Chapter 8: Configuring Windows XP and Vista Clients

Before your network setup is complete, you must configure the network's client computers. In particular, you have to configure each client's network interface card so that it works properly, and you have to install the right protocols so that the clients can communicate with other computers on the network.

Fortunately, the task of configuring client computers for the network is child's play in Windows. For starters, Windows automatically recognizes your network interface card when you start up your computer. All that remains is to make sure that Windows properly installed the network protocols and client software.

With each version of Windows, Microsoft has simplified the process of configuring client network support. In this chapter, I describe the steps for configuring networking for Windows XP and Vista.

Configuring Network Connections

Windows automatically detects the presence of a network adapter; normally, you don't have to install device drivers manually for the adapter. When Windows detects a network adapter, it automatically creates a network connection and configures it to support basic networking protocols. However, you may need to change the configuration of a network connection manually. The procedures for Windows XP and Vista are described in the following sections.

Configuring Windows XP network connections

The following steps show how to configure your network connection on a Windows XP system:

1. Choose Start Control Panel to open the Control Panel.

   The Control Panel appears.

2. Double-click the Network Connections icon.

   The Network Connections folder appears, as shown in Figure 8-1.

   
   Figure 8-1: The Network Connections folder.

3. Right-click the connection that you want to configure and then choose Properties from the menu that appears.

   Tip 

   You can also select the network connection and click Change Settings of This Connection in the task pane.

   Either way, the Properties dialog box for the network connection appears, as shown in Figure 8-2.

   
   Figure 8-2: The Properties dialog box for a network connection.

4. To configure the network adapter card settings, click Configure.

   This action summons the Properties dialog box for the network adapter, as shown in Figure 8-3. This dialog box has five tabs that let you configure the NIC:

   • General: This tab shows basic information about the NIC, such as the device type and status. For example, the device shown in Figure 8-3 is a D-Link DFE-530TX+ PCI Adapter. (It's installed in slot 3 of the computer's PCI bus.)

     Tip 

     If you're having trouble with the adapter, you can click the Troubleshoot button to open the Windows XP Hardware Troubleshooter. You can also disable the device if it's preventing other components of the computer from working properly.

   • Advanced: This tab lets you set a variety of device-specific parameters that affect the operation of the NIC. For example, some cards allow you to set the speed parameter (typically at 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps) or the number of buffers the card should use.

     REMEMBER 

     Consult the manual that came with the card before you play around with any of those settings.

   • Driver: This tab displays information about the device driver that's bound to the NIC and lets you update the driver to a newer version, roll back the driver to a previously working version, or uninstall the driver.

   • Resources: With this tab, you can use manual settings to limit the system resources used by the card-including the memory range, I/O range, IRQ, and DMA channels.

     TECHNICAL STUFF 

     In the old days, before Plug and Play cards, you had to configure these settings whenever you installed a card, and it was easy to create resource conflicts. Windows configures these settings automatically so that you should rarely need to fiddle with them.

   • Power Management: This tab lets you set power-management options. You can specify that the network card be shut down whenever the computer goes into sleep mode-and that the computer wake up periodically to refresh its network state.

   
   Figure 8-3: The Properties dialog box for a network adapter.

   Tip 

   When you click OK to dismiss the network adapter's Properties dialog box, the network connection's Properties dialog box closes. Select the Change Settings for This Connection option again to continue the procedure.

5. Make sure that the network items your client requires are listed in the network connection Properties dialog box.

   The following list describes the items you commonly see listed here. Note that not all networks need all these items:

   • Client for Microsoft Networks: This item is required if you want to access a Microsoft Windows network. It should always be present.

   • File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks: This item allows your computer to share its files or printers with other computers on the network.

     Tip 

     This option is usually used with peer-to-peer networks, but you can use it even if your network has dedicated servers. However, if you don't plan to share files or printers on the client computer, you should disable this item.

   • Internet Protocol (TCP/IP): This item enables the client computer to communicate by using the TCP/IP protocol.

     If all servers on the network support TCP/IP, this protocol should be the only one installed on the client.

   • NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol: This protocol is required only if your network needs to connect to an older NetWare network that uses the IPX/SPX protocol.

     Tip 

     In most modern networks, you should enable TCP/IP only and leave this item disabled.

6. If a protocol that you need isn't listed, click the Install button to add the needed protocol.

   A dialog box appears, asking whether you want to add a network client, protocol, or service. Click Protocol and then click Add. A list of available protocols appears. Select the one you want to add and then click OK. (You may be asked to insert a disk or the Windows CD.)

7. Make sure that the network client that you want to use appears in the list of network resources.

   For a Windows-based network, make sure that Client for Microsoft Networks is listed. For a NetWare network, make sure that Client Service for NetWare appears. If your network uses both types of servers, you can choose both clients.

   Tip 

   If you have NetWare servers, use the NetWare client software that comes with NetWare rather than the client supplied by Microsoft with Windows.

8. If the client that you need isn't listed, click the Install button to add the client that you need, click Client, and then click Add. Then choose the client that you want to add and click OK.

   The client you selected is added to the network connection's Properties dialog box.

9. To remove a network item that you don't need (such as File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks), select the item and click the Uninstall button.

   For security reasons, make it a point to remove any clients, protocols, or services that you don't need.

10. To configure TCP/IP settings, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and then click Properties to display the TCP/IP Properties dialog box. Adjust the settings and then click OK.

    The TCP/IP Properties dialog box, as shown in Figure 8-4, lets you choose from these options:

    • Obtain an IP Address Automatically: Choose this option if your network has a DHCP server that assigns IP addresses automatically. Choosing this option drastically simplifies the administering of TCP/IP on your network. (See Chapter 6 for more information about DHCP.)

    • Use the Following IP Address: If your computer must have a specific IP address, choose this option and then type the computer's IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway address. (For more information about these settings, see Chapter 6.)

    • Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically: The DHCP server can also provide the address of the Domain Name System (DNS) server that the computer should use. Choose this option if your network has a DHCP server. (See Chapter 6 for more information about DNS.)

    • Use the Following DNS Server Addresses: Choose this option if a DNS server isn't available. Then type the IP address of the primary and secondary DNS servers.

Figure 8-4: Configuring TCP/IP.

Configuring Windows Vista network connections

The procedure for configuring a network connection on Windows Vista is similar to the procedure for Windows XP, except that Microsoft decided to bury the configuration dialog boxes a little deeper in the bowels of Windows.

To find the settings you need, follow these steps:

1. Choose Start Control Panel to open the Control Panel.

   The Control Panel appears.

2. Choose View Network Status and Tasks under the Network and Internet heading.

   This step opens the Network and Sharing Center, as shown in Figure 8-5.

   
   Figure 8-5: The Network and Sharing Center (Windows Vista).

3. Click Manage Network Connections.

   The Network Connections folder appears, as shown in Figure 8-6.

   
   Figure 8-6: The Network Connections folder.

4. Right-click the connection that you want to configure and then choose Properties from the menu that appears.

   The Properties dialog box for the network connection appears, as shown in Figure 8-7. If you compare this dialog box with the dialog box that was shown earlier, in Figure 8-2, you see that they're the same.

   
   Figure 8-7: The Properties dialog box for a network connection (Windows Vista).

5. Click Configure to configure the network connection.

   From this point, the steps for configuring the network connection are the same as they are for Windows XP. As a result, you can continue beginning with Step 4 in the previous section, "Configuring Windows XP network connections."