Windows XP Annoyances

7.2 Step-by-Step Procedures

With the fundamentals of Windows XP's networking features out of the way, we can now concentrate on the actual procedures used to accomplish several different tasks.

As explained earlier in this chapter, Windows is really only concerned with the connections directly attached to the computer, so building a network or connecting a computer to the Internet essentially involves hooking things up and then configuring the connections in the Network Connections window for each computer involved.

7.2.1 Building a Peer-to-Peer Workgroup

A peer-to-peer workgroup is comprised of two or more computers and the necessary networking hardware to connect them. Or, in broader terms:

• At least two computers, each presumably running Windows XP. Naturally, you can connect an XP system to one running any other networkable operating system (Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT/2000, Mac, Linux, FreeBSD, BeOS, Unix, etc.), for the purposes of this book, we'll assume both machines are running Windows XP.

   

  Note that a system running Windows XP Home Edition will be able to connect to a maximum of five computers in a workgroup. This arbitrary limitation is not present in Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows 9x, or Windows NT.

   

• At least one Ethernet adapter installed in each computer. NICs are cheap and readily available, and are even built into most modern systems (anything capable of running XP, anyway).

  If you're not sure what to get, just purchase a standard, plug-and-play 10/100 Ethernet adapter with an RJ45 connector. If you have a desktop system, get a PCI card; if you have a laptop, get a CardBus adapter. USB-to-Ethernet adapters are also available, and while they're easier to install (you wouldn't have to take your desktop apart), they tend to be slower and more temperamental than the aforementioned types.

• Lastly, you'll need a hub (or switch) and two category-5 patch Ethernet cables. Alternately, you can use just a single category-5 crossover Ethernet cable and skip the hub, but this will limit your network to only two computers. Figure 7-1 shows a workgroup of four computers connected to a hub (or switch), and Figure 7-2 shows a simpler, hubless LAN with only two systems. An alternative to the cables and hub is wireless equipment, discussed in Section 7.1.2, earlier this chapter.

Once you have all of the components, you can begin with the following procedure. Naturally, different types of hardware will require a modified procedure, but the methodology is the same.

7.2.1.1 Troubleshooting a workgroup connection

The following tips should help you get around most of the common hurdles you'll encounter when setting up a LAN:

• Heed the advice at the beginning of Chapter 6: restarting your computer will fix 99% of all problems. This is never more true than when diagnosing a networking problem.

• Run the Network Setup Wizard, as described earlier in this chapter. While this step isn't always required, it does occasionally fix errant settings that otherwise would prevent a network from working properly.

• Try replacing one or more of the cables, especially if they're old or their connectors are worn.

• Make sure the appropriate lights are lit. See "Planning your Network" for description of the way lights work on network devices.

  When you transfer data across a network connection, each network card and the hub (if you have one) should have an "activity" light that flashes. Some devices have separate lights for receiving and transmitting data, while others have only a single light for all incoming and outgoing communication. Activity lights tend to flash intermittently and irregularly; if they flash regularly, it could be a sign of a problem with one of the devices.

• Windows XP is designed to implement most changes to the network without restarting. However, if you encounter problems, try restarting one or all of your machines to force them to recognize a newly-configured network.

• Make sure no two computers on your network are attempting to use the same Computer name or IP address.

• Make sure you have the latest drivers for your NIC (network adapter); check with the manufacturer for details. Note that hubs, routers, and switches typically don't require any special drivers, but it would not be unusual for such device to require updated firmware for compatibility with Windows XP. See Chapter 6 for more information on firmware.

• Right-click the connection icon in the Network Connections window corresponding to your Ethernet adapter, and select Repair. Note that this feature essentially reinstalls drivers, but doesn't necessarily investigate other sources of problems.

• Some problems are caused by improper hardware settings, usually attributed to the network card itself. Open Device Manager (discussed in Chapter 6), double-click the icon for your Ethernet adapter, and choose the Advanced tab. Choose a property in the list on the left and configure the selected property on the right. Try not to fuss with any settings you don't understand.

  If your network card has more than one type of connector (commonly called a combo card), only one connector will be in use at any given time. The Windows default for this setting may be "autodetect," which may impair performance or even cause the device to stop working. Change this option so that it matches the connector you're using: for example, choose "coaxial" for round, 10base-2 cables and RJ-45 for the more common 10base-T cables.

  Another commonly misconfigured setting is the choice between full-duplex, half-duplex, and autodetection. Full-duplex is a connection where information can flow in both directions simultaneously; half-duplex only allows unidirectional communication. The wrong setting can cause a network connection to malfunction or just operate very slowly, especially with older adapters. Try experimenting with different settings.

• If you know the network cards are functioning properly and the network cable is connected properly, try using the diagnostic software that comes with many network cards (contact the manufacturer of your adapter for more information) to test the card and the connection. If the diagnostic software reports no problems, odds are that the problem lies elsewhere.

• If the Ping test described above is successful, then your network is working. Other problems you may be having, such as not being able to "see" other computers in Explorer, are not necessarily the result of a network problem that can be solved here. For more information on shared resources, see Chapter 8.

7.2.2 Connecting to the Internet

Although connecting to the Internet is really not any different than connecting to a workgroup, at least as far as Windows is concerned, you'll typically encounter different types of problems. The procedure to initiate an Internet connection varies with the type of connection you wish to establish:

• DSL, cable, T1, or other high-speed connection with a static IP address (no username and password)

• DSL, cable, or other high-speed connection via PPPoE (username and password required)

• Connection provided by a router or another computer via Internet Connection Sharing

• Dial-up connection, including analog modems over standard phone lines

If your connection doesn't fit neatly into one of the above categories, your setup may still be similar to one of the following sections anyway. Otherwise, you'll need to contact your service provider for specific instructions and software for Windows XP. Details on each of these connection types are as follows:

7.2.2.1 DSL, cable, or other high-speed connection with a static IP address

High-speed connections with static IP addresses are probably the easiest of the aforementioned connections to set up in Windows XP.

A static IP address means you have the same IP address every time you start your computer. If you're not sure if you have such a connection, check to see if your connection requires a username and password to log on; if so, you most likely have a PPPoE connection, described in the next section. Otherwise, proceed with these steps:

If, after completing these steps, Windows ever prompts you to connect to the Internet, go to Control Panel Internet Options Connections tab, and select the Never dial a connection option.

7.2.2.2 DSL, cable, or other high-speed connection via PPPoE

PPPoE is used to establish temporary, dynamic-IP connections over high-speed Internet connections. If your Internet connection has a dynamic IP address, it means your Internet service provider assigns you a different IP address every time you connect to the Internet. The PPPoE (Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet) protocol facilitates this connection by sending your username and password to your provider.

If your ISP provides special software that connects to the Internet (such as Efficient Networks' truly awful Enternet 300 software or RASPPPoE), you can abandon it in favor of Windows XP's built-in support for PPPoE, explained here.

One of the differences between this type of connection and the static IP connection discussed in the previous section is that PPPoE connections must be initiated every time you start Windows or every time you wish to use the Internet, which is somewhat like using old-fashioned Dial-up connections (discussed in a subsequent section). Such connections are automatically disconnected when you shut down Windows.

If you have a PPPoE connection and you're using a router to share your Internet connection (explained later in this section), don't use this procedure. Instead, you'll need to enter your username and password into your router's configuration screen, as described in your router's documentation.

Here's how to set up a PPPoE connection in Windows XP:

Here are some tips for working with PPPoE connections.

• To skip the Connect dialog, right-click the connection and select Properties (or click the Properties in the Connect window itself), choose the Options tab, and turn off the Prompt for name and password, certificate, etc. option.

• To have Windows connect automatically whenever the connection is needed, first right-click the connection icon and select Set as Default Connection. Then, go to Control Panel Internet Options Connections tab, and select the Always dial my default connection option.

• To have Windows connect automatically when you first start your computer, place a shortcut to the connection in your Startup folder. You'll also need to make sure that the Prompt for name and password, certificate, etc. option is turned off, as described earlier.

• If you need to make several, similar PPPoE connections, you can save time by right-clicking the connection you just created and selecting Create Copy. Then, right-click the newly copied connection and select Properties to modify it.

• If you're having trouble getting your new PPPoE connection to work, check your DSL or cable modem first to see if the correct lights are lit (refer to your documentation). Sometimes, turning off the adapter, waiting several minutes, and then turning it back on solves the problem.

• If you're using PPPoE in conjunction with Internet Connection Sharing, discussed later in this chapter, and you've found that some web pages won't load on the client computers, see Section 7.2.4, later in this chapter.

7.2.2.3 Connection provided by a router or another computer via Internet Connection Sharing

If you're using Internet Connection Sharing, described later in this chapter, the setup for the clients (all the computers on your network, other than the one with the physical Internet connection) is a snap. This procedure is also appropriate if you're using a router to share an Internet connection.

This procedure assumes you've already set up the aforementioned shared Internet connection, as well as a properly-functioning peer-to-peer workgroup, as described in Section 7.2.1, earlier in this chapter.

Follow these steps to connect a computer to an existing shared Internet connection:

7.2.2.4 Dial-up connection, including analog modems over standard phone lines

Of the connection types listed here, Dial-up is the least expensive and probably still the most common. All you need is an ordinary analog modem, a standard telephone line, and a Dial-up account with an Internet service provider. You can have as many Dial-up connections configured at one time as you like, especially useful if you travel; just repeat these steps for each subsequent connection.

Here are some tips for working with Dial-up connections.

• To skip the Connect dialog, right-click the connection and select Properties (or click the Properties in the Connect window itself), choose the Options tab, and turn off the Prompt for name and password, certificate, etc. option.

• To have Windows connect automatically whenever the connection is needed, first right-click the connection icon and select Set as Default Connection. Then, go to Control Panel Internet Options Connections tab, and select the Always dial my default connection option.

• To have Windows connect automatically when you first start your computer, place a shortcut to the connection in your Startup folder. You'll also need to make sure that the Prompt for name and password, certificate, etc. option is turned off, as described above.

• If you need to make several, similar Dial-up connections, you can save time by right-clicking the connection you just created and selecting Create Copy. Then, right-click the newly-copied connection and select Properties to modify it.

• To enter additional phone numbers for this connection (as opposed to making several separate connections), right-click the new connection icon, select Properties, choose the General tab, and click Alternates. Use the up and down arrow buttons to the right to change the priority of each phone number entered; numbers appearing higher on the list will be dialed first. Make sure to turn on the If number fails, try next number option.

• If you're using America Online, MSN, or some other proprietary service, these instructions may not apply to you. Contact your service provider for setup instructions for Windows XP.

7.2.3 Sharing an Internet Connection

Naturally, it doesn't make much sense to invest in a separate Internet connection for each computer in your home or office. Instead, you can use one of several different methods to share a single Internet connection among any number of separate computers.

The first solution utilizes the Internet Connection Sharing feature built into Windows XP. If you used the ICS feature found in Windows 98 Second Edition or Windows Me, you'll find that the system in XP makes a lot more sense and is much easier to set up. The advantage to ICS is that it is free; no addition software or hardware is required, but it does have its limitations. Alternatives to ICS are discussed subsequently.

7.2.3.1 Setting up Internet Connection Sharing

ICS is a system by which a single computer with an Internet connection acts as a gateway, allowing all other computers in the workgroup to use its connection to access the Internet. The computer that is connected directly to the Internet is called the host; all the other computers are called clients.

In order to get ICS to work, you'll need the following:

• At least two computers, each with an Ethernet adapter properly installed and functioning. ICS can be used with both conventional and wireless networks.

  It is assumed you've already set up your local network, as described in Section 7.2.1, earlier in this chapter. Your Internet connection can be shared with as many clients as your LAN will support.

• One of the computers must have an Internet connection properly set up, as described in Section 7.2.2, earlier in this chapter.

  You do not need a special type of Internet connection, nor do you need to pay your Internet service provider extra fees to use Internet Connection Sharing. The whole point of ICS is to take a connection intended for a single computer and share it with several other machines.

• There is no minimum connection speed, but you should keep in mind that when two users are downloading using the shared connection simultaneously (the worst-case scenario), each user will experience half of the original performance. In other words, you probably don't want to bother sharing a 14.4k analog modem connection; see the discussion of "Bandwidth" at the beginning of this chapter, and Section 7.2.5, later in this chapter, for more information.

• If you're sharing a DSL, cable modem, or other high-speed, Ethernet-based Internet connection, the computer with the Internet connection must have two Ethernet cards installed. See Figure 7-2 for a diagram of this setup.

If your Internet connection is accessed through a router or you've allocated multiple IP addreses, you don't need Internet Connection Sharing; see Section 7.2.3.3, later in this chapter, for details.

The first step in setting up ICS is to configure the host, the computer with the Internet connection that will be shared.

The next step is to configure each of the client computers to use the shared connection. The only requirements of the client machines are that they are running an operating system that supports networking and that their network connections are properly set up. The clients can be running Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows 9x, Windows NT, Windows 3.x for Workgroups, or even MacOS, Unix, Linux, or FreeBSD.

See Section 7.2.2, earlier in this chapter, and follow the instructions in Section 7.2.2.3. Do this for each "client" machine on your network. While the instructions are specific to Windows XP, the settings explained therein can be adapted to any OS; refer to your operating system's documentation for more information.

7.2.3.2 Troubleshooting Internet Connection Sharing

Here are some tips that should help you fix the problems you might encounter with ICS:

• If the Internet is accessible by one client machine, it should work for them all. If none of the clients work, the problem is most likely with the host; if some of the clients work and others don't, it's a problem with the clients that don't work.

• ICS works over existing network connections, so those connections must be functioning before ICS will operate. Refer to Section 7.2.1, earlier in this chapter, for further troubleshooting details.

• Check to see if you have any firewall software installed on the host or clients that might be interfering with the connection. The Internet Connection Firewall included with Windows XP (discussed later in this chapter) won't interfere with ICS, however.

• The IP address of the host on the workgroup must be set to 192.168.0.1, or ICS won't work. Among other things, this means that no other computers can be using that address. If you can't get ICS to work with the default Windows XP configuration, try assigning a fixed IP address to each of your clients, as described in Section 7.1.3, earlier in this chapter.

• If you're experiencing poor performance, it's important to realize that whatever bandwidth is available though a given Internet connection will be shared among all of the computers actively using the connection. The worst-case scenario is when two or more users simultaneously download large amounts of data; in this case, they would each receive only a portion of the total connection bandwidth. Bandwidth sharing is dynamic, though, so most of the time you shouldn't notice much of a decrease in speed.

• If you're using special connection software for use with your DSL or cable (such as Efficient Networks' NTS Enternet 300 software), it's best to remove it and use Windows XP's built-in support for PPPoE (described earlier in this chapter).

• If you're using PPPoE and find that you can access some websites but not others from the client machines, see Section 7.2.4, later in this chapter.

7.2.3.3 Alternatives to Internet Connection Sharing

The Internet Connection Sharing feature built-into Windows XP has it's limitations. For example, the host computer must be on and connected to the Internet for the other computers to have Internet access. If this "host" computer crashes or is shut down, Internet access will be cut off for the whole workgroup. This may be a small price to pay, considering that ICS is free, simple, and pretty convenient, but if you don't want your network's Internet connection to rely on any single computer, you may wish to consider the following alternatives to see if they make sense for you.

Use a router

A router works similarly to a hub or switch, both discussed at the beginning of this chapter, except that it will also be capable of sharing a single Internet connection with all members of your workgroup. Figure 7-10 illustrates a workgroup connected to the Internet with a router.

The advantage of a router over ICS is that no single computer must be on for the other computers to have Internet access. But the disadvantages include the added cost, a more complicated setup, and support for only certain types of high-speed Internet connections.

If you're looking for a router, make sure to get one that supports both DSL and cable connections, as well as PPPoE connections (if that's what your service provider uses). Some routers connect between to your hub and DSL or cable modem, while others integrate one or both of these functions; Figure 7-10 shows a combination router and hub. Some routers even have built-in support for wireless connections and even print servers. Although such mega-combo devices can be inticing, you're asking for trouble by trying to stuff too much functionality in a single package.

Refer to the documentation that comes with the router for basic setup instructions, and see the Section 7.2.2.3 section, earlier in this chapter, for instructions on connecting a Windows XP system to a router.

Use multiple IP addresses

Some ISPs may provide, at extra cost, multiple IP addresses, with the specific intent that Internet access be provided for more than one computer. Since each computer has its own true IP address, there's no need for any "sharing" software or hardware. Instead, your hub or switch is plugged directly into your Internet device (DSL, cable, T1, or whatever), and each computer will effectively have its own Internet connection.

Refer to the instructions in the Section 7.2.2.1 section, earlier in this chapter, to set up each of your computers to access the Internet.

The advantages of multiple IP addresses over ICS or using a router, as described earlier, is that the setup is very easy, and no additional hardware or software is required. The downside is that Internet connections with multiple IP addresses are often much more expensive than standard Internet connections. In fact, the added monthly cost will most likely quickly exceed the one-time cost of a router.

7.2.4 Fix Your Shared Internet Connection with a New MTU

There are some circumstances when a shared Internet connection doesn't quite work as its supposed to. The problem, where some web pages load and some do not, affects client computers that access a shared Internet connection facilitated by PPPoE.

Although all web sites will be accessible on the host computer, certain web sites will never load successfully from any of the client machines. If you don't know what "hosts" or "clients" are with regard to Internet Connection Sharing, you'll want to review the previous section before you proceed. Also, see Section 7.2.2.2, earlier in this chapter for more information on PPPoE connections. Note that this applies to Windows XP's built-in PPPoE support, as well as PPPoE provided by third-party software and even some routers.

The following solution is intended to fix this specific problem.

In most cases, this should solve the problem. However, on some systems, you may need to set the MTU in another registry location as well. If you've found that a lower MTU value is what you need, but the above procedure didn't work, try this as well:

7.2.5 Test Your Throughput

Throughput is the practical measurement of bandwidth: the quantity of data you can transmit over a connection in a given period of time.

Now, most types of connections are classified for their bandwidth (discussed at the beginning of this chapter); a 33.6 Kbps modem is so-named, because at its best, it can transmit and receive 33,600 bits per second. Because there are eight bits to the byte, this connection would give us a theoretical throughput of 4.2 kilobytes per second.

In reality, however, you're not likely to see a throughput any faster than about 3.6 Kbps with the connection in this example. That's a difference of about 14%; a file that you would expect to take a minute to download will actually take about 70 seconds. The reason for this discrepancy is that there are other things that get transfered along with your data; error correction and lost packets because of noise on the line can make the actual throughput lower as well. Unfortunately, most of the factors that contribute to the actual throughput are beyond our control.

Faster connections, such as DSL, cable, and T1 connections, are also rated similarly and suffer the same throttling effect, but generally, these connections are fast enough that the discrepancy is not noticeable.

Among the factors within our control are the hardware and software we use and various settings and conditions in which we work (line quality, distance from your ISP, etc.). So it is often advantageous to test the throughput under different conditions and with different equipment so that you can achieve the best performance.

The simplest way to measure the throughput is to transfer a binary file (such as a .jpg or .zip file) from your computer to another location and then back again, recording the time it takes to complete the transfer each way. Just divide the file size by the transfer time to get the throughput, typically in kilobytes per second.

Note that we test the "upload" as well as the "download" speed. Many types of connections are asynchronous; 56 K modems, for example, download at around 53.2 Kbps, but upload at only 33.6 Kbps. Likewise, a midrange DSL connection might be rated at 384 Kbps download and 128 Kbps upload. Note also that you wouldn't want to use ASCII files (such as plain-text files and web pages) to test the throughput, because compression will yield uncharacteristic results.

Average throughputs for common connection speeds are shown in Table 7-1.

Note that you shouldn't fret if your throughput doesn't exactly match the values in the table — they're only examples. If you find that you're getting substantially slower performance, however, you should test your equipment and cabling and see if there's any software that could be interfering with the connection. For example, a noisy phone line is the most common cause of poor performance of a Dial-up connection. For DSL or cable, try turning off your modem for a minute or two, and then turning it back on.

Another way to test the actual bandwidth of your connection is to visit one of the many bandwidth-testing web sites:

• http://bandwidthplace.com/speedtest/

• http://www.dslreports.com/stest

• http://tech.msn.com/internet/speedtest.asp

In addition to calculating your bandwidth and reporting the results, these services typically ask for your zip code and connection type to compile statistics on typical connection speeds in your area.

See Chapter 5 for solutions on improving overall system performance, some of which will also have a noticeable impact on your connection speed as well.

7.2.6 Virtual Private Networking

Virtual Private Networking (VPN) is a system whereby a workgroup of two or more computers can be connected by an Internet connection rather than a physical cable. In theory, VPN provides the security and privacy of a closed environment, without the astronomical cost of a private wide-area network.

The technology used in Virtual Private Networking—either the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) or the Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP)—allows you to create a private "tunnel" across the Internet connection. With a VPN, you can accomplish tasks previously available only over a LAN, such as file and printer sharing, user authentication, and even networked games. Figure 7-11 illustrates a typical scenario with a tunnel connecting a single computer to a remote workgroup.

The significant hurdle involved in setting up the VPN feature included in Windows XP is that a tunnel server is required to complete the virtual workgroup. Although VPN has been marketed as a feature of Windows XP, Windows XP cannot be configured as a tunnel server; therefore, a VPN cannot be achieved with Windows XP systems alone. This means that at least one of the computers involved must be running the Server or Advanced Server editions of Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, or a subseqent server edition of Windows (such as .NET Server).

The following process briefly shows how to set up a simple VPN workgroup. Select the procedure following depending on the operating system you're using for the tunnel server: Part 1a for Windows 2000 or Part 1b for Windows NT. In many cases, a network administrator will be responsible for setting up the tunnel server. Then, Part 2 shows how to then configure a Windows XP machine as a VPN client.

7.2.6.1 Part 1a: set up the tunnel server (Windows 2000 Server/Advanced Server only)

Here are instructions on setting up a tunnel server in Windows 2000, required before you can initiate a VPN connection with a Windows XP client. See part 1b, which follows, for similar instructions for Windows NT 4.0.

7.2.6.2 Part 1b: set up the tunnel server (Windows NT 4.0 Server/Advanced Server only)

Here are instructions on setting up a tunnel server in Windows NT 4.0, required before you can initiate a VPN connection with a Windows XP client. See part 1a, above, for similar instructions for Windows 2000.

7.2.6.3 Part 2: set up the VPN client (Windows XP)

Although there only needs to be one VPN tunnel server, you can have as many clients as you like (that is, until you reach the limit specified in the tunnel server's configuration). Here's how to set up a Windows XP machine as a VPN client:

Note that in previous versions of Windows, it was necessary to "join" a domain (by going to Control Panel System Computer Name tab Change) before you could connect to it with VPN. In most cases in Windows XP, this is no longer necessary; check with your system administrator for details.

For additional tips for working with VPN connections, such as how to bypass the Connect dialog, see Section 7.2.2.2 in the Section 7.2.2 section, earlier in this chapter.

7.2.7 Accessing an FTP Site in Explorer

For years, FTP has been the quickest and most efficient way to move files from one machine to another across the Internet. Whether you're downloading drivers from a manufacturer's FTP site or uploading HTML files to a web server, FTP is often the preferred transfer method.

To access an FTP server, either to upload or download, you need an FTP application. Windows XP actually comes with three such applications:

• FTP, a traditional, command-line-based FTP client (ftp.exe)

• Internet Explorer (iexplore.exe)—or any web browser, for that matter—supports downloading files from FTP servers. Just go to an address like this: ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla/releases/mozilla1.0/mozilla-win32-1.0-installer.exe to download the specified file from the specified server.

• Windows Explorer^[1] (explorer.exe) allows you to view any web site as though it were just another folder and is explained in the rest of this section.

  ^[1] Microsoft and others might contend that Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer are actually the same program. Personally, I find this to be a matter of semantics, and for the purposes of this solution, and since both applications have different interfaces, it makes more sense to think of them as distinct and separate applications.

Here are three different ways to hooking up to an FTP site in Explorer:

7.2.7.1 Solution 1: open a temporary FTP folder

This procedure is the quick-and-dirty way to open an FTP folder in Explorer:

7.2.7.2 Solution 2: create a more permanent "place" in My Network Places

If you'd like to set up a more permanent FTP connection to use again and again, follow these steps:

7.2.7.3 Solution 3: another way to create an FTP folder

The functionality that allows you to link up a folder to an FTP site, as explained in Solution 2, earlier, is essentially that of Folder Shortcuts, as seen in Section 4.4.2. This next solution has essentially the same result, but shows how to create such a folder manually. This can be useful, for example, when the Add Network Place wizard (which can be unreliable) doesn't work. It also lets you modify the location of an FTP folder without having to delete and recreate it. Finally, it can be used in conjunction with a WSH script to automate the creation of FTP folders.

7.2.7.4 Notes

• Regardless of the solution you use, the resulting FTP connection will remain active as long as you use it, but will likely become disconnected if left idle for more than a few minutes. It will also be disconnected when you shut down Windows. In either case, Windows will automatically reconnect as soon as you attempt to use the folder. Note that there's no way to manually disconnect an FTP folder (unless you delete it).

• You can access files contained in an FTP folder (created in either Solution 2 or Solution 3) from any 32-bit Windows application, and even save files there as well.

• Create a standard Windows shortcut to a subfolder of an FTP folder (created in either Solution 2 or Solution 3), and place it in your Send To folder (typically \Documents and Settings\{username}\SendTo). That way, you can right-click one or more files or folders, and use the Send To menu to quickly copy the selected items to the FTP location.

• The FTP protocol does not use encryption or any other method of security, which not only means that your data will not be transferred securely, but your username and password will also not be encrypted when you log in. More secure alternatives include Web Folders, described next, Virtual Private Networking, described earlier in this chapter, or a program that supports SCP (Secure Copy Protocol).

• Windows also supports a protocol called Web Folders, which works very similarly to the FTP folders feature described here. Although Web Folders also support encryption, very few servers support the WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning) protocol, which means you'll most likely want to stick with FTP or SCP (see Table 7-2).

• There are other programs you can use for transferring files (FTP and otherwise), any of which may be more or less convenient than Explorer, depending on your needs. See Table 7-2 for a list of alternatives.

7.2.8 Controlling Another Computer Remotely(Just Like in the Movies)

A network is good for much more than simply transferring data. Although Windows does let you transfer files to and from other computers in Explorer (see Chapter 8), it's a far cry from actually sitting in front of the remote computer.

One of the severe limitations of the Windows platform is that only one simultaneous user is allowed to operate the computer at any given time. Unix, on the other hand, allows many simultaneous remote users (even in addition to a user sitting right at the workstation), each with their own graphical X-Windows terminal connection.

Enter the new Remote Desktop feature in Windows XP. Although it still does not allow more than one simultaneous user per machine, it does allow you to view the desktop of another Windows XP computer on your network or over the Internet, just as though you were sitting in front of it.

There are almost limitless uses to this technology; a few examples include:

• Do you travel frequently, yet prefer to use a desktop (non-portable) computer at home? Rather than duplicating all your programs, documents, and settings on a laptop, or trying to carry all your files and programs with you to use on someone else's computer, just use Remote Desktop to connect to your home computer from the road, and check your email, fax, etc., as though you were sitting at your own desk.

• Do you need to access your work documents and programs while you're at home, or access your home documents and programs while you're at work? Use Remote Desktop to bridge the link and stop worrying carrying so much stuff back and forth to work every day.

• Are you the person family members and friends call with their computer problems? Instead of spending hours on the phone, trying to explain to them how to fix their computers, just connect with Remote Desktop and fix the problem yourself in minutes.

• Do you administer several computers in different locations? Rather than having to go to the other side of the building (or the other side of the state) to access a computer, use Remote Desktop and get it done in half the time.

Well, now that I've essentially given you a commercial for Remote Desktop, I'll tell you some of the disadvantages. First of all, while both Windows XP Home and Professional editions can be Remote Desktop "servers," only XP Professional can be used as a "client" to access remote computers. And although you can use Remote Desktop with some previous versions of Windows, you'll need a different program (like VNC, discussed below) to remotely access Mac and Unix machines.

You'll also need a relatively fast connection to use remote control software like Remote Desktop, since a lot of data is transferred to update the screen image. For example, a direct Ethernet (LAN) connection will provide nearly instantaneous responsiveness, while a DSL or cable connection will be a little more sluggish. Don't even bother on an analog (Dial-up) connection, though.

Overall, the technology included with Windows XP is pretty good. It's not entirely new, however: the same feature, called Terminal Services, is included in Windows 2000. It's also not your only choice; see the discussion of alternatives at the end of this section for more information.

Here's how to use the Remote Desktop feature built-into Windows XP.

7.2.8.1 Part 1: enable the Remote Desktop server

Allowing others to connect to a computer with Remote Desktop is easy. The following steps can be used to set up your own computer for being accessed remotely or can be read over the phone to the owner of a computer you wish to access remotely.

7.2.8.2 Part 2: connect to a remote computer

Once you've set up a machine to accept remote connections, follow these steps to connect to that computer remotely:

7.2.8.3 Notes

• Since Windows can only have one user logged in at a time, as mentioned at the beginning of this section, the user currently logged into the remote computer will be automatically logged out to make way for the remote connection. This poses a significant problem if you wish to use the remote computer with its owner watching. VNC, described below, overcomes this limitation.

• You'll see in the final step above that a new item will appear in the remote computer's Start Menu, Disconnect. This take the place of the Shut Down (or Turn off Computer) command normally found here. A consequence of this is that there's no obvious way to shut down a remote computer; this is obviously done intentionally, since a shut-down computer will not accept remote connections. To shut down a remote computer, open a Command Prompt window (cmd.exe), and type:

  shutdown -s -t 5

  where 5 is the number of seconds to wait before shutting down; specify 0 here to shut down immediately.

• It's helpful to have the resolution of the remote desktop lower than the resolution of the local desktop. That way, you'll be able to see the entire remote desktop and still be able to use the local computer's desktop. For example, if you're using a computer with a display resolution of 1280 X 1024, set the remote desktop to no more than 1024 X 768. Use the Display tab of the Remote Desktop Connection dialog to set the desktop size; note that this setting will have no affect on the remote computer's normal desktop size.

7.2.8.4 Alternates to Remote Desktop Connection

Remote Desktop Connection is not you're only choice when it comes to controlling a computer remotely. Since it's built into Windows XP, though, it's obviously a very convenient and cost-effective solution; if you want more flexibility or if you want to control (or be controlled by) a system running a different operating system, you may wish to use a different program.

Although there are several commercial alternatives available, my favorite is a free program called VNC. Made by AT&T Laboratories, Cambridge, it can be downloaded from http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/. Among other things, VNC has the advantage of a very small "viewer" executable. That is, the client software, used on the remote system to access the host, is only a single file, small enough to fit on a floppy—this makes it easy to carry it around with you, running it on any machine you find with an Internet connection.

VNC also works on any version of Windows, Macintosh, UNIX, Linux, or FreeBSD, in addition to good ol' Windows XP. Someone has even made a Palm-based client (http://www.btinternet.com/~harakan/PalmVNC/), allowing you to control a remote computer from an Internet-enabled handheld device!

Otherwise, the system requirements are the same as Remote Desktop, described earlier in this section. You'll still need the remote computer's IP address, and some way of logging into the remote computer. VNC has it's own user-authentication system, while others such as pcAnywhere (http://www.symantec.com) use Windows' user accounts.

Windows XP's Remote Desktop feature, when enabled, will remain enabled even if the computer is restarted. But third-party programs must be specially-configured to start automatically with Windows, in case the computer crashes or the power goes out. If the software you're using has an option to be started as a "service" (accessible in services.msc), that will be much better option than adding it to your Start Menu's Startup folder. (VNC has such an option.)

Note that the Telnet service (enabled through services.msc) allows multiple users to log on to a single Windows XP machine simultaneously. But this is essentially only a Command Prompt window, accessed from remote system using Telnet (telnet.exe).

7.2.9 Managing the Nameserver Cache

As mentioned a few times elsewhere in this chapter, a nameserver is a machine that translates IP addresses to domain names and back again. For example, when you type http://www.oreilly.com into your web browser's address bar, Windows sends a request to your service provider's nameserver, and the nameserver responds with something like 209.204.146.22, and your browser can contact the web server and download the requested page.

Each time such a DNS (Domain Naming System) lookup is performed, the information is stored in the DNS cache so Windows doesn't have to query the nameserver every time you access a page on that site. The DNS cache is emptied when you shut down Windows.

The following solutions allow you to change the way Windows interacts with its DNS cache, and will affect all applications that access the Internet (not just your web browser).

7.2.9.1 Part 1: increase the size of the DNS cache

A larger DNS cache will mean fewer trips to the nameserver, and faster overal performance:

7.2.9.2 Part 2: add a permanent entry to the DNS cache

When you add a permanent entry to the DNS cache, it will always override the information provided by the nameserver. Here are a few reasons why you might want to do this:

• If a nameserver gives the wrong address for a domain or provides no information at all, you can still access the domain if it's listed as a permanent entry.

• A permanent entry with intentionally incorrect information will block requests sent to the corresponding servers. This can be an effective way to prevent some web sites from tracking you, some "spyware" software from recording your personal information, and even stop some pop-up ads when you visit web pages. A list of known "tracking" hosts can be downloaded from http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/.

• If you frequently access a particular server, and you know its IP address isn't likely to change anytime soon, you can add a permanent entry to eliminate the initial delay as Windows looks it up. For example, add an entry for your mail server to decrease the time it takes to check for mail.

• If you frequently access a remote server without a domain name (rather only by its IP address), you configure a custom domain name, for your use only, to be used as a kind of "shortcut" to the server.

Warning: providing incorrect information here can prevent you from accessing certain remote servers. Use care when modifying the permanent DNS entry table.

Here's how to create and modify the list of permanent DNS entries: