Figure 2141 in Software

Encode QR Code ISO/IEC18004 in Software Figure 2141

LAN Properties window showing Client for Microsoft Networks installed (along with other network software)

You can turn any Windows PC into a server, simply by enabling the sharing of files, folders, and printers Windows 2000 and XP have File and Printer Sharing installed but not activated by default, but activating it requires nothing more than a click on a checkbox next to the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks option, as you can see in Figure 2141

Try This!

If you have a network card installed in your PC, chances are extremely high that you already have one or more protocols or clients installed Try This! 1 2 Right-click My Network Places and select Properties Then double-click on the Local Area Connection icon Which protocols or clients are loaded If you have a classmate running through the same exercise, compare protocols Can your two machines connect and swap data

Almost halfway through the chapter and we re finally getting to the good stuff installing and configuring a network! To have network connectivity, you need to have three things in place:

NIC The physical hardware that connects the computer system to the network media Protocol The language that the computer systems use to communicate Network client The interface that allows the computer system to speak to the protocol

If you want to share resources on your PC with other network users, you also need to enable Microsoft s File and Printer Sharing This installs the services and software that turns a Windows PC into a server Plus, of course, you need to connect the PC to the network hub or switch via some sort of cable (preferably CAT 6 with Gigabit Ethernet cranking through the wires, but that s just me!) When you install a NIC, by default, Windows 2000 and XP Professional install the TCP/IP protocol, the Client for Microsoft Networks, and File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks upon setup

The NIC is your computer system s link to the network, and installing one is the first step required to connect to a network NICs are manufactured to operate on specific media and network types, such as 100BaseT Ethernet or 16 Mbps Token Ring Follow the manufacturer s instructions for installation If your NIC is of recent vintage, it will be detected, installed, and configured automatically by Windows 2000 or Windows XP You might need a driver disc or a driver download from the manufacturer s Web site if you install the latest and greatest Gigabit Ethernet card

The Add Hardware Wizard automates installation of non plug-and-play devices, or plug-and-play devices that were not detected correctly Start the wizard by clicking Start | Settings | Control Panel, and double-clicking the icon for the Add Hardware applet (Note that Windows 2000 calls this the Add/Remove Hardware applet) Click the Next button to select the hardware task you wish to perform, and follow the prompts to complete the wizard

If you have the option, you should save yourself potential headaches and troubleshooting woes by acquiring new, namebrand NICs for your Windows installation

To establish network connectivity, you need a network client installed and configured properly You need a client for every type of server NOS to which you plan to connect on the network Let s look at the two most used for Microsoft and Novell networks

Installed as part of the OS installation, the Client for Microsoft Networks rarely needs configuration, and, in fact, few configuration options are available To start it in Windows XP, click Start, and then right-click My Network Places and select Properties In Windows 2000, click Start | Settings | Network and Dial-up Connections In all versions of Windows, your next step is to double-click the Local Area Connection icon, click the Properties button, highlight Client for Microsoft Networks, and click the Properties button Note that there s not much to do here Unless told to do something by a network administrator, just leave this alone