Configuring TCP/IP in Windows 95

• What Is TCP/IP?
• Installing and configuring your Ethernet card
• Confirming the card installation
• Adding the TCP/IP component
• Specifying TCP/IP settings

What Is TCP/IP?

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is a set of communication standards for computers connected to a network. These standards are used for the Internet and for other networks (including intranets) that take advantage of these standards and the many programs that are designed to use them.

In most cases, a network administrator provides the necessary settings for connecting to a TCP/IP network, and you can simply enter the settings as described in the following sections.

To connect to a TCP/IP network, you must specify your computer's:

• Internet protocol (IP) address

The IP address distinguishes the computer from all other computers on the network. The address consists of four numbers from 0 to 255 separated by periods, such as

100.25.101.2

• Subnet mask

TCP/IP networks are often divided into smaller networks, known as subnetworks, for ease of management. The subnet mask specifies how many computers can be connected to the same subnetwork. It can be shown in one of two ways: in the same format as an IP address, such as

255.255.255.248

or as a number following the IP address, separated by a slash:

100.25.101.1/29

For more information about subnet masks, see the administrator's guide or reference guide for your Pipeline.

• Default gateway

A gateway is a computer or device that connects the network or subnetwork to another. The default gateway connects the computer's subnetwork to any networks for which there aren't already gateways. When you use a Pipeline to connect to a TCP/IP network, the Pipeline is the default gateway.

• Name

A computer with an IP address can also have a name. Like the IP address, the name distinguishes the computer from other computers on the network. The difference is that the name is easier for humans to read. An example of a name is

mitchbob.gassco.com

where

mitchbob

is the name of a computer and

gassco.com

is the Internet (or intranet) domain containing the computer. A service provided on TCP/IP networks known as Domain Name Service translates names, which are more convenient for humans, into the corresponding IP addresses, which are used by the network software.

• Domain Name Service (DNS) servers

A domain name server is a computer that translates names into IP addresses. To use names rather than IP addresses to specify other computers on the network, you must also specify at least one domain name server. In most cases, you'll specify at least two: a primary server and a backup for cases when the primary server is unavailable.

Installing and configuring your Ethernet card

Before you can configure TCP/IP, you first install and configure the Ethernet network interface card you'll use to connect your computer to the network:

1. Follow the directions provided by the manufacturer for installing the Ethernet card.

You insert the card into a card slot inside your computer's case or, for "credit card" Ethernet cards used in portable computers, into a PCMCIA (PC card) slot.

2. From the Start menu, choose Settings-->Control Panel.

The Control Panel appears.



3. Double-click the Add New Hardware icon.
The Add New Hardware Wizard appears.



4. Click Next.

You're next asked if you want to search for new hardware.



5. If your Ethernet card supports Windows 95 Plug and Play, select Yes.

If it does support Plug and Play, it will be detected and configured for you automatically. If not, see the installation instructions provided with your card.

6. Click Next.

   You next receive this warning.

   

7. Click Next.

The results of the detection process are then displayed.



8. If the card was detected, click Finish.
9. When the installation process is complete, restart the computer.

Confirming the card installation

To confirm that the installation was successful, follow these steps:

1. If the Control Panel isn't already open, choose Settings-->Control Panel from the Start menu.

The Control Panel appears.



2. In the Control Panel, double-click the System icon.

The System Properties window appears.



3. Click the Device Manager tab.

A list of device types appears.



4. Make sure the View Devices by Type button is selected.
5. Double-click the Network Adapters icon.

The network card you just installed should appear.

Adding the TCP/IP component

To add TCP/IP support for your newly installed network card, follow these steps:

1. If the Control Panel isn't already open, choose Settings-->Control Panel from the Start menu.

The Control Panel appears.



2. Double-click the Network icon.

The Network window appears.



3. Click Add.

The Select Network Component Type window appears.



4. Click Protocol and then click Add.

The Select Network Protocol window appears.



5. Click Microsoft.

6. From the list of network protocols at the right of the window, click TCP/IP.
   
7. Click OK.

Specifying TCP/IP settings

When you're done installing the TCP/IP protocol, you're returned to the Network window. You're now ready to enter TCP/IP settings such as your computer's IP address and name.

1. From the list of network components in the Network window, click TCP/IP.
   
2. Click Properties. The TCP/IP Properties window appears.

Entering your computer's name and subnet mask

By default, the IP Address tab is shown. You enter your first TCP/IP settings-your computer's IP address and subnet mask-in this tab.

1. Click the Specify an IP Address button.
2. Enter the IP address and subnet mask in the fields provided.

Note: If any of the four numbers in the address or mask have less than three digits, you can enter the next number by pressing the period (.) key.

Entering the default gateway

You next specify the default gateway, which is the Pipeline you're using to connect to the TCP/IP network.

1. Click the Gateway tab. In the New Gateway field, enter the IP address of the Pipeline and then click Add.
   

The address of the Pipeline then appears in the list of installed gateways:

Specifying your computer's name and DNS information

The final settings you need to specify are your computer's name, its domain, and the DNS servers it will use. You enter these in the DNS Configuration tab.

1. Click the DNS Configuration tab.
2. Click the Enable DNS button if it is not already selected.
3. Enter the name of your computer in the Host field.

Note: In the name, the case of letters (whether they are upper- or lowercase) matters. Enter the name exactly as it was given to you by your network administrator.

4. Enter the domain name in the Domain field.

This name ends with a period followed by a suffix, such as .com, .uk, or.edu.

5. Enter the IP address of a DNS server in the DNS Server Search Order field and then click Add.
   
6. If there is more than one DNS server, repeat step 5.

Saving the TCP/IP settings

When you're done entering TCP/IP settings, follow these steps:

1. Click OK.
2. In the dialog that appears, click the Restart button.