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Building your Home/Small Business Network

1. Why do you need a network?
   • Share files
   • Share hardware resources like printers and modems
   • Share applications
   • Accessing the Internet
   • Just because
2. Networks
   • Internet network
   • Home network
   • Business network
3. Hardware required
   The hardware layer consists of the Network Interface Card (NIC) that is installed in each PC, the cabling that connects the PC's together, and various infrastructure components that assist in the cabling connections, e.g. hubs/MAUs, bridges, routers, etc.
   • 2 or more PCs
     You don't need a separate server machine for a Peer network. Each PC is a server.
   • Network cards - Ethernet or token ring?
     Many people chose ethernet for its relatively low cost hardware components. One consideration when choosing your actual network cards is how much manufacturer support you can obtain if and when you need assistance. (And you will need assistance sometime. It is just a matter of when). Keep in mind that the cheapest components usually do not include support. Some do not even list a manufacturer's address or telephone number. Prices of NICs range from $30 to $250 and come in ISA, EISA, MC and PCI bus versions.
   • Cables
   • Hub or MAU, $50-1800 depending on number of ports and management capabilities. (Management capabilities are used for remote diagnostics and/or configuration). Bridges and routers are not needed for a SOHO network.
4. Choosing your software
   • OS/2 Warp 4 has all you need (even if you mix operating systems).
   • TCP/IP and Peer Services
     Using Warp 4, implementing a simple peer-to-peer network is relatively easy. In a peer network, all workstations are servers to all other workstations. At each workstation, you have to define what resources of that workstation are to be shared with other users/workstations. This works well with small networks.
   • LAN Server/Warp Server
     Use if you have greater needs.
   • There are other options, too (NetWare, LANtastic for OS/2)
   • Drivers for your network cards
     An important point to consider when you choose your hardware network interface card is whether OS/2 will support the NIC out of the box or whether you have to obtain software drivers from the manufacturer. Find out before you buy if there is OS/2 software support.
5. Network applications - the gravy
   • Web server
   • Play games across the network (home network, not business network :-) )
   • Workgroup enabled products
6. Internet Network
   The Internet is a network too. Install the TCP/IP component in the Selective Install for Networking menu to get the Internet dialer, web browser and TCP/IP components installed.
7. OK, how do you do it?
   OS/2 Warp Version 4 has all the networking components built in.
   • Install/Configure networking software components
     Select the OS/2 System folder --> System Setup folder --> Install/Remove folder --> Selective Install for Networking object icon.
     1. Install and configure File & Print Sharing
        Remember the userid and password that you supply during the install. Better yet, write the userid/password down because forgetting the userid/password will require that you re-install File & Print Sharing.
     2. Install and configure MPTS for your lan adapter
        • Select the NIC adapter installed in you system.
        • Select the protocols to use: NETBIOS, TCP/IP.
          Other protocols may be needed for special circumstances such as Netware Requester (IPX/SPX) for NetWare server connection, 802.2/SNA/APPC for IBM host operating systems (VM/CMS, MVS, OS/390, OS/400)connection and NETBIOS over TCP/IP. The 802.2 protocol is needed if you have a network attached printer.
     3. Optionally install the TCP/IP component (required if you want to connect to the Internet)
     4. Optionally install other networking components (but not on the initial install of OS/2)
   • Use the Connections Folder to manage resources
     Select the Connections Folder --> Network Folder --> Network Services Folder --> Shared Resources and Network Connections object icon.
     • The Identity tab: Workstation names
       Displays the workstation name and Domain name.
       If you want PEER services to automatically start when you startup your system, check the check box.
     • The Shares tab: Sharing Resources
       Use to define the resources on this workstation that you want other peer workstations to be able to use.
     • The Connections tab: Connecting to Resources
       Use to connect to resources defined on other peer workstations that the other workstation allows you to use.
     • The Users tab: User Account Management
       Use to manage userids. Make sure that your userid has admin authority, otherwise you will not be able to define resources to share with other peer workstations.
     • The Groups tab: Groups
       Defines userid groups. For a SOHO network, use the default group name.
     • The Configuration tab: Configuration
       Contains the Peer Services configuration values. No need to change for a SOHO peer network.
8. Lets do it.
   Demo of OS/2 Warp Version 4 Peer Networking
9. Questions and Answers

Copyright 1998 the Southern California OS/2 User Group. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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