How do I set up a server using a Hard wired LAN Connection?

Question

I have a another computer and I want to know how to set it up wiith a hard wired Lan connection the server that i want to use has windows 98 Plus on it and the computer that I want to use it for Has Window XP on it can some one help me with this i dont know what to do from here i got them both pluged in and the lan is connected and this is where im stuck do i need a type of software if you know please help me and please make sure you have a soruce to support yourself and or a web site where i can get software from for this
PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Does your LAN have DHCP services enabled? You need to get an IP address to each computer. If you have DHCP enabled, you're half way there. If you don't have DHCP enabled you'll need to manually assign static IP addresses to the two computers. You can do this through your network configuration settings.

To test if you have connectivity do the following:
1) On each computer open up a command prompt and type "ipconfig" and press enter. Take note of the IP address for each computer.
2) On each computer type "ping xx.xx.xx.xx" where xx.xx.xx.xx is the IP address of the other computer. If you have your basic networking installed you'll see that the ping is successful. If not, you'll have to go back to the IP address configuration to see what went wrong.

Once you've established that you have basic network connectivity, you'll need to set up Windows to allow access to each other. You'll need to set up file and print sharing for each - this is built into every version of Windows since 3.11 so no need for any extra software. Check your Windows Help on how to set up the file and print sharing for each computer.

Once this is set up go to each folder you'll want to share between computers, right click on it and select either Properties or Sharing and set it up to be shared.

Then to connect, go to Start => Run and type \\xx.xx.xx.xx where xx.xx.xx.xx is the IP address of the other computer. This should bring up a window showing the shared folders on the other computer. You can also try accessing the other computer through My Network Places.

These are high-level steps... Windows help should guide you through the details.

Answer 2

Make sure you upgrade your 98 to Second Edition. From there you should be able to network the two without too much problem. Going from the Win98 computer you just set up a WorkGroup and then on the XP setup a network using the wizard, and using the WorkGroup name from the 98 machine. Make sure on the 98 if you want to share files, that file sharing is turned on.

Here is a link for step by step instructions: http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/wxpwin9x.html

Answer 3

Win98 isn't a server operating system. You'll need a server OS such as Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server or Linux.

Old hardware that worked with Win98 will not work very well with newer server OSs. A new machine would be the best bet.

Answer 4

You can only have "peer to peer" networking between 2 such computers with these operation systems.

In order to use one as an actual server it must have a " Server" version operating system on it.

This Microsoft link may help :

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/getstarted/default.mspx

regards,
Philip T