Next, check the Identification tab of the Network dialog box in Windows 98, as shown in Click OK. Restart the computer if prompted.

Appendixes When you install a network adapter card, Windows might install a dial-up adapter. A dial-up adapter is a device driver that is bound to the Client for Microsoft Networks and acts as an interface between the modem and your computer. You need the dial-up adapter if you plan to connect to another network over a phone line by using a modem. For more information about the dial-up adapter, see the section “Comprehending the dial-up adapter TCPIP Settings” later in this appendix. Figure B-5: TCPIP is installed. Configuring TCPIP You must configure the protocol before you can use it. To configure TCPIP, follow these steps:

1. Select the TCPIP protocol that is bound to your network card as opposed to the

TCPIP bound to the dial-up adapter. Click the Properties button. The TCPIP Properties dialog box appears, as shown in Figure B-6. 2. Select the option Specify an IP Address. 3. In the IP Address box, enter the address you’re using — for example, 172.16.1.1. 4. In the Subnet Mask box, enter the four-octet number for the subnet, such as 255.255.255.0. 5. Click OK to close the dialog box.

6. Click OK to close the Network dialog box. When Windows prompts you to restart your

computer, do so. When the computer restarts, the TCPIP is active. Make sure that you install TCPIP on all com- puters on the network. Use a unique IP address for each computer but the same subnet mask. Note Appendix B ✦ IP Addressing Figure B-6: Configure the IP address. The TCPIP Properties dialog box contains other tabs in addition to the IP Address tab. Each tab offers additional configurations for TCPIP. For a home network, you don’t need to config- ure the information on any of the other tabs; however, the following sections describe each tab so that you can understand more about TCPIP configuration in Windows. DNS Configuration tab Use the DNS Configuration tab to enter a host and domain name for your network server on a clientserver network. Many small networks use an Internet DNS server to resolve computer names. Most ISPs will maintain domain information for you, for a fee. Alternatively, you can maintain your own DNS server with or without the use of the Internet. If you want to use your own DNS server on the Internet, you must file with the InterNIC for a domain name and IP address for at least two DNS servers. If you set up your own DNS server on your local LAN, you can use only one server if you want. Microsoft recommends you use two DNS servers, however, so that one can act as a backup in case the other one fails. Figure B-7 illustrates the DNS Configuration tab with a corporation’s own DNS servers listed. Note that you can set a search order if you use more than one server as a domain naming service. Gateway tab The Gateway tab provides a space for you to enter the IP address of any gateway on your com- puter. The gateway acts like a bridge to connect two networks that use different protocols. Figure B-8 shows the Gateway tab of the TCPIP Properties dialog box. WINS Configuration tab Windows Internet Name Service WINS is another method of resolving computer names to IP addresses. WINS supplies a database that maintains IP addresses and NetBIOS computer names. NetBIOS is a protocol that contains commands for transmitting information from com- puter to computer. WINS must be installed on a server computer to perform name resolution. Appendixes Figure B-7: Specify the DNS server addresses. Figure B-8: Use this tab only if you have a gateway on your network. WINS eliminates the need to broadcast computer names across the network when one com- puter is trying to connect to another. Instead, the request for a specific computer name goes to the WINS server. It resolves the name to an IP address and immediately sends the data to the target destination. WINS cuts traffic on a TCPIP network. If you have a few computers 10, 20, 40, or so, you don’t need to set up a WINS server. Network traffic won’t be affected much for so few computers. If your network consists of hundreds of computers on a TCPIP network, however, WINS can help resolve the nameIP address issue quickly and efficiently. Tip Appendix B ✦ IP Addressing Figure B-9 shows the WINS Configuration tab. After you enable WINS resolution, you enter the IP address of the WINS server. Figure B-9: Use WINS for name resolution. Bindings tab The Bindings tab shows which network client is bound to TCPIP. If you’re using a Microsoft network, TCPIP is bound to the Client for Microsoft Networks, as shown in Figure B-10. Figure B-10: Check your bindings. Advanced tab The Advanced tab contains any settings specific to the protocol. The TCPIP protocol doesn’t usually contain any advanced settings; however, other protocols do.