Setting up a Windows 95/98 Workstation

Your NetWinder is designed to be configured entirely using the ethernet network and a web browser. However, to get started, you must first assign the NetWinder a valid address on the local network.

To do that, you need another computer, already configured, from which to send the configuration messages. Since most people use Windows 95, 98, or NT workstations, we will use Windows 95 as an example. Other workstation operating systems will require similar settings, although the particular dialogue boxes will look different.

Note: If you already have a network in your office, this desktop will have its own Internet protocol (IP) address. As long as the desktop is configured for TCP/IP (or if you already have a network installed), NetWinder will automatically read and/or assign all necessary IP addresses.

Open the Windows Control Panel

The first step is to find the Windows Control Panel. To do this, click the Start menu, then Settings, then Control Panel. A window like the following one should appear:

Choose the icon called Network. You should see a box like the following one:

Clean up the Network Component List

Your list of network components (devices, protocols, clients and services) may differ but this is not a concern.

If you have it installed, it is very important to remove the Microsoft Dial-up Adapter, since this can confuse Windows into not using the NetWinder for internet access. Click on the line referring to the dial-up adapter, and then click Remove. Repeat this step until all references to the dial-up adapter have disappeared.

Add TCP/IP and Microsoft Networking

Now, we want to add the TCP/IP protocol, if it isn't already in place. Click Add, and then Protocol. A list of vendors and their software will appear, as follows:

Highlight Microsoft on the left, and then TCP/IP on the right. Click the OK button to add the TCP/IP protocol.

Following a similar technique, add the Client for Microsoft Networks and File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks, if they have not already been added automatically. (These features will be needed later when we configure Windows File Sharing).

Configure TCP/IP

To ensure the correct configuration of the TCP/IP protocol, highlight the TCP/IP line in the list of network components, and click Properties. A properties dialogue box will appear.

Click on the IP Address tab; choose Specify an IP Address and insert an IP address that (though used internally) will be harmless to the Internet at large should it pass beyond your firewall. We suggest that you use one of these two IP addresses:

192.168.1.x or 10.0.0.x

In either case, "x" represents any number from 1 to 254. In the example below, we have chosen 192.168.1.42. Now you have a fixed IP address for your Windows workstation, which is required to configure your NetWinder. Now, go the next line and enter 255.255.255.0 for Subnet Mask.

The result should look like this:

Finally, click the OK button to save your TCP/IP settings.

Close and Reboot

If you had to add TCP/IP settings, you need to restart the computer to activate the new settings. Click OK to close the Network Control Panel. Windows will ask you to reboot at this point and you should do so. Once the computer has rebooted, you can move on to the next section.