Get Configuration Information with ipconfig /all

The ipconfig /all command lets you easily view a computer’s connection information. If you know a little about TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), you know that computers communicate on a network and over the Internet by using specific numbers called IP addresses, and these addresses distinguish them from other computers on the network. IP addresses are created from four sets of numbers, one to three digits each, such as 192.168.0.5.Each computer on a network must be configured with an IP address that is different from every other on the network, the same way a computer must have a computer name that is distinct. If you’ve created a home network (workgroup) using the Network Setup Wizard, these IP addresses were created automatically.

When performing advanced troubleshooting, you’ll want to verify that all IP addresses on the network have the same pattern of numbers. For instance, if the IP addresses of three of the four computers on the network take the form 192.168.0.x, where x represents a single-digit number, the other computer’s IP address must also follow that form. Again, each IP address must be distinct, which means in this example that x must be unique for each address. While IP addresses are similar but different, subnet masks are all the same. A subnet mask tells the computers who is on their network, and who is not. A computer with a different subnet mask from the others will not be reachable. An example of a subnet mask is 255.255.255.0.

When computers on a network can’t communicate, and you want to perform advanced troubleshooting, you can find out what IP address each computer has been assigned by using the ipconfig /all command. The information output by ipconfig /all may give you insight as to the problem. Figure 8-19 shows an example of the output. Notice the IP address and subnet mask for this computer.

To get this information and troubleshoot connectivity on the network, at each computer:

1. Click Start | All Programs | Accessories | Command Prompt.
2. At the command prompt, type ipconfig /all.
3. Locate the IP address for the local area connection, generally under Ethernet Adapter. Verify that the IP addresses are all similar, 192.168.0.x, where x is unique for each so that there are no duplicate
   addresses.
4. Locate the subnet mask for the local area connection, generally under Ethernet Adapter. Verify that the subnet mask for all computers is 255.255.255.0.

If you find a computer that does not have the correct IP address or subnet mask, you need to correct it. There are multiple ways to do this. One way is to run the Network Setup Wizard again. Another is to change the network settings in the Properties dialog box of My Computer:

1. At each computer, right-click My Computer, choose Properties, and click the Computer Name tab.
2. Note what each workgroup name is, and what each computer name is. On the computer that has been deemed the problem computer, click Change.
3. In the Computer Name Changes dialog box, type in a new name for the computer if the name is not distinct on the network. Type in the correct workgroup name. Click OK.
4. Click OK twice more, and then click Yes to restart the computer.
5. Verify that you can reach network resources. If you cannot, run the Network Setup Wizard again on all computers. This will most likely not be necessary.

Simple Security with Simple File Sharing

You can apply security effortlessly to your shared folders with Simple File Sharing. As mentioned briefly in the previous section, there are two technologies for applying permissions to shared folders. If you have Windows XP Home Edition, you only have one choice: use Simple File Sharing. If you have Windows XP Professional and your hard drive is formatted with NTFS, you have a second choice: disable Simple File Sharing, configure your own share permissions, and use NTFS advanced permissions.

Simple File Sharing is a security setting that’s either on or off. If it’s on, the folder is shared and you have a few basic choices for how you’ll share it. If it’s off, there’s no sharing of the folder. When you turn off Simple File Sharing, you have access to more options. Specifically, you can state which users or groups of users can do what to the folder and its contents. While this offers a higher level of security and options, it’s easy to mess up. It’s up to you to decide what you’d rather use. I suggest starting with Simple File Sharing enabled, and if you decide later you need more options, disable it and use the advanced security features.

To apply security using Simple File Sharing, you first need to verify that Simple File Sharing is enabled. Of course, this only applies to users of Windows XP Professional, since it is enabled by default on Windows XP Home Edition and is the only choice:

1. Open Control Panel and, if in Category view, select Appearance And Themes. Select Folder Options.
2. On the View tab, make sure Use Simple File Sharing (Recommended) is checked. Click OK.

To apply Simple File Sharing permissions:

1. Locate the folder to share from the Desktop or by using Windows Explorer. To locate a folder in Windows Explorer, right-click Start, choose Explore All Users, expand Documents And Settings, look under your username, and locate the folder to share.
2. Right-click the folder and click Sharing And Security.
3. On the Sharing tab, check Share This Folder On The Network. To give permission for other users on the network to change the files in the folder, also check Allow Network Users To Change My Files.
4. You can also choose to drag the folder selected to the Shared Documents folder. To do that, click Shared Documents, wait for the Shared Documents window to open, and drag the folder into it. After doing so, anyone who logs onto your computer using any user account can access the data as well.
5. If you did not perform Step 4, click OK to apply the changes in the Properties dialog box.

Use the Network Setup Wizard

If you’re setting up the network for the first time or just need to repair the network you have, use the Network Setup Wizard. After your network is set up physically, you can use the Network Setup Wizard to configure it virtually. There are alternate ways to set up the network, but this is by far the fastest and easiest. For the best network performance possible, you should follow the setup directions to the letter.

If you already have a network set up but are having problems with it, running the wizard again may also solve these problems. The Network Setup Wizard locates your shared Internet connection, enables the Internet Connection Firewall, enables and configures a network bridge if the Windows XP computer has more than one NIC, and gives you the opportunity to name (or resolve naming problems for) each computer on the network. (A network will fail if more than one computer has the same name.) Once the network is set up (or  connected), you can then share files and folders, share media, play games on the network, and surf the Web simultaneously on all computers in the house.

The Network Setup Wizard can be run on computers installed with Windows 98, Windows 98SE, Windows Me, and Windows XP Home or Professional. It cannot be run on Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 Server editions. There is information in the help files to add the latter.

Before starting the Network Setup Wizard, verify that you’ve chosen a computer to act as the host and supply the shared Internet connection. The host should be the one connected to the Internet and thus should be a single computer, as detailed in the previous section. Then, do the following:

• Verify that all hardware is installed on each computer and that it is working properly.
• Turn on all computers, printers, scanners, etc.
• At the host computer, connect to the Internet.

With that done, work your way through the wizard. At the host computer:

1. Choose Start | All Programs | Accessories | Communications | Network Setup Wizard. Click Next to begin.
2. Read the Before You Continue page, and click Next.
3. Since you’re configuring the host computer, on the Select A Connection Method page, select This Computer Connects Directly To The Internet. The Other Computers On My Network Connect To The Internet Through This Computer. Click Next.

4. On the Select Your Internet Connection page, choose the connection that you use to access the Internet. It may be chosen already. In this figure, there are three: an Internet connection that uses a modem, a 1394 FireWire connection for a digital video (DV) camera, and a local area connection using a NIC. Click Next.

5. If your host computer has multiple connections, you can either let the wizard decide what’s best for you, or configure the settings yourself. It’s wisest to choose Let Me Choose The Connections To My Network. If you’re wary of doing it yourself, though, choose Determine The Appropriate Connections For Me (Recommended) and skip to Step 7.

6. On the Select The Connections To Bridge page, select the local area connection that connects your host computer to the others on your network. Uncheck the others, the FireWire connection s unchecked because it is not the connection for the LAN; the NIC s. Click Next.

7. On the next wizard page, type a computer description if desired, and a omputer name. The computer’s name must be distinct on the network. Click Next.

8. On the Name Your Network page, select a workgroup name. By default, that name is MSHOME. If you’re repairing a network and don’t know the current workgroup name, click Start, right-click My Computer, choose Properties, and then click the Computer Name tab. The workgroup name will be there. Click Next.

9. Click Next to begin the process of applying your network settings.

Once that’s complete, the next step is to get the appropriate network setup files on the other computers in your network. In my opinion, the easiest and most reliable choice is to create a floppy disk and carry it from computer to computer. You can also use the Windows XP CD, but sometimes that’s not available, especially with computers purchased from retail computer chains, where computers come with “restore disks” instead of the actual Windows XP CD. So, when prompted with the screen, select Create A Network Setup Disk. (If your newer computers don’t have floppy drives, you’ll have to use the Windows XP CD, or choose Create A Network Setup Disk, save the files to your hard drive, burn them onto a CD-R, and use that for the setup disk.)

Depending on the choice you make on the page, the wizard continues in one of various directions. If you’ve chosen to create a floppy disk, you’ll need to choose the drive, format the disk, and make the copy. If you’ve chosen to use the Windows XP CD, there isn’t much left to do but prepare the other computers.

For the other computers on the network:

1. Insert the network setup disk into the floppy drive.
2. Click Start | My Computer, and select the disk.
3. Double-click netsetup.
4. If you’re using a CD, input the CD, select Perform Additional Tasks and then Set Up A Home Or Small Office Network.
5. You’ll work your way through the wizard the exact same way as before, except in the dialog box that asks you to define your connection, choose This Computer Connects To The Internet Through Another Computer On My Network Or Through A Residential Gateway.

After all computers have been configured, at each computer, open My Network Places. In the Network Tasks pane, select View Workgroup Computers. Each computer should appear within 15 minutes. If a specific computer does not appear, verify that the connections are secure, and run the Network Setup Wizard again on it. Figure 8-8 shows a successful and functional network setup.

Avoid a Common Problem: Duplicate Files

Share files, folders, and media so they can be viewed and edited from any computer on the network. One of the main problems with multiple-computer households is duplicate data. Junior creates a movie of his garage band and tweaks it on his computer in Movie Maker 2, then saves it. He then sends the data to a shared folder for all of his family members to see, but does not delete it from its original location. This happens with family photos too, especially vacation pictures.

Everyone has a digital camera, has pictures stored on their own hard drive, and has spread multiple copies all around. This problem is also common with attachments received via e-mail. Instead of saving the funny picture of the dog in the dress to the hard drive in a shared location, the picture is forwarded via e-mail to everyone. It’s then on everyone’s hard drive instead of in a single, shared location.

Because of the massive amount of duplicate data on most home networks, it’s best to take control right away, creating shared folders on each computer or learning how to access the default ones, and put all data to be shared in it. The first step is to create a folder on the host computer that you will use to share data with everyone on the network :

1. Right-click an empty area of the Desktop, point to New, and click Folder. Name the folder.
2. Right-click the folder and choose Sharing And Security. You’ll see the folder’s Properties dialog box.
3. The Properties dialog box shown in Figure 8-9 is the one you’ll see if you have Windows XP Professional and have Simple File Sharing disabled. If that’s the case, check Share This Folder On The Network, and click OK. If you see what’s shown in Figure 8-10, you’re either using Windows XP Home Edition or using Windows XP Professional with Simple File Sharing enabled. If that’s the case, select Share This Folder.

4. Move what you want to share into this folder.

At each of the networked computers, create a link to this folder (all files stored here by you on your computer can be accessed by anyone on the network) :

1. Click Start | Control Panel and, if in Category view, select Network And Internet Connections. Select My Network Places. If in Classic view, select My Network Places in the Other Places pane.
2. In the Network Tasks pane, select Add A Network Place. Click Next to start the wizard.
3. When prompted, select Choose Another Network Location, and click Next.
4. In the Add Network Place Wizard, click Browse.
5. In the Browse For Folder dialog box, expand Entire Network | Microsoft Windows Network. Locate your workgroup name and expand that, and then select the computer that holds the shared folder. Click OK.
6. Click Next, type a name for the new network place, and click Finish. The file can now be accessed on
   the networked computer.
7. Repeat these steps for each computer on the network, allowing each user to create one shared folder, and the others to connect to it using the Add Network Place Wizard.

Windows XP comes with shared folders already created, too. To find those, right-click Start, choose Explore All Users, expand Documents And Settings under the Local Disk, expand All Users, and select Shared Documents. Share this folder, and others only need to link to this folder to have access to items you put there.

Share and Share Alike: Internet Connection Sharing

Therefs no need to have multiple Internet accounts or connections for every computer on the network; just turn on Internet Connection Sharing.

Once your computers are networked, you can share a single computer’s Internet connection with all members on that network. In the old days, you had to have an Internet connection and account for each computer in the home, but not anymore. If you’re still running a setup like that, it’s time to move forward. If you’ve just networked a second computer, it’s time to get that one connected to the Internet.

The first decision youfll make is what computer is going to be the host. The host should meet the following requirements:

• It should be running Windows XP Home or Professional.
• It must be set up to run most of the time. If the computer is not on, others on the network will not have Internet access.
• If more than one computer meets the first two requirements, but also has DSL, broadband, or a cable modem, choose the fastest computer as the host.

Each network computer that will share this connection must meet the following requirements:

• It must have a NIC and be able to connect to the network.
• If it has Internet Sharing capabilities, they must be disabled.
• It must be running Windows 98 or higher.

To enable Internet Connection Sharing on the designated host computer (or to disable it on any other computer on the network that is not acting as the host):

1. Open Network Connections. There are two ways: right-click My Network Places and choose Properties; or from Control Panel, select Network And Internet Connections (if in Category Mode), and then choose Network Connections.
2. Decide which connection is the connection to the Internet. It wonft be the Local Area Connection. Figure 8-2 shows a variety of choices. The correct choice in this instance is under Dial-Up and is named, appropriately, Internet.
3. Right-click this connection and choose Properties.
4. In the Internet Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
5. Under Internet Connection Sharing, check Allow Other Network Users To Connect Through This Computer’s Internet Connection. Depending on your preferences, enable or do not enable the other two choices. Each has to do with how much control over this connection other network users will have.
6. When finished, click OK.

Get Physical with Wired Networks

There are lots of ways to network computers; choose the easiest and most efficient option. If you’re looking for the fastest, easiest, and least expensive way to put together a network, look no further. If you have a network that’s set up with a network server and it’s giving you fits, consider switching. In this section, you’ll learn all you need to know to put a workgroup together quickly. With the proper hardware, you’ll be up and running in no time.

You’ll need to verify that each computer you want to connect has a network card. To find out:

1. Either from the Start menu or from the Desktop, right-click My Computer and choose Properties.
2. In System Properties, click the Hardware tab.
3. Under the Device Manager section, select Device Manager.
4. In the Device Manager window, click the View menu, and verify that Devices By Type is selected. If it isn’t, select it.
5. Locate Network Adapters and expand it.
6. Look for something that is called a NIC (network interface card). If you can’t find this, you don’t have a NIC installed.
7. If you locate the NIC but it has a red X or a yellow exclamation point beside it, right-click the item and click Install. If that doesn’t work, right-click the item and click Update Driver. If the card still doesn’t show up properly in Device Manager, use Windows Update or visit your manufacturer’s web site for upgraded drivers or software. If the card still won’t work, it may be nonfunctional, and you may need to replace it.

If you have a computer you want to connect that does not have a NIC or has a nonfunctioning NIC, you’ll have to install a new one. If you’ve installed a card before, you can probably install this one. If you’ve never opened the computer, you’re better off taking it to a technician. For most newer Windows XP computers, you’ll be looking for a 10/100 Ethernet NIC for a PCI slot. However, if you aren’t sure, take it to a service technician or computer store.

Once all of your computers have NICs, you need to purchase a networking device (hub, switch, or router) and some Ethernet cables. The hub, switch, or router is a small piece of hardware that plugs into a wall outlet. It has inputs for connecting the Ethernet cables. The cables run from the networking device to the computer’s NIC. Thus, you’ll need one networking device, a NIC, and an Ethernet cable for each computer you plan to connect.

Visit your local computer store and speak with a salesperson for more information on the available hardware

Finally, your Internet service provider (ISP) may set up your network for free. If you have broadband or DSL, the company may provide a router and send a technician to your house to set it up. In most instances, they’ll also set up a wireless connection between that router and the other computers in your home, if you have the required hardware. If that’s the case, you need not worry about it yourself.

Get Connected : The Home Network

If you have two or more computers, you can create a network for sharing resources and data. There are several ways to create a network:

• Connect the computers using a networking device (hub, switch, or router), network interface cards, and cables This is a good way to create a very effective and secure small or home business workgroup.
• Configure a network using Windows Server 2003 This is an OS that’s used to create larger networks called domains. Domains, though more secure, are much more difficult to configure and maintain than workgroups, and setting them up is generally the job of a network administrator or certified technician. In addition, they are mostly used in larger companies and corporations who have the
  resources and know-how to maintain such.
• Create a wireless network This requires purchasing the hardware separately, and then installing and configuring it. At this time, most computers ship with the wired network in mind.

For the simplest, most efficient, and easy-to-manage network possible, most current home and small business users choose the first option, the wired workgroup. The hardware is inexpensive, the setup is simple, and the software for setting up the network is included with Windows XP. Moving from this workgroup to wireless later is an option, but almost all computers these days come with the required hardware for the wired option.