Introduction

In this article we are continuing a series under the overall heading "OS/2 Networking". Last week we began with a brief overview and a look at the advantages of doing a fresh install. This week we will start the actual network install process.

Before we begin, however, it will be helpful to delineate the two main components of OS/2 Networking: File and Print Client, frequently called "Peer Networking" or "Peer Services" and TCP/IP Services: ¹

• File and Print Services allow sharing of computer resources (disks, printers, modem) across a LAN. The definitive characteristic of a peer network is that it has no server, i.e. a computer dedicated to providing services (files, communications, etc.) to the others. All computers on a peer network are workstations, typically in use as personal computers. (For more information on the difference between these two network types, see the article, Client-Server v. Peer-to-Peer.)

• TCP/IP Services allow you to use a modem or internet-enabled LAN to access resources world-wide and communicate with people anywhere in the world.

Now, let's continue from last week by installing the OS/2 Networking sotware.

5. Install OS/2 Warp 4 Networking

   From the "OS/2 Warp Setup and Installation" menu, check "File and Print Client" and "TCP/IP Services". Leave the others unchecked:

   1. File and Print Client

   2. TCP/IP Services

   3. Remote Access Client

   4. System Management Client

   5. Netware Client

   6. Mobile Office Services

   7. Click on "Next".

6. Configure Networking Services

   Note: The following order is taken from Getting to Know OS/2 Warp 4 by IBM. The order in which the items are listed in the Warp Install menu is apparently not the optimal method.

   1. Network Adapters and Protocol Services

      1. Click on  >  graphic.

      2. Unless your LAN adapter, or Network Interface Card (NIC), is in the list, click on the "Other Adapter" button.

      3. Insert the install diskette or CD that came with your LAN adapter and enter the complete path of the directory containing the OS/2 driver. If NDIS-compatible drivers are available, you can use these.

      4. Click on "OK".

      5. Select the entry matching your NIC (e.g. "LinkSys EtherFast 10/100") and make sure "Ethernet" is selected.

      6. Click on "OK".

      7. After the drivers have been copied, click on "OK" again.

      8. Verify that your NIC is in the configuration and that at least NetBios and TCP/IP protocols are present.

         TIP

         • Use the "Settings" button to enter the MAC address for each card into the Parameters box. This will ensure the NIC's and related software will always be initialized to the same values and could prevent problems down the road.

      9. If any settings are necessary for your particular NIC, change them here using the "Settings" button.

      10. If you have more than one NIC, then add the second, third, etc. cards using the "Add Adapter" button.

          • For each card, click on the "Settings" button and change the "Slot number" to "2", "3", etc.

      11. If you add additional NIC's that require additional protocols, add them using the "Add Protocol" button on each adapter as described above. Note that the protocol number must be different only from the same protocol on different cards. (Normally you should be able to accept the default protocol number.)

   2. File and Print Sharing Services (Client)

      NOTE: DO NOT CLICK ON INSTALL BEFORE YOU HAVE CONFIGURED ALL THE OPTIONS IN THE MENU!

      1. Click on blue bar

         Subject to the following conditions, the specific values in this section are not critical.

         • "Workstation name" for this computer must be DIFFERENT from all other computers on the LAN.

         • "Workstation description" is optional.

         • "Domain name" -- Windows calls this a Workgroup; must be the same for all PC's on the LAN.

         • "Delete user id database": Selecting this will erase any existing user id information. You would use it only if you were installing over top of a pre-existing File and Print Client system, and you wanted to start "fresh".

         • Unless there is a specific reason not to, accept the defaults for the other settings.

   3. Network Adapters for File and Printer Sharing

      • If you have two or more NIC's in your PC, click here to select which ones you want to be available for File and Print Client (resource) sharing. Note that you would probably want to check the NIC that's connected to the cable modem so that the Internet will be available to all PC's.

   4. User ID and Password

      • Click here to enter user name and password you will use to log on to your workstation on the LAN. The UserID is mandatory.

   In the next article in this series we'll discuss the installation of TCP/IP services. In the process, we'll examine a few of the peculiarities of TCP/IP and how IP's are assigned. Stay tuned!

—Walter Metcalf

Next week: Setting Up a LAN on Warp 4, Part 3