new Windows XP Pro machine in a Windows 98 SE network

[David Gurevitz]

HELP!
I've a network with 26 Windows 98 SE PC's, using since de beginneing
IPX/SPX protocol (itns't a Novell Netware!).

I've been tryng to connect a new PC using Windows XP Pro, but it didn't
connect
at all!
I read all the recomendations of Chuck and I've tryed them, but it didn't
fix it!

What I've already done:
1. I already stoped browsing for the XP Pro PC;
2. I configured that PC for using IPX/SPX protocol (disabled the TCPIP on
that
network card), but I can't connect or map any drive of the network; .
3. No firewall is beeing used, neither anti-virus
4. RestrictAnonymous was set to 00000000.

When I let browsing enabled at XP, then I can see a network with only my
machine; when I don't, then I see nothing, except a message about no
permition to access the server (myself)...

I need to prepare a file server using XP(to use RAID and SATA), but I can't
set it up!!

Could it help to change for Windows XP Pro SP2?

tks
David

 

[Chuck]

HELP!
I've a network with 26 Windows 98 SE PC's, using since de beginneing
IPX/SPX protocol (itns't a Novell Netware!).

I've been tryng to connect a new PC using Windows XP Pro, but it didn't
connect
at all!
I read all the recomendations of Chuck and I've tryed them, but it didn't
fix it!

What I've already done:
1. I already stoped browsing for the XP Pro PC;
2. I configured that PC for using IPX/SPX protocol (disabled the TCPIP on
that
network card), but I can't connect or map any drive of the network; .
3. No firewall is beeing used, neither anti-virus
4. RestrictAnonymous was set to 00000000.

When I let browsing enabled at XP, then I can see a network with only my
machine; when I don't, then I see nothing, except a message about no
permition to access the server (myself)...

I need to prepare a file server using XP(to use RAID and SATA), but I can't
set it up!!

Could it help to change for Windows XP Pro SP2?

tks
David

David,

What's the connection between the new XP Pro computer, and the file server?

Can the Windows 98 computers see the new computer? Can the Windows 98 computers
see each other?

Please explain "using ... IPX/SPX protocol (itns't a Novell Netware!)". Do all
of the computers only use IPX/SPX? Why "itns't a Novell Netware!"?

You have 2 challenges here. First, diagnostics for Windows 9x are limited
compared to Windows NT; for instance, browstat (which you need to be able to use
to diagnose this problem) won't work for Windows 9x. Second, you're using
IPX/SPX, instead of TCP/IP.

Are you setting up a file server using Windows XP, on a LAN with 28 clients?

 

[David Gurevitz]

Chuck,

Sorry for the long time to reply your questions, I had to travel...

1. The unique file server will be this new PC using Windows XP Pro, that I'm
trying to put on the network (nowadays there are 2 pc's using Windows 98 SE
serving files for the network).

2. The PC's using Windows 98 can all see each other, but none of them can
see the XP, and neither the XP can see the others.

3. All windows 98 PC's are using only IPX/SPX protocol, but there insn't a
Novell Server.

4. Yes, I'm trying to set up a file server using Windows XP, on a LAN with
28 clients!

Thanks
David

 

[Chuck]

Chuck,

Sorry for the long time to reply your questions, I had to travel...

1. The unique file server will be this new PC using Windows XP Pro, that I'm
trying to put on the network (nowadays there are 2 pc's using Windows 98 SE
serving files for the network).

2. The PC's using Windows 98 can all see each other, but none of them can
see the XP, and neither the XP can see the others.

3. All windows 98 PC's are using only IPX/SPX protocol, but there insn't a
Novell Server.

4. Yes, I'm trying to set up a file server using Windows XP, on a LAN with
28 clients!

Thanks
David

David,

OK, you can use IPX/SPX on your network, but it will require experimentation.
If you make the server a browser, it can browse itself. However, the Windows 98
clients already have a master browser, which is one of them. We can't tell
which Windows 98 computer is the master browser, as browstat won't run on
Windows 98.

Apparently there is no connectivity between the server and the clients (or the
client that is the master browser).

With IPX/SPX, you don't have to worry about firewalls. You can't check
connectivity using ping, either. If the Windows XP server, and the Windows 98
clients, are on the same network segment (remember IPX/SPX isn't routable, so if
there's a router between the server and the clients, you're wasting your time)
they should connect.

You do need to be aware of one slight detail. Windows XP is OK as a server for
a small LAN, but it's limited to 10 simultaneous connections. With 28 clients,
unless your clients do very little continuous access to the server, you're going
to have problems even if you get this working.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/server-availability-affected-by.html>

All of this said, and your having read all of my recommendations:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/windows-9x-9598me-and-browser.html>
... you'll need to now read the Microsoft browser articles.
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx>
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/win95/w95brows.mspx>
<