties button. This will bring up the TCP/IP
Properties box. There are six sections in this dialogue box.
The IP Address Tab should be the first page to open. If it is not open then click on the tab called IP Address. Then click in the circle to select the Obtain an IP address
automatically option.
Select the WINS Configuration
Tab. Then click in the circle to Disable WINS.
Select the Gateway Tab. This
option should be left as it is, it will be supplied dynamically
once you are connected.
Select the Bindings Tab.
Check to see that Client for Microsoft Networks option is checked.
For the Advanced Tab, no
changes are required.
Select the DNS Configuration
and set up the following information: 1.Click on the circle to enable DNS. 2.Enter your user name in the Host box. 3.For Domain, put in the domain name provided to you by your internet provider. 4.In the DNS Server Search Order section, put in the IP address provided to you by your internet provider and press the Add button. 5.In the Domain Suffix Search Order section, type in the domain name provided to you by your internet provider and
press the Add button.
When you're all done setting
these options, press the OK button. Then press the OK button in
the Network dialog box. Windows 95 will ask you to restart the
computer, do so. ____ 2.3.9 Set up the Dial up Networking to Connect to the Internet Open up My Computer from the desktop and double-click the Dial-Up Networking icon. Double-click the Make New Connection icon. This will walk you through the
Make New Connection wizard.
Type in "TCP/IP Dial-Up Access" for the name of the computer you are dialing. Your modem (which should have been configured when you installed Windows 95) should be shown in the Select a modem area. Press the Configure button. Select the correct speed based on the following information: 9600Bps Data modem make the maximum speed 38400. 14.4KBps Data Modem make the maximum speed 57600.
28.8+KBps Data Modem make
the maximum speed 115200.
If you have an external modem
and you do not have a buffered serial port (a 16550 UART) select
19200 as the maximum speed. You can find out what type of serial
port you have by double clicking on the modem icon in the control
panel and clicking on the diagnostics tab for the correct com
port and clicking on the more info button. This may take a few
minutes. Regardless of your speed settings DO NOT select Only connect at this speed. By not selecting this you will allow your modem to negotiate the optimum connection with the TCP/IP
modem pool.
For the Connection section,
leave the default settings.
Select the Options section,
leave the Bring up terminal window after dialing unchecked and
click the OK button.
Click the Next button in
the Make New Connection wizard. 1.Enter in the phone number to connect to provided to you by your Internet provider for the phone number. Put in *70, (with the comma before the number) to disable Call Waiting if you have it. This will disable call waiting for this
call only.
2.Press the Finish button
and your icon will be created. ____ 2.3.10 Setting the Dial-Up Properties: Select your TCP/IP Dial-Up Access icon. Click the right
mouse button and choose Properties.
Click the Server Type button.
In the Type of Dial-Up Server
section choose the TCP/IP, Windows 95, Windows NT 3.5, Internet
server option.
Make sure that Log on to
network in the Advanced options section is not checked.
Also, make sure that TCP/IP
in the Allowed network protocols section is checked. Then press
the OK button. Click the OK button in the remaining dialog box,
then click OK again. ____ 2.4 Dialing in and Getting Connected: Double-click your TCP/IP Dial-Up Access icon that you recently made. You'll get the Connect To dialog box with a blank user-name and password field. Enter the information given to you from your internet provider (e.g. username and
password) in the appropriate
fields.
Press the Connect button
and your modem will start dialing. After a few rings, the TCP/IP
Modem pool will answer. The modems will try to connect at the
best rate possible, this may take a few seconds. If you get timed
out try connecting once more with the same settings. If after
trying once again your modem still does not connect check your
modem's initialization string.
Make sure your modem is on
and attached to a phone line. Select "Connect" from the Dialer menu. This selection runs a script which will attempt to connect to a network computer and login with your username and password. When dial-in is
completed, you can "minimize"
the TCP/IP window. Try running Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer: it will automatically attempt a connection to the World-Wide-Web. If you succeed in connecting to the Web, then the installation
was a success! When you are done and wish to disconnect from the Internet,
select "Disconnect"
from the TCP/IP status window. If your connection attempt fails, any of a large range of
things might have gone wrong.
Follow these steps:
-try connecting a second
time -check your configuration. Retrace your steps in setting
up your software
-see the troubleshooting
section of this document -if all fails, make careful notes of any error or warning messages you see on your screen and, at your next opportunity, send an e-mail message or call your internet
provider, and let them know
the details of what happened.
3. Application Notes
3.1 Windows 95 Specific Applications
Most of these applications
are available in 32 bit or Windows 95 specific versions. 3.2 Telnet (included with Windows 95) Check your Windows 95 documentation for information on the built in
telnet software. 3.3 Netscape Netscape must be configured with your name and electronic mail address in order to receive your e-mail. Select "Options",
"Preferences",
"Mail and Proxies" and fill in the fields: Mail Server: Your mail server name provided to you by your e-mail provider Your Name: Your name
Your E-mail: Your e-mail
address 3.4 Microsoft Internet Explorer Microsoft Internet Explorer must be configured with your name and electronic mail address in order to receive your e-mail. Select "Mail", "Options", "Server" from the Microsoft Internet Mail Menu and fill in the fields: Name: Your Name Organization: Your organization E-mail Address: Your e-mail address Outgoing Mail (SMTP): Your mail server name provided to you by your e-mail provider Incoming Mail (POP3): Your mail server name provided to you by your e-mail provider Account Name: Your internet account username
Password: Your internet account
password
4. Solving Problems The most common problems with TCP/IP dial-in and Microsoft Windows result from either a modem that has not been configured to use "hardware" (RTS/CTS) flow-control or from an attempt to communicate at a speed beyond the capabilities of Windows and the particular PC
being used. 4.1 Modem Hardware Flow-Control Most new modems shipped today are configured at the factory for "hardware" flow control; many older modems were not. If you experience communication problems - especially the symptom of successful initial dial-in connection but lack of success when running an application like Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer or Telnet - the safest course of action is to explicitly configure
your modem for hardware flow
control. 4.2 Attempting 28.8+ Kbps Communications Successful communications at 28.8+ Kbps is highly dependent upon telephone line quality; not all line characteristics affecting data communications are audible to the human ear. Connection quality can vary widely according to your location or time-of-day, or even the weather. As a result, connections can be "flaky", especially if the quality of the phone connection is just on the border of being adequate for full-speed 28.8+ Kbps communications. Sometimes things work better if you lower your connection speed to 19.2 Kbps. |