Client Selection | Network+ Study Guide

A workstation communicates with the server over a certain protocol using client software. The protocol might be IPX/SPX (Internet Packet eXchange/Sequenced Packet eXchange), TCP/IP, or NetBEUI. Protocols are separate from the client software, but in some instances, the installation of protocols is integrated into the installation of client software. In Windows 95/98, installed protocols and clients are listed together. To display a listing of the protocol(s) and client(s) currently installed, follow these steps:

Choose Start Ø Settings Ø Control Panel to open Control Panel.
Double-click Network to open the Network dialog box.

Installed clients are listed in the Configuration tab, at the top of the list above installed protocols and network adapters.

Installing the Windows 95/98 and NT/2000 Client

Not surprisingly, Windows 95/98 comes with a client to connect to Microsoft servers and PCs. The Client for Microsoft Networks is the preferred client to access Microsoft networks. You also need this client to run the server tools for Windows NT/2000 on a Windows 95/98 computer to be able to perform domain administrative tasks.

Additionally, the network administrator will also have to authenticate (provide username and password at a login screen) again when using the server tools versions of administrative utilities on a Windows 95/98 machine. Therefore, the best combination for a network administrator’s desktop machine is Windows NT/2000 Workstation or Server with the Client for Microsoft Networks.

Follow these steps to install the Microsoft Client for Networks on a Windows 95/98 computer:

Be sure that your network interface card (NIC) is properly installed and configured. The operating system must already recognize the card. Locate your Windows 95/98 CD and have it ready.
Connect your network cable, and ensure that the link light on the NIC is on.
Make sure that you are at the Windows 95/98 Desktop.
Choose Start Ø Settings Ø Control Panel to open Control Panel.
Double-click Network to open the Network dialog box.
Click Add to open the Select Network Component Type dialog box.
Click the Client icon in the list, and then click Add to open the Select Network Client dialog box.
In the Manufacturers box, click Microsoft.
In the Network Clients box, click Client for Microsoft Networks, and then click OK.
Click OK in the Network dialog box.
Place the Windows 95/98 CD in the drive if prompted to do so. Locate the install CAB files, and click OK if prompted. The Copying Windows Files screen opens and then closes.
In the System Settings Change dialog box, click Yes. The system will now reboot.

Installing the NetWare Client

You have two options for setting up user workstations to connect to a NetWare network:

Novell NetWare Client
Microsoft Client for NetWare Networks

The one you select depends on your network and users. If you have a predominantly Windows NT network, the Microsoft client might better fit your needs. If you have a NetWare network or a hybrid network with a substantial Novell base, you need to use the Novell client; the latest version is available from Novell. Stay away from the clients distributed with Microsoft Windows 95/98 and NT/2000.

You can find the Novell Client for NetWare on the following:

Novell’s website at www.novell.com
NetWare Client CD as part of the NetWare installation CD set or floppies (only with older versions)
The ZENworks CD
The SYS volume of a NetWare server

What happens when you lose connectivity with your NetWare server and you need to install client software? If you are using IPX/SPX without a web proxy server, downloading the software from the Novell website is out. Many companies place software media under lock and key, and require support staff to install from the network. If that is the case with your company, that cuts out installing from CDs and floppies. The SYS volume is useless if you can’t access the server. To avoid these problems, place a copy of the client installation software on your local PC the first time you connect to a NetWare server.

Tip

Regardless of the vendor you choose, a good practice is to download the installation files for your operating system (CABs for Windows 95/98, i386 directory for NT), client software, video drivers, and NIC drivers as soon as you connect to a server.

Don’t forget about yourself. The best combination for the network administrator’s computer is a Windows 95/98 or NT/2000 operating system with the Novell NetWare Client. Novell’s NDS takes care of authentication, thus addressing network security. Use Windows NT/2000 if you want additional security on your local machine. As an administrator, you have no choice about the client. Without Novell’s client you will not get the full functionality of the NetWare Administrator utility and, besides, Novell’s client is free.

To install the Novell Client for NetWare on a Windows 95/98 computer, follow these steps:

Download the latest Novell Client for NetWare from the Novell website, and run the self-extracting file. Or insert your NetWare Client CD.
Double-click the setup.exe file. (This is true for the non-ZENworks version of the client software.) The Novell client license agreement window opens.
Read the license agreement, and then click Yes to accept the agreement and to open the Welcome dialog box.
In the Select an Installation Option section, click Typical.
Click Install to open the Building Driver Information Database and Copying Files windows.
You’ll be asked if you want to set the preferred server properties for NetWare 3.x servers or the preferred tree, context, and server properties for NetWare 4.x and later servers.
- If you click Yes, you will have an opportunity to set these properties in the Novell NetWare Client Properties dialog box. Click OK when you finish entering the information, and the installation continues.
- If you click No, the installation continues.

Note

On Windows 95/98 computers, some files need to be copied from the Windows 95/98 CABs. If these are not in the Windows\Options\Cabs directory, you will be prompted to insert the Windows 95/98 installation CD.

When the installation is finished and you are prompted to restart the computer, click Reboot.

Warning

Be sure that your IPX/SPX or TCP/IP protocol stacks are properly configured. See Chapter 3 for details.

Installing the Unix Client

Windows 95/98 needs the client portion of the Network File System (NFS) to connect to the Unix NFS. If a computer has this client installed, NFS Client—or similar wording—will appear in the listing in the Network dialog box.

Note

Windows 95/98 computers without an NFS client can connect directly to a Unix system that is running Samba. Samba is a free server-based solution that uses Server Message Blocks (SMBs) to allow Microsoft clients to see the Unix file system. Samba is available from ftp://samba.anu.edu.au/pub/samba/. Samba is designed for Unix servers and will not install on a Windows 95/98 PC.

The client portion of NFS is currently available only from third-party vendors. No NFS client is distributed with Windows 95/98 or NT/2000. Two popular NFS client vendors are Sun and NetManage. Sun Microsystems offers server and client products for Unix server to PC connectivity. Its clientbased product is Solstice NFS Client. NetManage offers several products, including Chameleon UnixLink. You should select the vendor and product based on your individual needs and budget and after evaluating the demo software. Since third-party options tend to be more popular than their primary vendor counterparts, we’re going to demonstrate the installation of NetManage’s Chameleon.

Note

You can get a demo of Chameleon from the NetManage website at www.netmanage.com. This is a demo; after 30 days, the software ceases to function.

To install the NetManage Chameleon UnixLink on a Windows 95/98 PC, follow these steps:

Double-click setup.exe in the Cham_95\NFS directory. This directory is on your CD or in your download directory after extraction. The NetManage Setup and License Notice windows open.
Read the License Notice, and click Accept to open the Setup Option dialog box.
Click Typical, and then click Next to open the Serial Number dialog box.
Enter your serial number and key in their fields, and then click Next to open the Select Directory dialog box.

Note

The serial number and key are typically included on a document that comes with the software. You can also obtain them from the website where you downloaded the free software (usually called a “demo” key).

Verify the installation directory. By default it is C:\NETMANAG.95. If you want to install to a different directory, enter the path or browse to the directory. When you are finished, click Next. Files are installed when the Copy Files dialog box opens.
The Building Driver Information Database and Copying Files windows open. You may be prompted for your Windows 95/98 CD if the CAB files are not on your local hard drive.
The Information screen opens, telling you that it will now install support programs. Click OK to open the Choose Program Destination Location dialog box.
Click Next. The NetManage Setup window tells you that components are being installed.
In the Finish window, click Finish. The NetManage Setup window opens, telling you that you must restart Windows for the changes to take effect.
Click Yes to restart Windows.

Selecting a Primary Client

Now you have connections to your NT, NetWare, and Unix servers. You now must determine which one will be the primary client on your Windows 95/98 machines. The first question you must ask yourself is: Which servers do your users most often access? For your CAD/CAM engineers, it may be Unix; for web design, it could be either NT or NetWare. Each user will want their favorite servers to appear first in the Network Neighborhood. As an administrator, you will want to gain quick access to the network you spend the most time managing. The network administrator can set a primary type of client to speed access and searches.

To set a primary client on a Windows 95/98 PC, follow these steps:

Choose Start Ø Settings Ø Control Panel to open Control Panel.
Double-click Network to open the Network dialog box with the Configuration tab selected. Notice the Client for Microsoft Networks, the NetManage UnixLink NFS Client, and the Novell NetWare Client at the top of the dialog box.
Click the drop-down button to the right of the Primary Network Logon text field to display the drop-down list.
Scroll down through the options, and select the primary client of your choice. Your selection now appears in the Primary Network Logon text field.
Click OK to save the change. The System Settings Change dialog box opens, asking you to restart your computer.
Click Yes to restart your computer.