Chapter 2 Setting Up Serial Connections

You can set up network connections on a Windows 95 or Windows NT computer running the Solstice Network Client software by configuring the Microsoft TCP/IP protocol. Configuring a serial connection from a client to a point-to-point (PPP) server requires changing the default authentication method from broadcast to using a specific authentication server. This chapter describes how to set up a serial connection to a PPP server from a client running Windows NT or Windows 95.

Refer to your Microsoft Windows documentation for information on setting up a LAN connection and for switching between LAN and serial connections.

You can read background and procedural information throughout this chapter, or you can use the following references to go directly to a specific topic.

• "Gathering Information"

• "Installing Dial-Up Networking on Windows 95"

• "Setting Up a Serial Connection to a PPP Server on Windows 95"

• "Adding and Removing an NFS Server"

• "Setting Up a Serial Connection to a PPP Server on Windows NT"

• "Troubleshooting"

Gathering Information

For a serial connection, your Internet service provider determines the information you need. Your provider may require all or only some of the following information:

• Your login user name

• Telephone number of the service provider

• PC COM port number

• Name service (DNS)

• IP address for your PC

• Name and IP address of name server

• Modem speed and parity setting

Installing Dial-Up Networking on Windows 95

This section explains how to install dial-up networking on a Windows 95 computer running Solstice Network Client software with the NFS Client component installed. If you have not yet installed and set up the Solstice Network Client software, refer to the "Installing Solstice NFS Client" for instructions.

To Install Dial-Up Networking

1. Double-click My Computer on the Windows 95 desktop.

   If you do not see a Dial-Up Networking folder in the My Computer program group, then either dial-up networking software or a modem is not installed in the computer. If dial-up networking software is not installed, follow these steps to install it.

2. Make sure you have the Windows 95 CD-ROM. You will be asked to insert it in the CD-ROM drive during this procedure.

3. Click the Windows 95 Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

4. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.

   The Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box opens.

5. Click the Windows Setup tab.

6. Select Communications.

7. Click Details.

   The Communications page lists communications software components.

8. Select Dial-Up Networking and click OK.

9. Click OK to close the Windows Setup dialog box.

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   Note -

   If you are asked to insert the Windows 95 CD-ROM, insert the CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive and then click OK.

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10. Click Yes when asked to restart the computer.

Setting Up a Serial Connection to a PPP Server on Windows 95

Setting up a serial connection to a PPP server on a Windows 95 computer includes four steps.

To Create a Dial-Up Connection

1. Double-click the My Computer icon, and then double-click Dial-Up Networking.

   If you do not see a Dial-Up Networking folder in My Computer, then either dial-up networking software or a modem is not installed in the computer. If dial-up networking software is not installed, see "To Install Dial-Up Networking".

2. Double-click Make New Connection.

   The Make New Connection Wizard starts.

3. (Optional) Click Configure to customize the modem properties.

   Click one or more of the tabs and make any desired changes. For example, select the Options tab and choose to open a terminal window before or after dialing the number. You can use this window to enter modem AT commands or dynamic passwords.

4. Type a name for the dial-up connection.

5. Type the telephone number of the service provider, and then click Next.

6. Click Finish.

   The name of the new connection is listed in the Dial-Up Networking dialog box.

To Set Up TCP/IP Properties

1. Select the New Connection icon, click the right mouse button, and then select Properties.

2. Click Server Type.

3. In Type Of Dial-Up Server, select PPP: Windows 95, Windows NT 3.5, Internet.

4. Under Advanced Options, select Log On To Network.

   Windows 95 prompts you to log in just after the connection is made.

5. Under Allowed Network Protocols, select TCP/IP.

6. Click TCP/IP Settings.

7. Type the IP address for the domain name service (DNS) server to use for this serial connection.

   To use the same DNS server for all PPP connections, specify the DNS server in the TCP/IP property page in the Network dialog box.

8. Click OK to close the TCP/IP Settings dialog box.

9. Click OK to close the Server Types dialog box, and then click OK again.

To Configure the Authentication Server

1. Select Network Neighborhood and click the right mouse button.

   The Network dialog box opens.

2. Select the Microsoft TCP/IP protocol and click Properties.

   Make sure the TCP/IP protocol is selected next to the Dial-Up Adapter.

3. Select Solstice NFS Client and click Properties.

4. Click the Security tab (Figure 2-1).

   Figure 2-1 Changing the Default Authentication Server

   
   

5. Type the name or IP address of your authentication server.

   When you connect to a PPP server, only the client and the PPP server are considered hosts on the local subnet. You must specify the IP address of the authentication server if it is outside the local subnet.

To Log In and Connect to a PPP Server

1. Start Windows 95.

   If you selected Solstice Network Client as the primary network logon, the Solstice Network Client login dialog box opens. If you selected Microsoft Windows as the primary network login, the Windows 95 login dialog box opens.

2. Click Cancel in the login dialog box.

   You cannot successfully log in to the network and be authenticated until you establish a connection to the Solaris server. The Windows 95 desktop opens.

3. Select the Serial Connection icon and type your network user name and password.

4. Click Connect.

5. Log in to the PPP server.

   You might need to type a string such as ppp to start the PPP server. The message, Verifying Username and Password, means that the PCNFSD server is authenticating your user name and password. The message, Logging on to Network is displayed, and then either the Solstice Network Client or Windows 95 network login dialog box opens.

6. In the login dialog box, type your user name and password.

   If the login is successful, the message, "Connected at baud rate is shown." You can now run TCP/IP applications.

Adding and Removing an NFS Server

In a PPP configuration, the local subnet includes only your Windows computer and the PPP server. You cannot browse files on an NFS server that is outside the local subnet. To access files on an NFS server in a PPP configuration, you must add the NFS server.

To Add an NFS Server

1. Open Network Neighborhood and double-click Entire Network.

   Network Neighborhood displays a list of NFS Servers and NFS Automount Maps.

2. Select NFS Servers and click the right mouse button.

3. Click Add/Remove NFS Servers.

   The NFS Servers dialog box opens (Figure 2-2).

   Figure 2-2 NFS Servers Dialog Box

   
   

4. Type the name of an NFS server and then click Add.

5. Click OK to close the NFS Servers dialog box.

To Remove an NFS Server

1. Open Network Neighborhood and double-click Entire Network.

   Network Neighborhood displays a list of NFS Servers and NFS Automount Maps.

2. Select NFS Servers and click the right mouse button.

3. Click Add/Remove NFS Servers.

   The NFS Servers dialog box opens (Figure 2-2).

4. Select an NFS server to remove and then click Remove.

5. Click OK to close the NFS Servers dialog box.

Setting Up a Serial Connection to a PPP Server on Windows NT

If your computer has a network adapter card installed and you plan to use the computer to make both serial and LAN connections, create a separate Windows NT hardware profile for each configuration. Refer to Windows NT on-line Help for instructions on setting up hardware profiles.

Setting up a serial connection to a PPP server on a Windows NT computer includes five steps.

To Add Remote Access Service

1. Right-click Network Neighborhood icon, then click Properties.

   The Network properties dialog box opens.

2. Click the Services tab, click Add, select Remote Access Service, and then click OK.

   The Remote Access Setup program opens the Add RAS Device dialog box.

3. Follow the instructions on the screens to install your modem.

   When you have installed your modem, it is listed in the Remote Access Setup dialog box.

4. Click Continue.

   Remote Access Service is added to the list of services.

5. Click Close to close the Network dialog box.

6. Click Yes when asked if you want to restart your computer.

To Create a Dial-Up Connection

1. Double-click the My Computer icon, and then double-click Dial-Up Networking.

2. Click New.

   The New Phonebook Entry Wizard starts. Fill in the information asked for on each screen with information provided by your Internet Service Provider.

3. Type a name for the connection and then click Next.

   Answer questions about how you dial the Internet and then click Next.

4. Type the telephone number of the service provider, and then click Next.

5. Click Finish.

6. (Optional) Click More and choose from the menu to customize modem properties and dialing preferences.

7. Click Close.

To Configure an Authentication Server

1. Right-click Network Neighborhood and then click Properties.

   The Network dialog box opens.

2. Click the Services tab, select Solstice NFS Client, and then click Properties.

   The Solstice NFS Client Configuration page opens.

3. Click the Security tab.

4. In the Authentication field, select Use A Specific Authentication Server, type the IP address of your authentication server, and then click OK.

   When you connect to a PPP server, only the client and the PPP server are considered hosts on the local subnet. You must specify the IP address of the authentication server if it is outside the local subnet.

5. Click Close to close the Network dialog box.

6. Click Yes when asked if you want to restart your computer.

To Grant Dialin Permission to a User

A Windows NT user must have dialin permission to log in to a network over a serial connection.

1. From the Start menu, select Programs, select Administrative Tools, and then click User Manager.

2. Double-click the user's name to open the User Properties dialog box.

3. Click Dialin.

4. Select Grant Dialin Permission To User, choose a Call Back option, and then click OK.

5. Click OK to close the User Properties dialog box.

To Log In and Connect to a PPP Server

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to log in to Windows NT.

2. Type your Windows NT user name and password, and then click OK.

   You will see a message stating that the Solstice NFS Client was not started because a local network was not detected. You cannot successfully log in to the network and be authenticated until you establish a connection to the Solaris server.

3. Click OK.

   The Windows NT desktop opens.

4. Double-click the Network Neighborhood icon, double-click Entire Network, and then double-click Solstice_NFS_Client.

   The Solstice NFS Client dialog box (Figure 2-3) opens.

   Figure 2-3 Solstice NFS Client Dialog Box

   
   

5. Select a number to dial from the phonebook entries listed and click Dial to dial a network connection.

6. Log in to the PPP server.

   You might need to type a string such as ppp to start the PPP server. The message, Registering Your Computer on the Network, means your computer has successfully connected to the PPP server. The message, Authenticated, means the PPP server has verified your user name and password.

   The Solstice NFS Client Login dialog box (Figure 2-4) opens.

   Figure 2-4 Solstice NFS Client Login Dialog Box

   
   

7. Type your Solstice user name and password, type the name of an authentication server, and then click OK.

   You are now logged in to the network and can use NFS to connect to network files.

To Log In to the Solstice Network

If you have set up an automatic dial-in connection, your computer might start dialing the remote server before you click Dial on the Solstice NFS Client dialog box. You are connected to the remote PPP server, but not yet logged in to the network. Logging in to the Network Provider allows you to access NFS files and printers.

1. Double-click the Network Neighborhood icon, double-click Entire Network, and then double-click Solstice_NFS_Client.

   The Solstice NFS Client dialog box (Figure 2-5) opens.

   Figure 2-5 Solstice NFS Client Dialog Box

   
   

2. Select a number to dial from the phonebook entries listed and click Dial to dial a network connection.

   Your computer dials the number you selected.

   

3. Log in to the PPP server.

   You might need to type a string such as ppp to start the PPP server. The message, Registering Your Computer on the Network, means your computer has successfully connected to the PPP server. The message, Authenticated, means the PPP server has verified your user name and password.

   The Solstice NFS Client Login dialog box (Figure 2-6) opens.

   Figure 2-6 Solstice NFS Client Login Dialog Box

   
   

4. Type your Solstice user name and password, type the name of an authentication server, and then click OK.

   You are now logged in to the network and can use NFS to connect to network files.

Troubleshooting

Table 2-1 lists solutions to common problems connecting to the network from a Windows 95 computer running the Solstice Network Client software using a serial connection.

Table 2-2 lists possible solutions to problems logging in to a Windows 95 or Windows NT computer running the Solstice Network Client software using a serial connection.

Table 2-3 lists solutions to common problems connecting to the network from a Windows NT computer running the Solstice Network Client software using a serial connection.

The Solstice NFS Client 
was not started because 
a local network was not 
detected and the 
authentication server 
could not be reached.

Unable to browse the 
network. The network 
is not present or is 
not started.