Your best bet for easy Ethernet card installation is to run a Windows 98 LAN
using Thin Net. Win98 is one of the easiest operating systems to network. So
if you are running Win95 and thinking of upgrading, this is a great time to do
it. However, if you are running Windows NT, please don't go to 98 -- I HATE
Win98 system, IMHO the only thing that makes Win98 worthwhile is its easy
networking.
For this super easy installation, you should get:
NE2000 compatible Plug and Play cards that fit into PCI or ISA slots and
that advertise themselves as compatible with Windows 98. If you can find NICs
that also say they are compatible with Linux or Unix, get them as you probably
will upgrade one or more of your computers to a Unix type operating system
soon. Trust me on this:):)
If you plan on using Thin Net, make sure the NICs have Thin Ethernet
connectors on them, and come with a disk of installation software.
If you plan on 10BASE-T, look for a connector that looks sort of like a
phone jack.
Newbie note: The NE2000 standard was developed by Novell to provide an
easy way to set up Ethernet LANs for its Net ware operating system. Because
Net ware is widely used on LANs, any operating system you have should be able
to use any NIC advertised as "NE2000 compatible."
If you can't get NE2000 compatible cards, the next most common type of
Ethernet network card is probably 3Com cards -- from the company founded by
the men who invented Ethernet. In general, look for wording on the package
that promises the card will run on Win 95/98 (and Linux or Unix), and for the
Thin Ethernet connector. Many cards only support 10BASE-T, so watch out for
that.
If at all possible, get NICs that have little lights in them, preferably
two lights for each connector (your NIC may have both a Thin Net and 10BASE-T
connector on it). This will help you with troubleshooting.
Make sure you get a disk with configuration software on it along with the
NIC just in case the plug and play feature fails. Sad to say, Windows isn't
always able to perform plug and play installations correctly.
Newbie note: Drivers are programs that tell computers how to operate
hardware.
At least in New Mexico and Texas (where I've bought lots of NICs), office
supply stores are usually the cheapest places to get them. Friends with LANs
are another good source -- for free NICs. Ask your friends if they have any old
NICs lying around -- if they have upgraded their LAN to a higher speed, they may
have some surplus 10 Mbs cards. Used computer stores are another happy hunting
ground, but watch out for bad hardware.
Hardware for Thin Net:
Get one Thin Net cable if you plan to network two computers.
If you plan to network three computers, get two Thin Net Cables, two
terminators, and make sure the NICs you get have a "T" shaped connector in
each package. For each additional computer you plan to network, get an
additional Thin Net cable.
Make sure you have either a Windows 95 or 98 CD-ROM and a CD-ROM drive, or
else a modem and Internet connection. You will almost certainly need one or
both to install your NICs. If you have only one CD-ROM drive, you can move it
from one computer to the next to install your NIC drivers.
Hardware for 10BASE-T:
Ethernet hub. The cheap ones come for $50 or less. If you go to a used
computer store you might be able to get a high quality one with more ports and
diagnostic features (lots of little lights) for the same price. You don't
need a driver or any sort of software for the hub -- it comes ready to operate
just by plugging in the power and turning it on. Whew, at least something
about networking is easy!
For each computer on your network, get one UTP cable. Many stores call
these "patch cables." They look like oversized phone cords.
Wizard tip: If you find a UTP cable labeled
"crossover cable," you can use it without a hub to make a 10BASE-T
connection between just two computers. However, a crossover cable will not
work if you put it between a hub and a computer. I use a crossover cable
with my laptop for troubleshooting networks, using it to hook my laptop to
the network suspect of the day.
