Chapter 28: Configuring Windows for a LAN

Chapter Introduction

If you have a small number of computers (say, 20 or fewer), and they all run some version of Windows (any version since 3.11), you can set up a peer-to-peer local area network (LAN) using Windows as your network operating system. Read the previous chapter for how to choose a cabling technology, a cabling topology, and network interface cards, as well as how to install the necessary hardware.

Once the network interface cards are installed and the cable is strung, you still need to configure the networking software. You need to make sure that Windows' networking components are installed, and then configure the components. The easiest way to configure your computer to communicate over a LAN is usually to run the Network Setup Wizard, and then to test your network connection using the Ping program and the My Network Places window. Windows comes with some network troubleshooting tools, described at the end of this chapter. Once your computer can communicate over the LAN, read the next chapter to learn how to share folders and printers with other computers.

This chapter describes how to connect your computer to a new or existing workgroup-based (peer-to-peer) LAN. If you are connecting to a domain-based LAN, contact your LAN administrator. If you are setting up a domain-based network, you'll need a computer running Windows .NET Server, Windows 2000 Server, or Windows NT Server to manage the domain--refer to Windows 2000: The Complete Reference or Windows .NET Server: The Complete Reference, both by Kathy Ivens (published by Osborne/McGraw-Hill).