1 Overview

1.1 This subsection describes how to manually set up an IP address for a PC or laptop running Windows 95 (Windows 98 automatically sets up a suitable IP address). This may be necessary if you want to:

• Connect to the Internet.
• Allow the PC or laptop to communicate with other PCs on your network running Windows 98.

To connect to the Internet you will need a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address. You usually obtain your IP address from your Internet Service Provider or ISP. If you have no knowledge of IP, consult your network supplier or ISP before going any further.

To communicate with computers running Windows 98, you need to allocate an IP address that is compatible with those used by the Windows 98 computers. The format of such an address is given later in this section.

To set up IP for an OfficeConnect LAN modem, please refer to Installing a LAN Modem.

2 Setting up IP on a PC or laptop

2.1 To set up an IP address on a PC or laptop carry out the following steps:

In the Control Panel window double-click Network Connection.

2.2 The Network dialog box appears with the Configuration tab displayed.

Click Add.

2.3From the listbox, select Protocol and click Add.

2.The Select Network Protocol dialog box appears.

From the Manufacturers listbox, select Microsoft.

From the Network Protocols listbox, select TCP/IP.

Click OK.

2.5n the Configuration tab, from the listbox select TCP/IP and click Properties.

2.6 The TCP/IP Properties dialog box appears with the IP Address tab displayed.

Select Specify an IP address.

Specify the IP Address and Subnet Mask, and then click OK.

IP addresses and subnet masks are written in the format xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx, where xxx is a number between 0 and 255.

For compatibility with computers running Windows 98, the subnet mask should be 255.255.0.0 and the IP address should be 169.254.xxx.xxx, such as 169.254.1.1. The IP address for each computer should be unique. We suggest you keep a record of the address allocated to each computer.

2.7 Click OK. Windows 95 asks you to insert your Windows 95 CD or various Windows 95 disks. Provide them as required. Windows 95 will then copy the appropriate drivers from the CD or disks.

2.8 Restart the PC or laptop as instructed. The IP address has now been set up.

Repeat these steps for every PC or laptop which needs an IP address.

3 Checking IP

3.1 To check that a new IP address has been set up correctly, you can use PING (Packet INternet Groper) to communicate from one PC or laptop to another on the network that already has an IP address.

To do this, carry out the following steps:

On the other PC or laptop, from the Start menu, choose Programs then MS-DOS Prompt. The MS-DOS Prompt Window will appear.

3.2Enter the command "ping xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" (where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is the new IP address that has just been set up).

The PING application in MS-DOS will try to communicate with the PC or laptop that has the new IP address and displays the results of the operation.

If communication is unsuccessful, indicated by a Request time out message, go to Cannot Ping.

3.3 Close the MS-DOS Prompt Window by entering the command 'exit'.