networking XP Pro/SP2 and NT 4.0 via NetBEUI

[Martha J. Amer]

Hello,

Using my XP Pro/SP2 laptop, I would like to access the C drive on an NT 4.0
machine that has a static IP address on a different subnet. I installed
NetBEUI on the XP laptop and unchecked TCP/IP on the XP laptop's NIC and
kept NetBEUI, file/print sharing and Microsoft Network Client. The firewall
is disabled. I expected to have both computers to communicate with each
other via NetBEUI. However neither computer saw the other under Network
Neighborhood. How can I force the XP computer to communicate with the NT
machine via NetBEUI? The challenge is that the IP addresses should not be
changed on the computers. Shouldn't I be able to access \\NT_Machine\C$
from XP? Please note that the workgrop is different on both computer and
this also should stay as such.

Thanks

Marth

 

[Kurt]

Hello,

Using my XP Pro/SP2 laptop, I would like to access the C drive on an NT 4.0
machine that has a static IP address on a different subnet. I installed
NetBEUI on the XP laptop and unchecked TCP/IP on the XP laptop's NIC and
kept NetBEUI, file/print sharing and Microsoft Network Client. The firewall
is disabled. I expected to have both computers to communicate with each
other via NetBEUI. However neither computer saw the other under Network
Neighborhood. How can I force the XP computer to communicate with the NT
machine via NetBEUI? The challenge is that the IP addresses should not be
changed on the computers. Shouldn't I be able to access \\NT_Machine\C$
from XP? Please note that the workgrop is different on both computer and
this also should stay as such.

Thanks

Marth

Yes, IP addresses won't matter when using NetBeui. You don't really need
to disable TCP/IP on either box, but NetBIOS over TCP is the default.

Still, there's an easier way without having to introduce additional
protocols (which can conflict). Assuming the two computers are on the
same "wire" (i.e. not routed - NetBeui won't work over a routed link),
just add an additional IP address/subnet mask to the XP box, obviously
on the same subnet as the NT box.

TCP/IP Properties page, "Advanced" Button, Add an IP address.

....kurt

 

[Martha J. Amer]

Then the question is: why the computers can't see each other. When I double
click on Network Neigberhood on the NT machine, I expect to see two
workgroups, but I onxply see the workgroup for the NT machine. The same on
the other side. Are there any new Microsoft patches that locked NetBEUI on
XP? As I mentioned before, the firewall is turned off on XP, and the NT
machine has no firewall software installed.

TIA

M

 

[Kurt]

Then the question is: why the computers can't see each other. When I double
click on Network Neigberhood on the NT machine, I expect to see two
workgroups, but I onxply see the workgroup for the NT machine. The same on
the other side. Are there any new Microsoft patches that locked NetBEUI on
XP? As I mentioned before, the firewall is turned off on XP, and the NT
machine has no firewall software installed.

TIA

M

I can't say why it won't work, but as I said, it's not worth fussing
with - just add an IP address (it can still keep it's old one) on the XP
box that's on the same subnet as the NT4 box.

....kurt

 

[Martha J. Amer]

I know that adding another IP will solve this issue, but we're working on a
standar operating procedure that will be executed by simple technicians.
The IP may be different from one tested device to another, and asking a tech
to read the IP/Mask from the tested machine and add an alternative IP on the
same subnet could be very tricky when done by non-IT personnel. That's why
we wanted to explore the possibility of using NetBEUI because the host name
of the tested machine never changes. So we add a shortcut to the host's
drive \\HOST-NAME\C$ and we ask the technician to connect the NT machine to
the XP computer, and double-click on the shortcut on the XP computer to
access the C drive on the NT machine and move files to it (by the way the NT
machine has no I/O devices, not even a CD drive).

However, adding NetBEUI to the two computers and making sure that:
- NetBEUI was bound to both NICs
- and no firewall was blocking file/print sharing on either computer
- and enabling peer-to-peer on the XP computer (although not needed if the
firewall is off)

did not help solve this problem. Soemthing has changed since the
good-old-times and was wondering if anyone in this NG knows anything about
it.

Thanks,

M