Any Network Gurus out there?

[traveller]

I am trying to set up a micro-network here at home. I want my friend's XP notebook to be able to use the DSL and printer attached to my W2000 box. So far, I have been able to get both systems to admit that the other exists, and the W2k box can see the Shared Folders folder on the XP unit, but that's about it. I have (I think) enabled Internet Connection sharing on the W2k's "outside" Ethernet connection (the card that's connected to the DSL), but the notebook, which normally uses a dial-up connection, can't seem to get out. I have turned off the firewall on the XP, and ZoneAlarm on the W2k has the XP as a 'trusted' connection. What am I missing here, folks? I'm sure it's something simple, but I can't find anything in the Help files to point the way. Thanks in advance. I'm confident someone in this community knows what I've done wrong!

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

For windows Xp, i can help out. Go to start -> network connections. Check if the windows firewall is turned off on your LAN connection by going to the properties of your LAN connection. You can also turn off authentication, it can sometimes cause problems as well. Then click on "setup a home or small office network" in the panel on the left. Click next until you see the option "other", chose that one. Then choose the 3rd option, it saves a lot of hassles later on (unless you want the notebook connected to the internet through your pc, then choose the most appropriate option)*. Then click on "let me choose connections to my network" and only select the LAN connection that you use (deselect the others). Then give your computer a name and after that choose a name of the workgroup for your network where both of your pc's should be configured in. Clicking next again shows you a summary. If your printer is not shared yet you can do so after rebooting. Click finish and some stuff happens and you must reboot the computer. After that go to your printer properties and share it on the network and any other folders/drives you wish to share. Go through the same procedure for the other computer if there is a network wizard in W2k otherwise just make sure you have it connected via the LAN in the same network workgroup.

I hope this helps

*i have never actually managed to configure an internet connection though a computer to another that is not connected directly to the internet because of TCP/IP conflicts, so i wouldn't know what to do about this one.

[traveller]

Thanks, Rex. That streamlined things things on the notebook, but I still can't seem to get the win2k box to allow the traffic through.There is no Network Wizard in W2k, unfortunately, and the Help files are as useful as a politicians promise. One strange thing, though. When I run ipconfig on the notebook, it reports a connection to my dsl service provider. I'm wondering if maybe there's an authentication problem on the Web side of the connection. Any and all ideas gratefully accepted!:confused:

[traveller]

Yay!:biggrin: I figured it out! The whole problem was with my ZoneAlarm firewall configuration. It seems I had the doors bolted a little too securely. All is good now.

[Sheepeh]

=) While running ZA would show me that you're 330% more educated than your typical Microsofty, it always gets in the bloody way more than it "protects" against anything. To be perfectly frank, I see no reason to run a software firewall apart from a slight control over outbound programs, as anything that can crash Windows will take ZA with it!

As for outbound stuff, anything really trying can make it past ZA undetected. Personally, I run WindowsXP's own firewall (auto configured using it's own settings) (also Service Pack 2's version) and that's only to stop the easy things like the Blaster Worm (even though Kaspersky5 will kill it anyway).

The only thing with products like firewalls is that you can't see that they are doing anything by the sheer fact the "attackers" won't want to be seen! Anyway, I digress. The main point was just to suggest you update and lock down 2k, and dump ZA, cause of many problems. MS may be stupid, but anything based on 2k upwards can be secured enough so you don't need it ;)

[traveller]

=) The main point was just to suggest you update and lock down 2k, and dump ZA, cause of many problems. MS may be stupid, but anything based on 2k upwards can be secured enough so you don't need it ;) I know that XP has a built-in firewall, but I haven't found anything in W2k that makes me confident enough to ditch ZA. Of course, being self taught does have limitations, so please feel free to suggest options! Other than listening to QCD, learning is my favourite activity!:foureyes:

[Sheepeh]

Not at all mate, I'm entirely self taught, and I built and secure all my own kit. To be honest with you, you don't have to believe me in this - run ZA by all means if it makes you feel secure, it won't kill anything =)

It's just that anything based on the NT core is inherently safe (for reasonable non-illegal website based home use) (your milage may vary, Sheepeh Inc. not responsible for killing your computer;) )

As long as you go to windowsupdate.com and get all the updates on a regular basis, and turn off crap you don't need (http://www.blackviper.com to work out what you don't need) and run Spybot Search & Destroy occasionally, then the chances of you getting anything bad happen that ZA would protect you against that Windows couldn't reasonable handle are slim.

And I don't stick up for MS often ;)

That said mate, it's your computer, and you are quite entitled to do with it as you wish - it's all about choice =)

[traveller]

Why does it seem that the self-taught guys are so much better at providing useful advice than so-called "experts"? Thanks for the link to BlackViper, Sheepeh, I'll definitely check them out. I'm fairly ruthless with what I allow MS to install when it comes to OS components and updates, but I expect there are probably a few items I could live without. I like ZA as much for its outbound traffic control as for the front door it provides. Helps keep "rogue" programs indoors where I can kill 'em. AdAware and Search'n'Destroy are part of my arsenal, along with jv16 Powertools (alas, no longer freeware). The QCD forum is also part of my arsenal: I've learned a lot from everyone here, and I appreciate all the useful tips and tricks that have been so generously provided. I hope I have helped others in turn. Certainly I've learned more about my system than I expected, just trying to figure out why someone else's setup wasn't working right. It's been a great ride so far! Thanks to everyone who ever posted. Without you, I'd still be scratching my head about a lot of things:laugh:

[hedge]

Why does it seem that the self-taught guys are so much better at providing useful advice than so-called "experts"?
I can answer that one, we fiddle with things, and discover first hand what happens when we don't keep things updated, whereas experts are taught by other so called experts, and never actually experience anything... ;)

[Sheepeh]

we fiddle with things, and discover first hand what happens when we don't keep things updated, whereas experts are taught by other so called experts, and never actually experience anything... ;)
Ain't that the truth ;)

Also, we haven't paid £70000 for three letters at the end of our name, and we don't expect £40 an hour for helping out ;)

[MrZebra]

I would say that from experience, XP's built-in Firewall, ZoneAlarm, Norton Personal Firewall and other software firewall are all crap! They cause more problem than anything really.

- My mom using Norton's thingy, can't even get QCD to pick up CDDB info!
- My dad had problems connecting to my uncle for playing Combat Flight Simulator.
- I had problems connecting to my friend to play some shooter game because I forgot to disable XP's firewall shit.

What I recommend, is to get a hardware router/firewall, they are not too expensive anymore and will stop all incoming worms that exploit bugs in Windows's TCP/IP implementation and won't stop any wanted programs.

Oh and No, the fact I work for D-Link has nothing to do with me recommending people to use a router!

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

What I recommend, is to get a hardware router/firewall, they are not too expensive anymore and will stop all incoming worms that exploit bugs in Windows's TCP/IP implementation and won't stop any wanted programs.

I agree completely. A hardware firewall is the thing anyone should have. Software firewall programmes only cause problems and interferes with other software way too much in my opinion.

[rajneesh_guru@rediffmail.]

I am trying to setup a local Lan of 20 systems. In which 10 of them are thin clients that is they are without HDD. They have Bootp ROM on their NICs. I am using Windows 2000 server on one system which is acting as the Domain controller. So I need to know how to connect these thin clients in the network. Also can I provide printing support from these clients. Any Idea or Suggestion will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.