Complete Computer Networking Notes Guides Tutorials

BASIC WORKGROUP NETWORKING

Workgroup networking is the essential of computer networking. In this section we have prepared a step by step practical guide for workgroup networking. We have prepared this guide in lab environment but you could use it in real life as well. You could use this guide for home networking, cyber café networking, in small office networking. We have added some real life troubleshooting tips to make it more use useful for practical life. I hope you would found this guide help full for setting up workgroup network.

How to configure peer to peer workgroup network step by step Guide

Workgroup networking is the most essentials part of computer networking. From our tutorials on workgroup networking in this article we would set up a practice workgroup network in lab environment. For this practice you need 4 computers, internet connection, printer and installation media of XP professional and Vista. You could use Vmware or any other virtual pc software tosimulate the computers if you are doing this practice on a single pc. I personally prefer Vmware.

If you are setting up this network in real life environment like cyber café or any small office consider the following approach before taking any final decision on workgroup network

• Determine your requirements
• Choose between wired and wireless media
• Map your physical network
• Map your logical network
• Create a utilization plan

I assume that you have gone through these steps and come up with a plan to use 4 computers with star topology for this network.

Computers	4 With any descriptive Name
Operating system	windows XP professional and vista
Topology	Star
Printer	One
Modem	One
Workgroup Name	SOFTWARE

Now it's time to implement our workgroup network

Install XP professional on three systems and Vista on one system.

During the installation process computer and workgroup name are automatically generated. You could use these names but it would be better to have a good and descriptive name. To change computer and workgroup name Right-click on My Computer andselect Properties, or open the System applet from Control Panel.

Select the Computer Name tab ==> click Change to open the Computer Name Changes dialog box.

Follow this guideline while choosing name for computer and workgroup

• Computer name should be unique in a workgroup.
• Workgroup name should be same for all computer.
• Workgroup name may be up to 15 characters long and may contain any alphanumeric (a-z and 0-9) characters, as well as special characters except for ; : " < > * + = \ | ?.
• Computer name can be up to 15 characters long and have the same naming restrictions as workgroup. In addition, the computer name cannot be the same as the workgroup name.

Enter a new computer name in the Computer Name field and new workgroup name in Workgroup field and click OK.

You will be prompted to restart your computer to complete the name change. Click yes to restart your computer.

We have completed our first necessary step. Now its time to configure LAN card.

Configure LAN card

First check LAN card driver

Right Click on My Computer ==> properties ==> Hardware ==> Device manager ==> Network Adaptor ==> Check here (also check under the other devices tag)

Situation:- Showing

Description:- Installed and working properly

Situation:-Showing with Yellow sign 

Description:- LAN card driver is corrupted 
Solution:- Install lan card driver.

Situation:- Showing with Red Cross 
Description:- Either cable is unplugged or LAN card is disabled
Solution:- My network places ==> properties ==> local area connection ==> right click ==> Enable (Follow only if Lan card is disable )
Check whether network cable is plugged or not

Situation:-Not Showing 

Description:- LAN card is not detected yet (Check for physical installation) 
Solution:- Open the cabinet and check for physical detection 
Check Bios ==> On bord Lan Option should be enable

Checking LAN card in Network place

How to show my network place on Desktop? 
Right click on the free space of desktop ==>Customize desktop ==>check mark on My network places ==> Apply ==> Ok

My network place ==> properties ==>local area connection 
Situation:- Showing 
 
Description:- Installed and working properly

Situation:-Showing with Red Cross 
 
Description:-cable is unplugged
Solution:-Check whether network cable is plugged or not

Situation:-Showing with Yellow sign 
Description:-LAN is working on Automatic private IP.
Solution:- assign manually IP address

Situation:-Showing with disable
 
Description:-LAN is disabled
Solution:-My network places ==> Local area connection ==> Right click ==> Enable (Follow only if Lan card is disable )

Situation:-Showing with firewall 
 
Description:-LAN is firewall protected
Solution:-There is no need to on firewall unless you are connecting with internet. 
To turn off firewall
My network place ==> properties ==>local area connection ==> properties ==>Aadvanced ==>Settings 
 
Genral==> Off

Next step is to check 4 necessary configuration in LAN card properties

• LAN cards drives
• Client for Microsoft network
• File and printer sharing services
• Internet protocols (TCP/IP)

If you don't found any of these here and than install that by using install button before going further Once you have completed these steps than go to our next article

How to configure peer to peer workgroup network step by step Guide Part-II

In our previous article we have completed the perquisite of peer to peer workgroup network. In this article we would configure IP address and Run Set up a home or small office Network Wizard.

Configure IP address

Select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties. You will be presented with the following dialog box: 
 
Use the following IP address or choose the IP address you have been assigned by your company

	PC1-LAN1	PC1-LAN2	PC2	PC3	PC4
IP address	192.168.1.2	192.168.1.3	192.168.1.4	192.168.1.5	192.168.1.6
Subnet mask	255.255.255.0	255.255.255.0	255.255.255.0	255.255.255.0	255.255.255.0
Default Gateway	192.168.1.1	192.168.1.1	192.168.1.3	192.168.1.3	192.168.1.3
Preferred DNS server	202.56.224.153	202.56.224.153	192.168.1.3	192.168.1.3	192.168.1.3
Alternate DNS server	202.56.230.6	202.56.230.6	-----------	-----------	-----------

Important:- For your DNS Server IP please contact your ISP
Keep these things always in minds whenever you deal with IP address to make communications between two computers :-
1. Network address must be same and host address must be different
2. If network address is different a Router will be require to make communications

Next Step:- Run Set up a home or small office Network Wizard

XP have a nice feature to make your tasks much easier called set up a home or small office network wizard. By This wizard you can share internet connection, set up widows firewall. Share printer, share file and folder. 
To Run this wizard

My Network Place ==> Properties ==> Set up a home or small office network wizard ==> Click on Next 
 
Here your are asked to check all necessary components 
 
In this step select the statement that meet your internet requirement
 
You should choose first option when your computer is directly connected to internet as shown in figure

You should choose second option when your computer is connected to internet via other computer as shown in figure

In this step you can change computer name ( Not recommended, for this use my computer’s properties )

Now set correct workgroup name (Default will be MSHOME) 

This is the summary of options you have selected if you have made any mistake go back and correct 

Wizard is setting up your workgroup
 
Choose last option to finish this wizard 

Click on finish

As the system setting has changed you should be prompt for restart Click on yes

Once you have completed these steps you are ready to move on third part

How to configure peer to peer workgroup network step by step Guide part-III

In our previous articles we have configured workgroup networking for XP. In this article we would configure Vista to join our workgroup network. Vista does not have any inbuilt wizard to configure workgroup networking automatically. You need to make these setting in vista manually.

On Vista Follow these Steps

On Desktop ==> Select My Computer ==> Right Click ==> Select properties 

Select Change Setting ( administrative permission will be require )

Click on Change 

Change Computer name and workgroup name as per guideline given in previous article .

Save the change ( Reboot will require)

After Reboot ==> Right Click on My Network Place ==> Properties

Now trun on Network discovery, File sharing, Printer Sharing

Click on Manage network connections

Select Local Area Connection ==> Properties ( all possible sitution of LAN card will be same as XP ) 

By Default vista will include More options used for IPv6 ( Just uncheck these options )
select Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4) ==> properties

now give the IP address ==> ok ==> ok

Now open My network place ==> Click to change

Select Turn on network discovery and file sharing

If you could see all computers in my network place than its times to cheers you have successfully configured workgroup 

Share files folder devices printers in peer to peer workgroup network

We have configured workgroup network. Now in this article we would share file, folder and printer in workgroup network. In Window XP home edition we only have Simple File Sharing option which does not allow us to password protect the shared resources. In Window XP professional we could use advance file sharing to password protect the shared resources.

Enable Simple File Sharing on Windows XP Professional

Simple file sharing is the only available option in XP home edition and its also selected as default option in professional edition. So we would use simple file sharing in our example. On Xp professional you could check simple file sharing status by going to the Tools menu in Windows Explorer and selecting Folder Options.

Select the View tab and scroll to the bottom of the options. Check the box next to Use Simple File Sharing Recommended.

Trick :- how can we use special file sharing permission in workgroup ?

Ans. Just uncheck this option

Share file and folder in workgroup network

Right click on the folder which you want to share and select Sharing and Security

You may get following window if file sharing is not enabled yet. Click on "If you understand the security risks but want to share files without running the wizard, click here."

For security reason it would prompt you to use Network Setup Wizard to enable file and sharing. See our previous article if you would like to use Network Setup Wizard. Select Just Enable File Sharing

Default sharing mode is read only. In read only mode users can see the shared files and folders but they would not allow to modify them. Click on the check box next to Allow Network Users To Change My Files. and click on ok.

A hand would appear just under the folder once it is shared.

To view this shared folder on other workgroup computer open my network. In my network place you would see all computers of workgroup network. Open the computer from which you have just shared the folder .

How to share printer in workgroup network

• Local printer is the printer that is attached with system directly.
• Network printer is the printer that is attached with other system and use local printer via network.

Installing Local printer

Local printer is required before you share it on network. To install local printer connect it with system. And check it in printer and fax. Start ==> Setting ==> printer and faxes

If you did not see any printer here it means system has not detected the printer yet. You need to install it manually. Click on add a printer

This will launch add printer wizard

Select Local printer attached to this computer

Select the port on which you have attached the printer

Select the manufacturer and model of your printer. if you have printer driver CD then use have disk options

give any name to your printer for example OfficePrinter, LabPrinter, any thing that is close to your specification

If you want to print test page then choose Yes otherwise select No

Click on Finish to complete the Wizard

Before sharing on network it's best practice to test the printer. Do some printing.

Share Printer in workgroup network

Sharing a printer is similar to sharing the folder.

Right-click on the printer and select Sharing.

You will see the following dialog box. Click on If you understand the security risks.................

Select Share This Printer. Provide a name for the shared printer and Click OK

sharing hand will appear under your printer

Installing Network printer

Network printer will be installed on all other computers. To install a network printer

Start ==> Setting ==> printer and faxes ==> Add a printer ==> Select Network printer

If you know the exact path of printer than type it otherwise Select Browse for a printer

Select the printer

If you want to print test page than choose Yes otherwise select No

Click on Finish to complete the Wizard

Click on finish. Now you have installed the network printer. You could make it default printer. Right click on printer and select make it default.

How to configure Remote Desktop RDP Step By Step Guide

RDP remote desktop protocol is a nice feature of XP professional. It is not available in XP home edition. RDP allow you to share the desktop. With RDP you could access desktop from any computers. You need to enable it before use. To enable it follow these steps:

Start ==> Control Panel ==> Select Add Or Remove Programs ==> Select Add/Remove Windows Components ==> Select Internet Information Services ==> Click the Details button ==> Select World Wide Web Service ==> Click the Details button ==> Check the Remote Desktop Web Connection checkbox ==> Click OK ==>Click Next ==> Click Finish to complete the wizard

To make this update either restart the computer or follow these steps

• Click Start ==> Select Run ==> Enter Net Stop w3svc ==> click the OK button or press Enter.
• Click Start ==> Select All Programs ==> Select Microsoft Update ==>Select Scan For Updates ==> Install all critical updates on the host system.
• Click Start ==> Select Run ==> Enter Net Start w3svc ==> click the OK button.

Installing Remote Desktop connection on non-XP systems

As I previously said RDP is a feature of XP Professional. But good thing about it is you could install it on other platform also. On other system you need to install it separately form the CD of XP Professional . To install the RDP follow these steps:

• Insert Windows XP Professional CD in CD or DVD drive.
• On Welcome To Microsoft Windows XP screen, click Perform Additional Tasks.
• Click Setup Remote Desktop Connection from the What Do You Want To Do Screen.
• The InstallShield Wizard will open; click Next on the Welcome To The InstallShield Wizard for Remote Desktop Connection.
• Read and accept the license agreement and click Next.
• Enter the customer name and organization, and specify whether the desktop connection is to be available to all users or only the logged in user and click Next.
• Click Install.
• Click Finish.

Once RDP is install you could access it by clicking Start ==> Programs ==> Accessories ==> Communications ==> Remote Desktop Connection or by opening a command prompt and typing mstsc.

Firewall settings

Window firewall must be open for RDP before you start working with RDP. You could either turn off the firewall or configure it to allow the RDP. If you are using RDP only in local network with trusted computers than you could turn off the window firewall. But if you are using RDP over the un-trusted network its better to use firewall. To configure windows firewall follow these steps :

• Click Start.
• Click Control Panel.
• Access the Windows Firewall menu (by clicking Windows Firewall using Control Panel's Category View or by clickingSecurity Center and selecting Windows Firewall using the Classic Vew).
• Click the Exceptions tab.
• Confirm the Remote Desktop checkbox is checked and isn't overridden by a group policy.

When working with other firewalls, it's usually best that port 3389 (and port 80) be opened to enable Terminal Services traffic (and the connection to the Remote Desktop application). This is especially true when attempting to connect to Small Business Server 2003 desktops.

Enabling user access

Create an user account with administrative privilege.

• Click Start.
• Click Control Panel.
• Click User accounts

Click on Create a new account

Enter the name for new account

Now create password for this account

By default remote access is disabled. We need to enable it from my computer properties

• Right click on My Computer and select properties
• Click the Remote tab.
• Checked the Allow Users To Connect Remotely To This Computer.
• Click the Select Remote Users button

Click the Add button.

Now click on advance

Now we need to add our user in Remote desktop users group which by default have permission to access system remotely.

• Click OK to close the Select Users window.
• Click OK to close the Remote Desktop Users window

By default, any members of the Administrators group can connect to the system, even if they're not specifically authorized using the Remote Desktop Users window.

Connecting with Remote Desktop from other computer

We have successfully configured RDP. Now go on other computer and follow these steps to access that computer remotely

• Click on Start.
• Select Run.
• Typing mstsc and click OK.

Alternatively, one can:

• Click Start.
• Click All Programs.
• Click Accessories.
• Click Communications.
• Click Remote Desktop Connection.

Type the ip address of the computer where we have configured RDP

Give the user name and password

Now you can access computer

when you have finished you can disconnects the session.

start ==> Disconnects

How to configure Share My Dial Up Internet Connection step by step Guides

In this article we would share dial up internet connection. We have configured workgroup and shared folder and printer in our previous article. Sharing internet connection is the next logical step in getting everybody online. If you have installed an Internet gateway, chances are that you are already online. Windows XP Internet Connection Sharing allows your computer to function as an Internet gateway. In this article we would use window xp as internet gateway.

How to make dial up connection in XP?

To connect with internet via dial-up follow these steps:-

Physically attach the modem and install driver

My network place ==> properties

Click on Create a new connection

Click on Next

Choose Connect to the internet

Now choose Connect using a dial-up modem

Select Set up my connection manually

Fill your ISP's name

Now fill the number provided by your ISP

Check mark the Add a shortcut to this connection to my desktop

Now you can dial from your desktop directly

Double click on short-cut

Give your user name and password ( will be provided by your ISP's)

Now you can see dialing process

In few seconds you would be connected with internet

How to share the dial up connections?

My network places ==> properties ==> Right-click your Internet connection and select Properties.

Click the Advanced tab and you will see the following dialog box. Click “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.

Internet connection sharing will change ip address to 192.169.0.1 and enable a simple DHCP server. On all other computers of workgroup network you only need to set ip address to obtain ip address automatically.

How to configure ccproxy proxey server step by step Guides

In our previous article we have shared dial up connection. In this article we would share internet connection trough proxy server. We would use CCProxy server in this article. The special point is CCProxy provides 3-user free version of proxy server software. You could download it form here.

http://www.youngzsoft.net/ccproxy/

• The server is the computer that can access the Internet directly in our Example it is PC1 .
• Make sure that all clients within LAN are able to access the Server.
• Suppose the server IP in the LAN is 192.168.1.3, and then 192.168.1.2 is the proxy server address.

Run ccproxysetup.exe

Click on Next

Select the destination path and Click on Next this will install CCProxy

Click on finish to lanch CCProxy

Add client's IP into CCProxy

Choose one computer in the LAN that needs to access the Internet. Suppose the IP address of the computer is 192.168.1.4

Open CCProxy main window, click "Account" button, then popup "Account Manager" dialog box.

Select "Permit Only" in "Permit Category" and select "IP Address" in "Auth Type". Click "New" button, fill "192.168.1.4" in the "IP Address/IP Range", click "Save" and "OK" button

CCProxy Server Configuration

We will explain the functions of CCProxy in this section. As proxy server software, CCProxy has many useful functions. It's not only Internet connection sharing software, but also Internet access control software. Below we will introduce all functions of CCProxy.

Toolbar Zone

• Start: To start CCProxy.
• Stop: To stop CCProxy.
• Options: To open the options dialog box.
• Account: To open the account dialog box.
• Register: To enter registration code.
• Monitor: To open the online logging monitor .
• Hide: To hide the interface.
• Help: Get help document.

Online Information Zone

• Yellow curve: the current amount of bandwidth.
• Green curve: the current number of connections.

Product Logo Zone

• Display the product logo.

System Information Zone

• U: Double click this option to check for upgrade information. If there is a new version, it will open the upgrade dialog box.
• 0/0: To display the number of online connections and accounts. The left number is the amount of online connections. The right number is the number of online accounts.
• Time: To display the server time.

Options Dialog Box

• Mail: To start mail proxy service.
• DNS: To start DNS proxy service.
• Web Cached: If checked, the HTTP proxy will load and store web pages to the proxy cache.
• Remote Dial-up: To enable remote dial-up from clients.
• Auto Startup: If checked, CCProxy interface will start automatically when Windows starts up.
• Port Map: To start port map service. You can click the "E" button to add or edit the port map rules.
• HTTP/RTSP: To start HTTP and RTSP proxy service and set proxy port.
• Secure: To start secure (HTTPS, SSL) proxy service and set proxy port.
• FTP (Web): To start web ftp proxy service and set proxy port.
• Gopher: To start gopher proxy service and set proxy port.
• SOCKS/MMS: To start SOCKS and MMS proxy service and set proxy port.
• FTP: To start FTP proxy service and set proxy port.
• Telnet: To start Telnet proxy service and set proxy port.
• News: To start News and NNTP proxy service and set proxy port.
• Notes: FTP (Web) proxy service is different from FTP proxy service. FTP (Web) is used in IE browser. IE access FTP site via FTP (Web) proxy service, and FTP proxy service is used on FTP client software such as CuteFTP, WS-FTP and etc.
• Local IP Address: To display and set local IP address. If you check "Auto Detect", CCProxy will auto detect which IP is the local IP address and display it in the combox list. If you find that the result is incorrect, you need to uncheck "Auto Detect" and choose the correct local IP address from the list. You can select multiple IP addresses as the local IP address. When you choose one local IP address, you need to check the checkbox beside it.
• NT Service: If this is checked, CCProxy will be run as Windows service.
• Advanced: To open the advanced options dialog box.

Advanced Options

• Dial-up: To configure the dial-up service.
• Cache: To configure the web-cached function, i.e. cache size, cache update time.
• Cascading: To configure the cascading proxy, also called parent proxy, service.
• Log: To configure the proxy logging service, i.e. log size, log type, etc.
• Mail: To configure the mail proxy service. You can change the mail proxy ports here.
• Network: To configure the proxy network settings such as server IP address binding, socket idle timeout, etc.
• Others: To configure the other proxy settings such as interface language, remote admin, etc.

Configure IE at client

Go to client computer and Right Click on Internet Explorer select properties.

Select "Connections", click "LAN Settings" button and open the "Local Area Network(LAN) Settings" dialog box.

Check "Use a proxy server for your LAN", Fill "192.168.1.3" in "Address" and "808" in "Port". Click "OK" button in "Local Area Network (LAN) Settings" and "Internet Options" dialog boxes.

How to configure web proxy settings in Firefox?

Open Firefox Click on Tools and Select Options

Advanced==> General ==> Connections Settings:

Select "Manual proxy configuration", SOCKS Host:192.168.1.3, Port:1080 and select "SOCKS v5". The other editboxes leave blank.

How to configure window Net Meeting step by step guide

Microsoft NetMeeting is a nice inbuilt feature of XP. It's allow you to share files and desktop. You could also use it for chat, video conferencing. You have to configure Net Meeting before you could use it.
To configure NetMeeting:

• Click Start and select Run:
• In Run box, type conf.exe and click OK
• In the NetMeeting window, click Next
• Fill in your name, email address, and location info, then click Next
• Click off "Log on to directory server when NetMeeting starts", then click Next
• Select the network connection you are using, than click Next (On campus, select Local Area Network)
• Select "Put a shortcut to NetMeeting on my desktop", and click Next.
• In Audio Tuning Wizard window, click Next.
• In Audio Tuning Wizard window, adjust the speaker or headphone volume and click Next.
• When finished adjusting settings, click Finish.

NetMeeting setup is now complete.An icon will be displayed on the desktop. (During startup, if Windows XP Firewall attempts to block NetMeeting, click Unblock.

The NetMeeting main window 

Finding Your IP Address

Connections in NetMeeting are done through IP addresses. You need to know your IP Address. To find out your IP Address:

• Click on Start button, select Run
• Type command and click OK
• In the window that appears, type ipconfig and press the Enter key
• Your IP Address will be displayed in the window (eg. 192.168.1.5) (Write down your IP Address)
• To close the window, type Exit and press the Enter key.

Alternatively, in the NetMeeting main window, click Help, then select "About Windows NetMeeting". Your IP Address will be displayed in the window.

Starting NetMeeting

You can connect individually or to a group.
To start NetMeeting:

• Click the NetMeeting shortcut icon on your desktop

The NetMeeting main window will appear.

Placing a Call

Click the Place Call button. Enter the IP Address of the remote computer.

Receiving a call

When another person is calling you NetMeeting will display the following screen: 
Click Accept to begin the call.

Hosting and Joining Meetings

To host a meeting:

• In the Call menu, select Host Meeting.
• In Meeting Name, type the meeting name or leave it set to Personal Conference.
• To monitor who joins the meeting, click the "Only you can accept incoming calls" check box.
• To restrict participants from inviting other people, click the "Only you can place outgoing calls" check box. and Click OK

Using Chat

With chat you can communicate with an individual or a group by text messaging. These conversations can be saved as a rich text file for later reference. Options such as "Whisper" mode allow private messages between the host and an individual during a group session. To open a chat session:

Click the Chat button.

Using Whiteboard

With Whiteboard you can review, create and update graphic information. This option allows you to load saved Whiteboard pages into a conference by dragging and dropping the saved pages into the Whiteboard window. To open Whiteboard:

Click the Whiteboard button.

Sharing Programs

Shared Programs allows meeting participants to view and work on files together even if they do not have the program. Only one participant at a time can be in control of the shared program.
To share a program:

• Click the Share Program button.
• Select the program you wish to share.
• Choose who you want to share the program with.
• Click Share.

You can also share your computer desktop in order to share your entire computer with participants. To stop sharing, click Unshare in the Sharing dialog box.

Remote Desktop Sharing

Remote Desktop Sharing allows you to access a computer from another computer at another location. To use Remote Desktop Sharing, you activate it and then close NetMeeting.

To set up Remote Desktop Sharing:

• Under Tools on the menu bar, select Remote Desktop Sharing.
• In the Remote Desktop Sharing Wizard, click Next.
• In the Remote Desktop Sharing Wizard, click Yes, enable password-protected screen saver.
• Click Finish.

To activate Remote Desktop Sharing on the computer:

• Note the computer's IP Address .
• Under Call on the menu bar, select Exit.

To connect to the computer from a second location:

• Click the Call button in NetMeeting.
• In "To", type in the computer's IP Address.
• Type in your password.

The remote desktop will appear on the second computer.

To end Remote Desktop Sharing:

• On the computer being accessed, click Start.
• Select either Log Off or Turn Off.

Transferring Files

Files can also be transferred in the background while a NetMeeting conference is going on or can be sent either to an individual or a group.
To transfer a file:

• Click the Transfer Files button.
• Click the Add File button.
• Select the desired files.
• Choose the people you wish to send the file to (if you wish to send the file to everyone in the meeting, click All).
• Click Send All button to transfer the files.

Configuring Settings

To configure NetMeeting's video and audio options:
* Under the Tools menu, select Options. 
The Options dialog box will appear.

For video settings:

* Select the Video Tab

To configure audio options:

* Select the Audio tab

Getting help

For help using Windows NetMeeting, select Help Topics under Help on the menu bar.