Installing and Configuring Dial-Up Networking

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Installing and Configuring Dial-Up Networking

Now that you have some background regarding RAS in Windows 98, you're ready to install and configure the Dial-Up adapter and software. The following section explains how to configure the dial-up adapter.

Planning Your Installation

Before you install the Dial-Up Adapter, you should determine which network transport protocol(s) you want to use with the Dial-Up Adapter. If you plan to use the Dial-Up Adapter to provide remote sharing of resources, you also need to install a suitable client, such as Client for Microsoft Networks or Client for NetWare Networks. The following list provides a guideline for installing protocols, clients, and services to support a dial-up connection:

Internet only. If you want to use the dial-up connection only to access the Internet, you need to install only the TCP/IP protocol. You do not need to install a file- or printer-sharing service or a network client. If you do not install a network client, however, Windows 98 will not save your password from session to session, but will save your user name.
Windows-based network access. If you want to dial into a network that consists of Windows 98 and/or Windows NT computers, and you want to be able to access shared resources on those computers, you must install an appropriate protocol. Generally, NetBEUI is best because it is Windows 98's default protocol and requires no configuration. However, you must match the protocol you use to the protocol that the remote computers use. If you want your computer's resources to be available to users on the remote LAN when your computer connects, you must also install File and Printer Sharing Services for Microsoft Networks on your computer.
NetWare-based network access. If you want to dial into a network that contains NetWare servers, and you want to access those servers, you must install the IPX/SPX protocol and the Client for NetWare Networks.
Internet and remote LAN access. If you want to dial into a server to access the remote LAN's resources and also gain an Internet connection, install the Microsoft TCP/IP protocol and the protocol required to access the LAN's resources. If you connect to a Windows-based network, for example, install the Microsoft TCP/IP and NetBEUI protocols.

In addition to installing the necessary network protocols and services, you also should install the modem you will use for Dial-Up Networking before you install Dial-Up Networking and the Dial-Up Adapter.

Installing Dial-Up Networking

Dial-Up Networking might already be installed on your computer. To determine if it is, open the Control Panel and double-click on the Add/Remove Programs icon. On the Add/Remove Programs Properties sheet, click on the Windows Setup tab. Scroll through the list of installed components and double-click on the Communications item. If Dial-Up Networking has a check beside it, the necessary software is already installed. If not, place a check beside Dial-Up Networking and choose OK. Windows 98 will prompt you for the Windows 98 CD if needed.

Tip
Also place a check beside the Dial-Up Networking Server item if you want to use your computer as a Dial-Up Networking server.

Installing the Dial-Up Adapter

Before you can begin to use RAS in Windows 98, you must install the Microsoft Dial-Up Adapter. This adapter driver, which is included with Windows 98, serves as a virtual network interface card between your computer and its modem. The Dial-Up Adapter serves much the same purpose as a physical network adapter. The primary difference is that rather than connect your computer to others through a LAN cable, the Dial-Up Adapter provides the link through your computer's modem.

Tip
Windows 98 installs the Dial-Up Adapter automatically when you install Dial-Up Networking. As explained in this section, you need to install the Dial-Up Adapter only if you have removed it from your network configuration.

To install the Dial-Up Adapter, open the Control Panel and choose the Network object, or right-click on the Network Neighborhood and choose Properties. From the Configuration page of the Network property sheet, choose the Add button to open the Select Network Component Type dialog box. Select Adapter from the list, then choose Add. Select Microsoft from the Manufacturers list. The only entry in the Microsoft list is Dial-Up Adapter. Select the Dial-Up Adapter from the Network Adapters list, then choose OK.

The Dial-Up Adapter provides three property pages you can use to configure the adapter after you install it. To set the adapter's properties, open the Network object in Control Panel, select the Dial-Up Adapter from the network components list, then choose Properties to open the Dial-Up Adapter property sheet.

The Driver Type property page enables you to specify which network driver you want to use with the Dial-Up Adapter. You must choose a client that is a protected-mode driver.

The Bindings property page enables you to specify which network protocols the Dial-Up Adapter uses. Based on which protocols you decide to use, place checks in the check boxes for the protocols you want to bind to the Dial-Up Adapter. If you installed only one protocol, only that one protocol appears in the list and is selected automatically.

Note
You must use at least one protocol with the Dial-Up Adapter, even if you do not use a network client.

The Advanced property page enables you to set several advanced settings for the Dial-Up Adapter. The Record a log file option enables you to specify whether Windows 98 maintains a log file of your dial-up connections. If you choose Yes, Windows 98 creates a log named Ppplog.txt in the Windows folder and stores PPP session information in the log file. The Ppplog.txt file can be very useful for troubleshooting connection problems. If you are not experiencing any problems, however, choosing No improves performance slightly.

The setting labeled Use IPX Header Compression specifies whether Windows 98 compresses IP packets. If you connect to a CSLIP (Compressed Serial Line Interface Protocol) server, enable this setting; otherwise, you can leave it disabled.

The IP Packet Size setting determines the size of network packets Windows 98 uses. Changing this setting can improve performance but requires a knowledge of your ISP's MTU value. The remaining settings apply to PPTP and VPN.

After you specify the necessary settings on the Dial-Up Adapter property sheet, choose OK to apply the changes. Windows 98 prompts you to restart the system for the changes to take effect.