4.2. Configuring Windows NT

Configuring Windows NT to act as a LAN resource is also relatively straightforward. The procedures for configuring Windows NT are similar to Windows 95 with minor exceptions in the user interface.

The steps shown here are appropriate for a Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, but the principles are the same for NT 3.5x. You may wish to refer to the "Configuring Windows for Workgroups" section if you're configuring Windows NT 3.5x, since the user interface is the same for NT 3.5 and WfW.

Perform the following steps:

Create the Windows NT "hosts" file:

In order to connect to the other TCP/IP systems on the LAN you'll need to create an identical copy of the "hosts" file that you installed on the FreeBSD system in Section 3.4

• Click the "Start" button; select "Run..."; enter "notepad \WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\HOSTS" (without the quotes) and click "OK"

• In the editor, enter the addresses and system names from Section 3.4.

• When finished editing, close the notepad application (making sure that you save the file!).

Configure the Windows NT TCP/IP Network Configuation settings:

• Click the "Start" button on the taskbar; select "Settings" and "Control Panel".

• Double-click the "Network" icon to open it.

• With the "Identification" tab selected, verify the "Computer Name" and "Workgroup" fields. In this example we'll use "Shemp" for the name and "Stooges" for the workgroup. Click the "Change" button and amend these entries as necessary.

• Select the "Protocols" tab.

  The installed Network Protocols will be displayed. There may be a number of protocols listed but the one of interest to this guide is the "TCP/IP Protocol". If "TCP/IP Protocol" is not listed, click the "Add" button to load it.

  (Hint: "Add | TCP/IP Protocol | OK")

• Highlight "TCP/IP Protocol" and click the "Properties" button.

  Tabs for specifying various settings for TCP/IP will be displayed.

Configuring the IP Address:

Make sure that the Ethernet Interface is shown in the "Adapter" box; if not, scroll through the list of adapters until the correct interface is shown.

• Click the "Specify an IP address" radio button to enable the three text boxes.

  In our example LAN the Windows NT system is the one we've called "Shemp"

• In the "IP Address" field enter "192.168.1.4".

• Enter 255.255.255.0 in the "Subnet Mask" field.

Configure the Gateway information:

For our example network the FreeBSD box will be acting as our gateway to the Internet (routing packets between the Ethernet LAN and the PPP dial-up connection.

• Enter the IP address of the FreeBSD Ethernet interface, 192.168.1.1, in the "New gateway" field and click the "Add" button.

  If any other gateways are defined in the "Installed gateways" list you may wish to consider removing them.

Configuring DNS:

Again, this guide assumes that your Internet Service Provider has given you a list of Domain Name Servers (or "DNS Servers") that you should use.

If you wish to run a DNS server on your local FreeBSD system, refer to Section 6, "Exercise for the Interested Student" for tips on setting up DNS on your FreeBSD system.

• Click the "DNS" tab

• In the "Host Name" field enter the name of the Windows NT box, in this case: "Shemp".

• In the "Domain" field enter the name of our local network, in this case: "my.domain"

• In the "DNS Server Search Order" section, enter the IP address of the DNS server that your ISP provided, clicking the "Add" button after every address is entered. Repeat this step as many times as necessary to add all of the addresses that your ISP provided.

Other Windows NT TCP/IP options:

For our purposes the settings under the "WINS Address" and "Routing" tabs are not used.

If you wish to use the Windows Internet Naming Service ("WINS") your attention is invited to http://www.localnet.org for more information about WINS settings, specifically regarding sharing files transparently across the Internet.

Mopping up:

• Click on the "OK" button to close the TCP/IP Properties section.

• Click on the "Close" button to close the Network Control Panel.

• Restart your computer if prompted to do so.

That's it!