LAN (Netbeui) with 4 computers W98SE: Adding a computer with XP PRO to network

[ATK]

Having some troubles which I expect I can resolve I think (probably Zone
Alarm) .
As |I understand it, because of XP PRO I am forced to use TCP/IP for my LAN
now for file sharing. My initial experience is that it's exceptionally slow
compared to Netbeui which I have successfully used for a long time.
Is there any way that I can use Netbeui with XP PRO as I feel it is much
more secure than TCP/IP?
My configuration is 4 (now 5) computers and some printers connected to a
switch, which in turn is connected to a Draytek Vigor 2600 Router.
Help please.

 

[Some Dude]

Having some troubles which I expect I can resolve I think (probably Zone
Alarm) .
As |I understand it, because of XP PRO I am forced to use TCP/IP for my
LAN now for file sharing. My initial experience is that it's exceptionally
slow compared to Netbeui which I have successfully used for a long time.
Is there any way that I can use Netbeui with XP PRO as I feel it is much
more secure than TCP/IP?
My configuration is 4 (now 5) computers and some printers connected to a
switch, which in turn is connected to a Draytek Vigor 2600 Router.
Help please.

No, you'll have to use IP for this setup. It IS much slower, but not more
secure. Give a bit more information on what exactly you want to do, and
perhaps there's a halfway solution...

 

[Garbiologist]

IIRC the install for it is on your XP Pro CD

NetBEUI (NBF) is a non-routable protocol suitable for small networks.
Support for this protocol in Microsoft Windows has been discontinued.
If you are instructed by the Product Support Personnel to install this
protocol
as a temporary measure, follow the instructions below.

Installation instructions for NetBEUI protocol on Windows XP and Windows
2002.

* copy nbf.sys into the %SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ directory
* copy netnbf.inf into the %SYSTEMROOT%\INF\ directory
* open network connection properties and use "Install..." button to add
NetBEUI protocol

 

[David H. Lipman]

ATK:

NetBEUI is available on the CDROM. It is a non-routable protocol and will not allow you use
the Internet. TCP/IP is a routable protocol and is what you need if you want to access the
Internet. You can have NetBEUI and TCP/IP running on all LAN nodes but that uses more RAM
and more overhead. I highly suggest that the *only* protocol you use on all LAN nodes is
TCP/IP and enable NetBIOS over IP to perform MS Networking. This will use less overhead,
allow you to access the Internet and perform MS Networking with File and Print Shares.

As always, I suggest blocking both TCP and UDP ports 135 ~ 139 and 445 on any SOHO Router.

--
Dave




| Having some troubles which I expect I can resolve I think (probably Zone
| Alarm) .
| As |I understand it, because of XP PRO I am forced to use TCP/IP for my LAN
| now for file sharing. My initial experience is that it's exceptionally slow
| compared to Netbeui which I have successfully used for a long time.
| Is there any way that I can use Netbeui with XP PRO as I feel it is much
| more secure than TCP/IP?
| My configuration is 4 (now 5) computers and some printers connected to a
| switch, which in turn is connected to a Draytek Vigor 2600 Router.
| Help please.
|
|

 

[Carey Holzman]

www.careyholzman.com/net1.htm

Carey

 

[ATK]

Thanks for replies. They have given me something to think about.
I didn't mention that I already used TCP/IP on all my computers - so that
they could access internet.
I have TCP/IP and Netbeui bound to my various NICs, but in the W98SE
environment I DON'T allow "File and Printer Sharing" to the TCP/IP
connections.
Over a long period the LAN has been very reliable and fast.
Many thanks.

 

[Marko]

you are right to use this method, garbiologist gave you the correct
answer, its on the CD, you don't "have" to use tcp/ip for internal
networking. many websites have pages on why you should go on like you are

Thanks for replies. They have given me something to think about.
I didn't mention that I already used TCP/IP on all my computers - so that
they could access internet.
I have TCP/IP and Netbeui bound to my various NICs, but in the W98SE
environment I DON'T allow "File and Printer Sharing" to the TCP/IP
connections.
Over a long period the LAN has been very reliable and fast.
Many thanks.

--
Marko Jotic
"Common sense is anything but common".
From the notebooks of Lazarus Long. Robert A. Heinlein.
Handmade knives, antique designs, exotic materials at
http://www.knifeforging.com/

 

[Carey Holzman]

I actually prefer IPX/SPX for a setup like yours, since it is included with
all versions of Windows without any special process for installing it.

Carey

 

[pjp]

I concur. I've migrated from five 98SE pc's to adding two new ones running
XP. I use TCP-IP only to facilitate using a proxy server running on one of
the 98SE boxes (dialup only where I live), PCAnywhere (to lazy sometimes to
go into other room and lan gaming. I bind nothing to TCP-IP.

All pc's use NetBuie which gives easy file and print sharing. For XP it's on
the cd in one of the "extra" folders. Just read the text file, copy the two
files where it tells you to then install the protocol.

 

[ATK]

Thanks Carey.
I copied the Netbeui from the XP CD and the Netbeui LAN works a treat for
File Sharing and is fast. My only reservation is that I feel I have lost the
control I had with W98 in terms of binding services and protocols to NICs.
One problem I do have is that XP PRO will not recognise the networked
printers.
I would like to indulge myself by showing below an email I have just sent to
Draytek (I have a Vigor 2600 router and 8-port switch), in the hope that
someone in this group can help. I emphasise that I am just starting out on
XP PRO.
*********
email to Draytek:

Hi: Happy New Year.
Using the Netbeui routine available on the XP CD I have now added XP
PRO onto my longstanding Netbeui LAN (for file and printer sharing).
Obviously, my 3 x W98s and the XP PRO use TCP/IP so that they can
access the internet at will.
My revised Netbeui LAN works an absolute treat for file sharing, but
whereas the W98 computers can all see and use the 3 networked
printers (2 x HP and a Colour QMS DeskLaser), the new XP PRO system
cannot, and I have tried many times to get the system to at least
recognise they are attached to the LAN, but without success.
Is this just a case of revised drivers being needed???. I am
surprised that XP PRO doesn't even detect the presence of the
printers on the LAN, although it did automatically show an Epson
printer attached by parallel cable to one of the W98 computers.
I have gone over the router settings which seem OK (copied from W98
computer) and I have no problems accessing the internet.
Please help.

*****************
My thanks to all who have replied.