I have a token ring network connected to an Ethernet network. The data flow here is: MADGE switch (token ring) - OMNI switch (Ethernet) - gigabyte fiber line - OMNI switch (Ethernet) - Deskstream switch (token ring). All workstations have a token ring adapter NIC with default frame sizes set to 4096. If I try to initialize a NetBEUI based application over the above network, the application dies. If I lower the default frame size to 1500, the applications work flawlessly. It seems that Windows 95 does not negotiate downward frame sizes. The switches are bridging the data, and I have no problems with the Windows NT based workstations. Any suggestions?

Different Network Interface Cards (NICs) support various maximum packet sizes, depending upon the media (Ethernet, token ring). Some applications do not know what kind of media it is and hence the “default” sizes can cause problems for the same.

Either the WinSock network API, the IPX/SPX stack, or the network adapter driver must break the application message buffers into a suitable packet size for the given media. Maximum packet sizes are also dependent upon the NICs. This is a Vendor Protocol Stack issue, not an issue within application.

To resolve the problem download the patch for your Madge NIC from: support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q135/3/14.asp and download olitokol.exe.

Is it possible for me to remotely access my PC from some other place?

You can connect to a remote PC using HyperTerminal or Personal Web Server. Using HyperTerminal and a modem, you can connect to a remote computer to share files and applications.

You start HyperTerminal by clicking Start, Programs, Accessories, Communications and then HyperTerminal.

Visit the link below to get more information on setting up HyperTerminal under Windows 98: www.nyct.net/~dd/Hyperterminal/

Remote access using Windows 98 is also possible when there is a Personal Web Server installed on the target PC. If you have Windows NT/2000 based systems, you can use the RAS services to connect to remote systems.

The problem could be due to the following reasons:

Appropriate network components or protocols might not have been installed in the system. Try this:

Install Client for Microsoft Networks using the steps given below:

• Click Start-Setting-Control Panel and double-click Networks.
• On the Configuration tab, click Add.
• Click Client, and then click Add.
• In the Manufacturers box, select Microsoft. In the Network Clients box, select Client for Microsoft Networks, click OK.
• Restart your computer when you are prompted to do so.

Install File and Printer Sharing:

• Click Start-Setting-Control Panel and double-click Networks.
• Click Add-Service, and click Add.
• In the Manufacturers box, click Microsoft. In the Network Services box, click File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks, click OK.
• Restart your computer when you are prompted to do so.

Install the appropriate Protocol:

Click Start-Setting-Control Panel and double-click Networks.

• Click Add-Protocol, and click Add.
• In the Manufacturers box, select Microsoft. In the Network Services box, click a protocol. Be sure that at least one protocol is installed on both computers. Click OK.
• Restart your computer when you are prompted to do so.
  

Use the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) feature that comes with Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows 2000. It allows two or more networked computers to share a single Internet connection.

The Internet Connection Sharing Wizard helps you to easily configure the entire setup. ICS allows home and small-business to share a single Internet connection over their network.

Here are links that tell you how to set up an Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) and add clients:

support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q234/8/15.ASP

www.annoyances.org/win98/features/ics.html

We are a Co-op bank with 122 branches across Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar city. We would like to interconnect our branches with at least 2-3 nodes and one server at each branch level. What technology should we use?

You can use an Intranet at each branch level and use VPNs with leased line or ISDN connectivity to interconnect the branches.

An Intranet is a network based on TCP/IP protocol within an enterprise and is accessible only by the organization’s members, employees, or others with authorization. Go to: www.intranetjournal.com/faqs/whatis/index.html.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a network that uses the Internet as the medium for transporting data. VPNs use encryption and other security mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can access the network.

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) provides always-on high-speed Internet access over a single dedicated telephone line whereas Cable Internet Access connects over a shared cable television line of hundreds or even thousands of users.

Using a shared connection, which is usually the case with Cable Internet Access (unless you go for a dedicated connectivity option), can create security problems and users are much more vulnerable to data interception, unauthorized monitoring, and hacking from other users along the same cable network.

Look up the following links for more information on these two technologies:
www.cnet.com/internet/0-3762-7-2643119.html
www.cox.com/OKC/CoxAtHome/Cable%20Internet%20vs%20DSL.asp

Follow these steps to set up HyperTerminal to answer incoming calls:

• Click Start-Programs-Accessories-Communications-HyperTerminal.
• Enter the information for the connection, and then click OK. Because you will use this connection for answering, the phone number you enter is not important. However, you must enter a phone number.
• Click Cancel to bypass the connect process.
• Click on the File menu and click Properties.
• Select the Settings tab and click ASCII Setup.

You may want to set one or more of the following properties to allow characters to be displayed properly in the terminal window:

• Send line ends with line feed
• Echo type characters locally
• Append line feeds to incoming lines
• Wrap lines that exceed terminal width
• Click OK to return to HyperTerminal.
• Wait for the incoming call. When you see the command “ring” or you hear the phone ring, type the answer command for your modem. On many modems, the answer command is “ATA.”

Note: If your modem supports automatic answering mode, type the following command to cause the modem to answer incoming calls automatically: ATS0=1

The problem you are facing may be due to the following reasons:

1. The bandwidth of the connection.

2. The number of users connected; the connection is usually slow when shared by many users.

3. The time at which you get connected; during peak hours, the connection may be slow.

4. The type of connection you are using (dialup or ISDN)

Make these changes to speed-up your Web access:

A. Modem Settings

• Go to Start-Settings-Control Panel and click on Modem.
• Click on the Properties button.
• Set the modem to maximum speed permissible in the combo box.

B. Delete Temporary Internet files

For Internet Explorer (IE):

• Open IE. Go to Internet Options (under View menu in IE4 or under Tools menu in IE5).
• In the Internet Options dialog box that opens, click on Delete Files button under the Temporary Internet files option.
• Click Delete Offline Content option in the confirmation box that opens and click OK.

Netscape Navigator:

• Open Netscape. Go to Edit-Preferences-Advanced- Cache and click on the button Clear disk cache.
• Go to Edit-Preferences-Navigator and click Clear History button to remove Temporary Internet files & History files.

C. While downloading close all applications currently running on your system.

D. If your speed is very slow, then allow only text to be loaded and disable the images using the following steps:

• Internet Explorer: Click on View-Internet Options. Select the Advanced tab and then uncheck the Show pictures box under Multimedia.
• Netscape Navigator: Click on Edit-Preferences. Go to Advanced and uncheck Automatically load images.

You can also use third party utilities like EasyMTU which will optimize your internet speed.

Visit the following link for more information about this software:

members.tripod.com/~EasyMTU/easymtu/index.html

You can use freeware like DataSet Remote Control and Remote Explorer to access a remote system.

1. DataSet Remote Control: DataSet Remote Control is a TCP/IP application that allows a Windows 9.x/NT/2000 PC to control and access another Windows PC for file transfer.

Visit the following link for downloading the same:

download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10101-108-65583.html

2. Remote Explorer: Remote Explorer allows you to access your computer from a remote location. Visit the following link to download the same:

www.remoteexplorer.com/

It is not possible to connect or share data between two computers using USB Ports. Instead you can use a serial cable or the HyperTerminal program to connect with another system and share files.

HyperTerminal is Windows 98’s built-in terminal-emulation program.

To install HyperTerminal:

• Click on Start-Settings-Control Panel and click on Add/Remove Programs.
• Click the Windows Setup tab and choose Communications from the list of components and click Details.
• Insert the Windows CD. Check HyperTerminal. Installation will complete.

You can use HyperTerminal and a modem to connect to a remote computer, even if the remote computer isn’t running Windows. You can also use HyperTerminal to send and receive files, or to connect to computer bulletin boards and other information programs.

To use HyperTerminal, you will need to run it once to configure a new connection:

• Run HyperTerminal.
• Choose New Connection.
• Enter a name and choose an icon for this connection.
• You will get a dialogue box with four items to be filled in: Country code, Area code, Phone number and Connect using

The following link gives information on connecting two PC’s with Serial Cable:

www.weeno.com/art/0599/66.html.

This could be because:

1. Your nodes don’t see the Network Server

2. Your service pack is not upgraded to the latest one.

Do the following:

• Shut down all your nodes, PDC and BDC and then bring the server up.
• After the server is fully up turn on your BDC and nodes one by one.
• If you have Service Pack 4, then please upgrade the service pack.

Download the latest service pack from:

www.microsoft.com/ntserver/nts/downloads/default.asp

If this doesn’t solve your problem, you will have to manually add all the nodes from the server manager.

WinProxy is a combination NAT/Proxy/firewall server designed to run on computers using

Windows 95/98 or NT4. The other computers on your network can run on any operating system capable of communicating with the TCP/IP protocol i.e. Windows 9.x/NT/2000, Unix or Linux. Every computer on the WinProxy network can access the Internet through the WinProxy server and a single Internet connection.

To solve the problem you are facing you will need to reconfigure WinProxy and the client computers. Here’s a link from where you can download the user manual for WinProxy. Go through the document and configure the WinProxy server and clients appropriately.

download.ositis.com/downloads/WinProxy_UserManual_en.pdf