Laptop doesn't show in its own Net Neighborhood

[Aingon Atelia]

I'll admit to being a bit of a newbie, but not a total virgin, at
networking. I am using 98SE on both machines involved. Here is my problem:

I have a laptop which refuses to see itself on the network, in Network
Neighborhood, and is likewise invisible from the the other machine.

I have a D-link DFE-670TXD PCMCIA card in the laptop, and can also configure
to a network dock, both of which show to be installed correctly. I can do a
Find/Computer and it pops right up. Dragging that into NN only results in a
..lnk file, which while allowing me access to the drives, is otherwise
completely worthless.

Ipconfig returns this:

0 Ethernet adapter :

IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 209.179.200.143
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 209.179.200.143

which, if I'm not mistaken, means that the system is seeing the card
correctly.

I have been able to make this system work in the past, even using it for
gaming, using either the card or the dock.

My cable checks out fine, and I show the link light, but no activity. Of
course, if the system isn't showing up in NN at all, the cable condition is
kind of moot.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[André Franke]

Ipconfig returns this:

0 Ethernet adapter :

IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 209.179.200.143
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 209.179.200.143

It may be the cause for your problem, and again it may be something
else, but I'd recommend to remove that Default Gateway entry.
It doesn't make much sense to make a NIC its own default gateway,
since you would tell the interface that all unknown address space is
found behind its own address (wich would be the inside of your
computer).

regards
André

 

[Ramsin G]

It may be the cause for your problem, and again it may be something
else, but I'd recommend to remove that Default Gateway entry.
True...

It doesn't make much sense to make a NIC its own default gateway,
since you would tell the interface that all unknown address space is
found behind its own address (wich would be the inside of your
computer).

You do not have a Gateway!!! There should be no Gateway address there. You
are right

regards
André

--
Ramsin G
(e-mail address removed)
========================================================
It isn't that UNIX isn't a user-freindly operating system, it's
just very choosy about who its friends are, and even best friends
fight sometimes. (remove "NOSPAM" from email to reply)
========================================================

Email Scanned with Norton Anti-Virus!!!
========================================================

 

[Aingon Atelia]

It may be the cause for your problem, and again it may be something
else, but I'd recommend to remove that Default Gateway entry.
It doesn't make much sense to make a NIC its own default gateway,

Okay - this is apparently my mistake, as the address above is my ISP. I
don't have a default gateway set in my network settings. My problem is that
my computer doesn't show up in NN (which should consist of only my laptop
and my desktop), and that's not going to be affected by my ISP at all,
correct?

I have searched many sites and asked many people about this, and to date I
have no resolution. The weird thing is that it *has* worked in the past -
immediately following the initial installation of that card. The card has
tested good on other systems. My setting haven't changed. I'm really at a
loss.

 

[Jimmy Dean]

I'll admit to being a bit of a newbie, but not a total virgin, at
networking. I am using 98SE on both machines involved. Here is my problem:

I have a laptop which refuses to see itself on the network, in Network
Neighborhood, and is likewise invisible from the the other machine.

I have a D-link DFE-670TXD PCMCIA card in the laptop, and can also configure
to a network dock, both of which show to be installed correctly. I can do a
Find/Computer and it pops right up. Dragging that into NN only results in a
.lnk file, which while allowing me access to the drives, is otherwise
completely worthless.

What else do you want?

Ipconfig returns this:

0 Ethernet adapter :

IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 209.179.200.143
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 209.179.200.143

which, if I'm not mistaken, means that the system is seeing the card
correctly.

ping 127.0.0.1 indicates if the NIC is working OK.

any suggestions?

No firewalls ??

jd

 

[André Franke]

Okay - this is apparently my mistake, as the address above is my ISP. I
don't have a default gateway set in my network settings. My problem is that
my computer doesn't show up in NN (which should consist of only my laptop
and my desktop), and that's not going to be affected by my ISP at all,
correct?

So would you mind to describe your topology and tell us the correct
output of IPCONFIG /ALL?

Is your topology something like this?

[Desktop]--------[Laptop]
|
|
[ISP]

Or more like this?

[Desktop]----[Switch]----[Laptop]
|
|
[ISP]


Or even more like this?

[Desktop]----[Router w/ Switch]----[Laptop]
|
|
[ISP]

regards
André

 

[Aingon Atelia]

So would you mind to describe your topology and tell us the correct
output of IPCONFIG /ALL?

Okay - The problem I'm having isn't with getting to my ISP, it's having my
NIC show up in NN.

Here are the results of IPCONFIG /ALL, with the new card listed below:

<q>

Windows 98 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . : DWMobile
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Node Type . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
NetBIOS Scope ID. . . . . . :
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . : No
NetBIOS Resolution Uses DNS : Yes

0 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : PPP Adapter.
Physical Address. . . . . . : 44-45-53-54-00-00
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 216.244.18.242
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 216.244.18.242
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . : 01 01 80 12:00:00 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . : 01 01 80 12:00:00 AM

1 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : Fast Ethernet PC Card
Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-E0-98-AE-82-D4
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 169.254.101.108
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . : 09 02 03 8:32:30 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :

Is your topology something like this?

[Desktop]--------[Laptop]
|
|
[ISP]

If my NIC were to show up, then yes, this would be my topology. Again,
though, I have something which is blocking my NIC from showing up on that
computer's NN.

Updates - I just went out and picked up another NIC, a Trendnet TE100-PC16R,
and I have the same situation. I had run some system diagnostics on the
other NIC and they came back with a failed ROM test and suggested I replace
the NIC. This new card tests out perfectly, yet it still does not show up.

 

[Aingon Atelia]

What else do you want?

I would like my computer to show up in its own Network Neighborhood.

ping 127.0.0.1 indicates if the NIC is working OK.


No firewalls ??

Yes - I'm running Kerio Personal Firewall. I may have had it disabled when
I did that test. However, we seem to be getting distracted from the main
issue, my inability to see my computer in its NN, due to my mistake of
running IPCONFIG and reporting its results here.

Thanks.

 

[André Franke]

Okay - The problem I'm having isn't with getting to my ISP, it's having my
NIC show up in NN.

You can reach your ISP with that config?
This is on your laptop, which uses a shared internet connection
through your desktop, right?
So your laptop doesn't need the PPP Adapter, but the desktop does.
If your desktop uses a modem that is.
The provided ipconfig data for the PPP Adapter have to be on the
computer directly connected to the ISP.
But I see a DNS enty which could be only the one of a computer using a
shared connection.
Also I see the physical ethernet adapter, your NIC "Fast Ethernet PC
Card" has an APIPA assigned, which is an address generated and
assigned by the host itself, when DHCP failed. That may be caused by a
bad connection(cable), or a faulty install of ICS or anything. With
that APIPA your computer is not part of any network it is connected to
and so it doesn't show up in the network neighbourhood, since there
are no neighbors.
I'm going to show what your ipconfig data is and what it should be.
Assuming your LAN looks like this:

[Desktop](NIC_1)---------(Crossover cable)--------(NIC_2)[Laptop]
(NIC_3)
or
(MODEM)
|
|
|
|
[ISP]

==============================
This should be on your desktop('s DUN-connection):
==============================
------------------------------
(NIC_3 or MODEM)
------------------------------

0 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : (can't change)
Physical Address. . . . . . : (can't change)
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes [*1]
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 216.244.18.242 [*1]
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0 [*1]
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 216.244.18.242 [*1]
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : [*1]
Primary WINS Server . . . . : [*1]
Secondary WINS Server . . . : [*1]
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . : [*1]
Lease Expires . . . . . . . : [*1]

[*1]
a.) If your ISP requires you to set an IP statically
DHCP must not be enabled and you need to assign everything as shown
above. You may also need to enter a DNS IP address or to check a box
to use the gateway of the remote network.

b.) If the ISP requires you to use his DHCP
(let the ISP assign a dynamic IP to your connection),
then it must be enabled and all entries marked with [*1] are assigned
dynamically which means you don't have to do anything with that.

------------------------------
(NIC_1)
------------------------------

1 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : (can't change)
Physical Address. . . . . . : (can't change)
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . :
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :

That's everything you need to configure. Remember that this IP must be
static.
Then you need to enable/install Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) on
the desktop PC.
==============================

==============================
This should be on your laptop:
==============================
------------------------------
(NIC_2)
------------------------------

0 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : (can't change)
Physical Address. . . . . . : (can't change)
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes [*2]
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.2 [*1]
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0 [*1]
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1 [*1]
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : [*1]
Primary WINS Server . . . . : [*1]
Secondary WINS Server . . . : [*1]
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . : [*1]
Lease Expires . . . . . . . : [*1]

[*1] will be assigned dynamically (IP, subnetmask, Gateway and DNS may
be assigned manually if DHCP doesn't work properly and you continue
getting an APIPA)
[*2] must be enabled. (If you continue getting an APIPA disable it and
set up manually [*1])
==============================

The output of ipconfig you provided looks somewhat weird for a
computer, using the shared connection of an ICS 'Server'.
It looked partially like the output of the ICS 'Server' itself but
with wrong settings.
I'm not sure if I got the topology of your LAN right this time, so
correct me if I'm wrong.

regards
André

 

[BobC]

At present, I am needing to resolve the issue of the laptop not
showing up on the network first, and then deal with ICS.


It will be, once I get the original problem resolved.

You've provided a lot of good information, although I don't see how
it's going to help me have the laptop show up in its own Network
Neighborhood.

FWIW, I *have* been able to see it on the network in the past, and
then it just disappeared, without me having made any changes in that
timeframe. I assumed it was a smoked NIC, but nothing I do has
resolved this issue.

Read what Andre has told you. It is repeated here.
"With
that APIPA your computer is not part of any network it is connected to
and so it doesn't show up in the network neighbourhood, since there
are no neighbors."

 

[André Franke]

Doesn't that only check the local host, and work with or without the
presence of a NIC?

Correct. That will test if the TCP/IP protocolstack is installed and
working properly, even without a NIC.

regards
André

 

[Aingon Atelia]

The APIPA on your NIC (169.254.x.y) indicates, that the Nic does not
get a valid IP for your network, so your Host has no connection to any
Network Neighborhood. It is just a standalone host.

AH! Okay, I think I may be seeing the light, ever so dimly, through the fog
that is my mind...

I'm sorry if I'm seeming a little dense. I must admit that I'm trying to
resolve this in fits and starts during the odd few minutes I can afford in
my current schedule, and my inexperience certainly isn't helping matters.

Both computers have to have an IP from the same subnet, which in your
case should be 192.168.0.x mask 255.255.255.0 or they will be in a
different network each unable to communicate.
The gateway should have the 192.168.0.1 and the laptop 192.168.0.2

Interesting...these settings had been in place before. I must have
eliminated them from the laptop sometime in the troubleshooting process.
The desktop's settings were correct, and it has always shown up in its own
NN. The laptop's settings have been returned to the above and yet it still
does not show up in its own NN.

Here are the current IPCONFIG /ALL results, with the system not connected to
the internet:

***
Windows 98 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . : DWMobile
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Node Type . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
NetBIOS Scope ID. . . . . . :
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . : No
NetBIOS Resolution Uses DNS : Yes

0 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : PPP Adapter.
Physical Address. . . . . . : 44-45-53-54-00-00
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :

1 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : Fast Ethernet PC Card
Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-E0-98-AE-82-D4
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :
***

Are these correct?

Would it be helpful if I were to go through the pages in CP/Network and
list the settings here?

 

[André Franke]

Here are the current IPCONFIG /ALL results, with the system not connected to
the internet:

***
Windows 98 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . : DWMobile
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Node Type . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
NetBIOS Scope ID. . . . . . :
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . : No
NetBIOS Resolution Uses DNS : Yes

0 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : PPP Adapter.
Physical Address. . . . . . : 44-45-53-54-00-00
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :

1 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : Fast Ethernet PC Card
Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-E0-98-AE-82-D4
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :
***

Are these correct?

The settings seem correct. However, I often encountered the problem
that with Win98SE it sometimes doesn't work, if you set them manually
(like you obviously did).
I would ask you to set the ethernet adapter on your laptop to "obtain
IP address dynamically". This would also help to see if the ICS on
your desktop can assign an IP address to it, which would tell if the
link is ok and ICS is working correctly.
If your laptop does not get a valid address automatically, either the
link (cable, plugs) is faulty or ICS is broken.
To test the link, you could issue a ping from the commandline at your
laptop to the 192.168.0.1
You should get an average value of 1ms. If it is more or you get a
timeout, there is something wrong (bad cable, loose plugs, NIC socket
faulty).

Would it be helpful if I were to go through the pages in CP/Network and
list the settings here?

Here is what you need to find there:
1. tab (Configuration)
- Client for Microsoft networks
- File and Printer sharing for Microsoft networks
- <Your ethernet card>
- TCP/IP--> <your ethernet card>

2. tab (network identification)
hostname: (DWMobile)
workgroup: <same on both computers>
description: <optional>

If one of these is missing or if workgroup is not the same on both
computers it won't work.
Especially if File-/Printersharing or client for Microsoft networks is
missing you won't see the computer in any NN.

regards
André

 

[Aingon Atelia]

The settings seem correct. However, I often encountered the problem
that with Win98SE it sometimes doesn't work, if you set them manually
(like you obviously did).
I would ask you to set the ethernet adapter on your laptop to "obtain
IP address dynamically". This would also help to see if the ICS on
your desktop can assign an IP address to it, which would tell if the
link is ok and ICS is working correctly.

Ah - well, one problem here - I currently don't have ICS installed, since I
have been concentrating on this first issue of the computer not showing up.

If your laptop does not get a valid address automatically, either the
link (cable, plugs) is faulty or ICS is broken.
To test the link, you could issue a ping from the commandline at your
laptop to the 192.168.0.1
You should get an average value of 1ms. If it is more or you get a
timeout, there is something wrong (bad cable, loose plugs, NIC socket
faulty).


Here is what you need to find there:
1. tab (Configuration)
- Client for Microsoft networks
- File and Printer sharing for Microsoft networks
- <Your ethernet card>
- TCP/IP--> <your ethernet card>

2. tab (network identification)
hostname: (DWMobile)
workgroup: <same on both computers>
description: <optional>

If one of these is missing or if workgroup is not the same on both
computers it won't work.

All are there, and workgroup matches exactly.

Especially if File-/Printersharing or client for Microsoft networks is
missing you won't see the computer in any NN.

Unfortunately, I haven't made any changes due to this set of instructions.

 

[André Franke]

All are there, and workgroup matches exactly.


Unfortunately, I haven't made any changes due to this set of instructions.

Well, it seems you have to redo everything from the start, since it
seems to be ok, but it doesn't work.
1.
Can you successfully ping 127.0.0.1 ?
NO = Uninstall all network protocols, Uninstall the NIC, Reinstall the
NIC, Reinstall TCP/IP,Reinstall Client for MS Networks, Reinstall
File-/Printersharing,optionally reinstall netBEUI, check/correct the
TCP/IP and network identification settings
YES = next step
2.
Can you successfully ping the IP of the computer you are issueing the
ping command from?
NO = Problem caused by NIC (NIC broken, Driver issue) Try the same as
for 1. If it doesn't work, replace the driver or NIC.
YES = next step
3.
With your current settings, can you successfully ping from one
computer to the other?
NO = Are you sure you have the right cable? You need a crossover to
directly connect two computers or you need to employ a hub or switch
if you only have straight through cables available.
YES = Your network is functioning. The missing entry in the NN is
rather more an OS-caused issue. You should see yourself and the
other computer.

regards
André

 

[Aingon Atelia]

Well, it seems you have to redo everything from the start, since it
seems to be ok, but it doesn't work.
1.
Can you successfully ping 127.0.0.1 ?
Yes.

2.
Can you successfully ping the IP of the computer you are issueing the
ping command from?
Yes.

3.
With your current settings, can you successfully ping from one
computer to the other?
NO = Are you sure you have the right cable? You need a crossover to
directly connect two computers or you need to employ a hub or switch
if you only have straight through cables available.

I have a crossover cable, and it tests out fine, yet neither computer can
ping the other.

I shouldn't have to have a cable even connected to have the laptop show up
in its own NN, should I?

YES = Your network is functioning. The missing entry in the NN is
rather more an OS-caused issue. You should see yourself and the
other computer.

Agreed.

 

[=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Andr=E9_Franke?=]

Agreed.

Did you already try to "search for Computers" using your laptops
hostname?

I'm sorry, but if the cause is an error of your OS, I can't help you
much.

regards
André

 

[Aingon Atelia]

Did you already try to "search for Computers" using your laptops
hostname?

Just did - it gave me an unaccessible notice, "unknown error 2114",
whateverthefuck that is.

I'm sorry, but if the cause is an error of your OS, I can't help you
much.

Well, thanks for trying.

 

[=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Andr=E9_Franke?=]

Just did - it gave me an unaccessible notice, "unknown error 2114",
whateverthefuck that is.

One last try.
Are you sure it wasn't error 1214 ?
That one would mean the "network name" is invalid. (I guess there may
be some chars used for hostname or workgroup name. But the hostname
was ok, as far as I could see.)
I only have the german meanings for those error codes here. It says
the following if I translate it back as good as I can:
1214 - the formatting of the network name is invalid.

Maybe that helps.

regards
André

 

[Barry OGrady]

I have a crossover cable, and it tests out fine, yet neither computer can
ping the other.

What is the error message?

I shouldn't have to have a cable even connected to have the laptop show up
in its own NN, should I?


Agreed.

-Barry
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