Networking with Other Operating Systems

In the previous chapters, you learned about basic peer-to-peer and Active Directory networking, but these chapters considered only "vanilla" Windows networks. Real-life networks are seldom so simple. Often these networks have a mix of operating systems, and Windows must get along with them. Also, some optional networking components are not necessary in most environments, but some network managers do use them for maintenance and monitoring. This chapter covers internetworking and these more obscure parts of the Windows network puzzle.

On a real-life LAN with multiple operating systems, it's not enough that computers be able to coexist on the same network cable. Interoperation, or internetworking, is necessary so that users of these various systems can share files and printers. At best, this sharing can occur without anyone even knowing that alternate platforms are involved. Achieving this kind of seamlessness can range from effortless to excruciating.

TIP

One way to avoid most the hassles of internetworking is to buy a network appliance, a small server computer that "speaks" all the networking languages you need: Windows, UNIX, Macintosh, or whatever. These devices can cost as little as $400 and can put several GB of storage on your network that anyone can access. They tend to be very easy to set up, and some even provide Internet connection sharing, wireless connectivity, an email server, and a Web server in the same box. Products for the home and small office are made by Axentra (www.axentra.com), Mirra (www.mirra.com), GreenComputer (www.greencomputer.com), Linksys (www.linksys.com/hdd), DLink (www.dlink.com), and several other companies.

If a network appliance isn't in the cards, and you need to get your computers to interoperate directly, you'll find that the ease of internetworking between Windows and another operating systems appears to be directly proportional to Microsoft's interest in capturing the other operating systems' existing customer base. Therefore, you'll find that Novell NetWare access is fully supported, whereas Linux interoperation is entirely absent and left up to you.

NOTE

NetBEUI was the original protocol used for networking in DOS, Windows 3.1 through Windows Me, and IBM's OS/2. Microsoft has removed support for NetBEUI in Windows XP, although unsupported software makes it possibleat least, in the first version of Windows XP. I'll discuss this later in the chapter under "Internetworking with DOS, OS/2, and Windows 9x."