Cable Dude Speaks!

OK, this guy calls himself 'Dudes' and he kind of spells phonetically, especially after he's had a few. You will notice this effect starting to appear near the end of the message.
This is actually better than me, since I just spell with the wrong letters after I've had a few. Or worse. I recently spilled wine into my keyboard and was unable to type p, l, k, or m, which turns out to be far more limiting that one would expect. I never liked that keyboard much anwyay.
Anyway, the Dude has spoke...
here'z wot he sez.
U will probably find what u need here!
J.

I`ve got many requests on teaching ppl how to setup their networks. I`m planning to put all these info on the web. (Till I find the time to do so).

So in the meantime, here`s a brief one.

Minimum you need 2 pcs. (to keep things simple I use 2 pcs)

1st PC (Server)
2nd PC (Client)

You need to set one PC as a proxy server and the other as a client. Which means at any time your client wants to log on to the internet, your server has to be switched on!!!!

You CANNOT have your Client PC connected to the internet without switching on your Server PC!!

You need 1 NIC (Ethernet Card) on each PC only. So total is 2 NICs. You need 1 HUB, you can get a 5 port or 8 port, most ppl go for the 8 port ones as it is only slightly more expensive than a 5 port. Then again if you do not plan to have more than 4 PCs connected, there is abolutely no need to get a 8 port HUB.

On most new HUBs there is 4 direct ports and 1 daisy chain port with switch for polarity change.

You must understand that at present your cable modem is connected as a direct connection to your PC. Peer to peer networking is done with a Crossover Cable. To find out about the difference between a Direct Cable and a Crossover cable, go to http://www.johnscloset.net/wiring/crossover.html

Basically a crossover is a cable with pins 1 crossed to pin 3 and pin 2 crossed to pin 6. (u may need to go to a cable shop and ask them to customise for u).

I`ll now talk about hardware arrangements. Once you got your NIC fitted (on both PCs). Connect the T568A DIRECT cable from each PC to the HUB`s Direct port. Connect your cable modem to the HUB`s daisy chain port. And make sure the switch is on the daisy change polarity. If your HUB does not have a daisy chain port, u need to get a T568A Crossover cable explained above!! (if u do not have a daisy chain port, u cannot use a direct cable!!!)

See chart for connections.

For software configurations.

I`m assuming you are familiar with hardware installations and driver installations.

You have to install your NIC driver yourself.
We first talk about peer to peer networking.
Go to control panels, Networking,
Please remove all previous protocols installed when u first set up your cable modem.
Please also remove the Dial-Up Adaptor (in Networking) if u have a dial up modem installed as well.
You will reinstall it later after you`ve finished configuring ur cable network.
This is essential to trick Win 95 into creating a second TCP/IP protocol binding to your NIC (or else u need to have 2 NIC installed for your server PC).
** this is the secret key to only using 1 NIC instead of 2!!!
Choose add protocols, microsoft, IPX protocol, (for both your pc to communicate with one another), Add TCP/IP as well on both your pcs TCP/IP can also be used to communicate with the other pc, but its more troublesome , (for me I prefer to have 2 sets of protocols for communication, IPX for internal network communications and TCP/IP for internet communications)
For both PC use the default settings for the IPX protocols.

For server PC1

Create a second TCP/IP protocol.
Configure the first TCP/IP protocol as like your normal
cable modem configurations. Eg let server assign IP address.

For the second TCP/IP protocol, you have to assign your own IP address. To be on the safe side I`ll specify for you.

Use 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask use 255.255.255.0
Leave the rest as default.

For Client PC2

You only have 1 TCP/IP protocol and IPX protocol you installed earlier above.
Configure the TCP/IP protocol,
Assign your own IP address, use 192.168.0.2 (please take note if u got more
PCs clients, use xxx.xxx.0.3 and 4 and so on)
Subnet Mask use 255.255.255.0

You need to use a proxy/firewall software for your client PC to access the Server PC. Software more commonly used are Winproxy and WinGate You can download them from the TuCows Website.

Both are Shareware and u need to register them after 30 days. WinGate is quite unstable under Win95, and its documentation sucks. But it is still the more commonly used because it offers free usage for 2 pcs (1 server, 1 client).

Winproxy is the user friendly software, almost auto config. but will self disable after 30 days. Documentation is best. But expensive to register.

Decide yourself which u wan to use. I`m using Wingate. Follow the instructions for installation. (U`ll realised that the TCP/IP configuration covered by wingate and winproxy, I`ve covered a fair bit above. that should help u alot already).

All these info I took mths to gather and find out. So u r a lucky one.. (maybe u owe me a drink huh??)

But if u know total nuts abt hardware and technical stuffs, tough luck. U`ll most prolly have to pay ppl to do it for u.

All the best for ur installation, and have Fun!!!

Dudes

Mail John

21 April 2000