NetBEUI to IPX/SPX

  • Thread starter Thread starter jean
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jean

I have a new windows XP machine that I just added in to
my existing network that consists of a windows ME
computer and a windows 98 computer. All three computers
go through a Linksys router to a DSL modem to connect
through to the internet. Because of this configuration,
NetBEUI is required to make it all work. Steve
Winograd's wonderful article about Adding a Windows XP
machine to an existing network says that if I conclude
that I do need NetBEUI, I should consider using IPX/SPX,
but it doesn't discuss this further. Will IPX/SPX
replace NetBEUI, giving me the same functionality but
more security? Can you point me to some more reference
material about this?

I'm completely new to networking. In fact, it's a
testament to how good that article is that I got this
working at all, considering I had never even looked at
the network settings before on my old machines, and the
existing network was full of screwy things. So, any help
you give needs to be fully spelled out, or I'll be
completely lost.

Thanks so much for your help!
 
"jean" said:
I have a new windows XP machine that I just added in to
my existing network that consists of a windows ME
computer and a windows 98 computer. All three computers
go through a Linksys router to a DSL modem to connect
through to the internet. Because of this configuration,
NetBEUI is required to make it all work. Steve
Winograd's wonderful article about Adding a Windows XP
machine to an existing network says that if I conclude
that I do need NetBEUI, I should consider using IPX/SPX,
but it doesn't discuss this further. Will IPX/SPX
replace NetBEUI, giving me the same functionality but
more security? Can you point me to some more reference
material about this?

I'm completely new to networking. In fact, it's a
testament to how good that article is that I got this
working at all, considering I had never even looked at
the network settings before on my old machines, and the
existing network was full of screwy things. So, any help
you give needs to be fully spelled out, or I'll be
completely lost.

Thanks so much for your help!
Click to expand...

Why do you say that NetBEUI is required? To the best of my knowledge,
nothing in Windows networking has ever required NetBEUI.

TCP/IP, by itself, is sufficient for Internet sharing and for
file/printer sharing on your network.

Neither NetBEUI nor IPX/SPX will give you more security. Your router
acts as a firewall, preventing other Internet users from accessing
your network using TCP/IP. It's safe to use TCP/IP.

If you want to use NetBEUI, that's fine. It just isn't necessary. If
you want to use IPX/SPX, that's fine. It isn't necessary, either.

If your network has more than one protocol, choose one of them for
file/printer sharing and un-bind sharing from the other(s). I've
written a web page with details:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm

Thanks for the nice words about my "Adding XP" article!
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
Steve,
The following is a quote from NetBEUI section in the
protocols link from your article about adding XP to an
existing network:

"If your existing network uses NetBEUI for File and
Printer Sharing, consider changing to a different
protocol. Most networks can safely use TCP/IP. The main
exceptions to this rule are when:

All of the networked computers are connected directly to
a cable or DSL modem and receive public IP addresses from
an Internet service provider.

You've separated your LAN from the Internet, but you've
opened ports or have placed a computer outside the
firewall to use certain applications or services.

For more information, read Sections 1-3 of our article on
Securing Your LAN. If that article says that you need
NetBEUI, consider using IPX/SPX instead - even the gang
here at PracticallyNetworked has promoted NetBEUI in the
past."

My machines all share a connection through the Linksys
router to the DSL modem, receive IP addresses from my ISP
(mindspring). I tried it both ways (TCP/IP and NetBEUI,
binding file and print sharing to only one protocol at a
time, carefully ensuring that I was consistent with all
three machines), and TCP/IP didn't work but NetBEUI did.

My real question here is why the article recommends that
I considuer using IPX/SPX instead of NetBEUI - what is to
be gained by that?

Thanks for your help,
Jean

-----Original Message-----
Click to expand...
 
"Jean" said:
Steve,
The following is a quote from NetBEUI section in the
protocols link from your article about adding XP to an
existing network:

"If your existing network uses NetBEUI for File and
Printer Sharing, consider changing to a different
protocol. Most networks can safely use TCP/IP. The main
exceptions to this rule are when:

All of the networked computers are connected directly to
a cable or DSL modem and receive public IP addresses from
an Internet service provider.

You've separated your LAN from the Internet, but you've
opened ports or have placed a computer outside the
firewall to use certain applications or services.

For more information, read Sections 1-3 of our article on
Securing Your LAN. If that article says that you need
NetBEUI, consider using IPX/SPX instead - even the gang
here at PracticallyNetworked has promoted NetBEUI in the
past."

My machines all share a connection through the Linksys
router to the DSL modem, receive IP addresses from my ISP
(mindspring). I tried it both ways (TCP/IP and NetBEUI,
binding file and print sharing to only one protocol at a
time, carefully ensuring that I was consistent with all
three machines), and TCP/IP didn't work but NetBEUI did.

My real question here is why the article recommends that
I considuer using IPX/SPX instead of NetBEUI - what is to
be gained by that?

Thanks for your help,
Jean
Click to expand...

Hi, Jean. I'd like to make two points that I hope will answer all of
your (very good) questions:

1. Since you have a Linksys router, you don't have one of the network
setups that I say are exceptions to the TCP/IP-only rule. With a
router, your computers don't connect directly to the Internet, and
they don't receive public IP addresses. They connect indirectly
through the router, and they receive private IP addresses from the
router -- probably in the 192.168.x.x range. The router acts as a
firewall, preventing other Internet users from accessing your network.

Things would be different if you had a switch or hub instead of a
router.

2. The only reason that I recommend IPX/SPX over NetBEUI is that
IPX/SPX is fully supported in XP and NetBEUI is unsupported.
Microsoft has done extensive testing of IPX/SPX and will offer
technical help if you have problems with it. Neither of those is true
for NetBEUI.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
Steve,

Thanks for taking the time to clarify all this. As you
can see, this is all quite a steep learning curve for me,
and I obviously don't know the difference between a
router, a hub, a gateway, etc.

Why does TCP/IP consistently not work for me, but NetBEUI
does, then? Is it some quirky thing do to the windows 98
machine? I'm pretty sure that machine was getting an IP
address of 169.254.x.y before I assigned it manually, as
was the new machine, although the windows ME machine had
an IP address of 912.168.x.y.

Thanks,
Jean
-----Original Message-----
Click to expand...
 
"Jeean" said:
Steve,

Thanks for taking the time to clarify all this. As you
can see, this is all quite a steep learning curve for me,
and I obviously don't know the difference between a
router, a hub, a gateway, etc.

Why does TCP/IP consistently not work for me, but NetBEUI
does, then? Is it some quirky thing do to the windows 98
machine? I'm pretty sure that machine was getting an IP
address of 169.254.x.y before I assigned it manually, as
was the new machine, although the windows ME machine had
an IP address of 912.168.x.y.

Thanks,
Jean
Click to expand...

A router can also be called a "broadband router" or "residential
gateway". It has one WAN or Internet port for connecting a cable/DSL
modem and some number of LAN ports for connecting computers. It has a
built-in microprocessor that runs software that shares the Internet
connection between the attached computers.

A hub or switch only has LAN ports. It doesn't have a brain. ;-)

Let's make sure what you have, Jean. What's its make and model
number?

There should be no need for NetBEUI. If TCP/IP doesn't work for file
and printer sharing, something's wrong with the TCP/IP configuration.

An IP address of 169.254.x.x indicates that:

1. The network connection is configured to obtain an IP address
automatically, and:

2. It can't communicate with the router's DHCP server to get an
assignment.

Disable XP's Internet Connection Firewall on the local area network
connection, as shown here:

Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/ic_firewall.htm

Take a look at the tips here:

Windows XP Network Troubleshooting - Problems with Network Cards
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/networkcard.htm
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
OK, The Linksys box says this is an EtherFast 10/100 5-
Port Workgroup Hub, model number EFAH05W, Version 2.0.

I disabled XP's firewall first thing, so that's not the
problem. The 98 machine does have Norton Firewall -
could that be contributing to the problem?
-----Original Message-----
Click to expand...
 
"Jean" said:
OK, The Linksys box says this is an EtherFast 10/100 5-
Port Workgroup Hub, model number EFAH05W, Version 2.0.

I disabled XP's firewall first thing, so that's not the
problem. The 98 machine does have Norton Firewall -
could that be contributing to the problem?
Click to expand...

Thanks for that information, Jean. Your first message said that you
have a router, but you actually have a hub. Those are entirely
different types of devices, so they require different setups. I've
been answering based on my belief that you have a router.

I'm reproducing your original message below, and this time I'll give
the "hub" answer, not the "router" answer.
I have a new windows XP machine that I just added in to
my existing network that consists of a windows ME
computer and a windows 98 computer. All three computers
go through a Linksys router [should say "hub] to a DSL modem to connect
through to the internet. Because of this configuration,
NetBEUI is required to make it all work. Steve
Winograd's wonderful article about Adding a Windows XP
machine to an existing network says that if I conclude
that I do need NetBEUI, I should consider using IPX/SPX,
but it doesn't discuss this further. Will IPX/SPX
replace NetBEUI, giving me the same functionality but
more security? Can you point me to some more reference
material about this?

I'm completely new to networking. In fact, it's a
testament to how good that article is that I got this
working at all, considering I had never even looked at
the network settings before on my old machines, and the
existing network was full of screwy things. So, any help
you give needs to be fully spelled out, or I'll be
completely lost.

Thanks so much for your help!
Click to expand...

Since your computers connect directly to the Internet through a hub,
they get public IP addresses from your ISP. To prevent other Internet
users from accessing your network, choose either NetBEUI or IPX/SPX
for file and printer sharing, install that protocol on all of the
computers, and un-bind sharing from TCP/IP. I've written a web page
with details:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm

IPX/SPX and NetBEUI will give the same functionality and the same
security. I recommend IPX/SPX because it's fully supported in Windows
XP. NetBEUI is an unsupported protocol, which means that Microsoft
recommends not using it, hasn't tested it extensively, and won't give
technical support on it.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
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