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Occasionally network administrators report difficulty getting Microsoft Windows clients to interoperate correctly with Samba servers. It seems that some folks just cannot accept the fact that the right way to configure an MS Windows network client is precisely as one would do when using MS Windows NT4 or 200x servers. Yet there is repetitious need to provide detailed Windows client configuration instructions.
The purpose of this chapter is to graphically illustrate MS Windows client configuration for the most common critical aspects of such configuration. An experienced network administrator will not be interested in the details of this chapter.
This chapter discusses TCP/IP protocol configuration as well as network membership for the platforms that are in common use today. These are:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Windows 2000 Professional
Windows Millennium edition (Me)
The builder of a house must ensure that all construction takes place on a firm foundation. The same is true for the builder of a TCP/IP-based networking system. Fundamental network configuration problems will plague all network users until they are resolved.
MS Windows workstations and servers can be configured either with fixed IP addresses or via DHCP. The examples that follow demonstrate the use of DHCP and make only passing reference to those situations where fixed IP configuration settings can be effected.
It is possible to use shortcuts or abbreviated keystrokes to arrive at a particular configuration screen. The decision was made to base all examples in this chapter on use of the button.
There are two paths to the Windows XP TCP/IP configuration panel. Choose the access method that you prefer:
Click .
Alternately, click , and right-click then select .
The following procedure steps through the Windows XP Professional TCP/IP configuration process:
On some installations the interface will be called and on others it will be called . On our system it is called . Right-click on . See “Network Bridge Configuration.”.
The Network Bridge Configuration, or Local Area Connection, panel is used to set TCP/IP protocol settings. In box, click on , then click on .
The default setting is DHCP-enabled operation (i.e., “Obtain an IP address automatically”). See “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties.”.
Many network administrators will want to use DHCP to configure all client TCP/IP protocol stack settings. (For information on how to configure the ISC DHCP server for Windows client support see the DNS and DHCP Configuration Guide, DHCP Server.
If it is necessary to provide a fixed IP address, click on “Use the following IP address” and enter the IP Address, the subnet mask, and the default gateway address in the boxes provided.
Click the button to proceed with TCP/IP configuration. This opens a panel in which it is possible to create additional IP addresses for this interface. The technical name for the additional addresses is IP aliases, and additionally this panel permits the setting of more default gateways (routers). In most cases where DHCP is used, it will not be necessary to create additional settings. See “Advanced Network Settings” to see the appearance of this panel.
Fixed settings may be required for DNS and WINS if these settings are not provided automatically via DHCP.
Click the tab to add DNS server settings. The example system uses manually configured DNS settings. When finished making changes, click the to commit the settings. See “DNS Configuration.”.
Click the tab to add manual WINS server entries. This step demonstrates an example system that uses manually configured WINS settings. When finished making changes, click to commit the settings. See “WINS Configuration”.
There are two paths to the Windows 2000 Professional TCP/IP configuration panel. Choose the access method that you prefer:
Click .
Alternatively, click , then right-click , and select .
The following procedure steps through the Windows XP Professional TCP/IP configuration process:
Right-click on , then click . See “Local Area Connection Properties.”.
The Local Area Connection Properties is used to set TCP/IP protocol settings. Click on in the box, then click the button.
The default setting is DHCP-enabled operation (i.e., “Obtain an IP address automatically”). See “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties.”.
Many network administrators will want to use DHCP to configure all client TCP/IP protocol stack settings. (For information on how to configure the ISC DHCP server for Windows client support, see, “DHCP Server”.
If it is necessary to provide a fixed IP address, click on “Use the following IP address” and enter the IP Address, the subnet mask, and the default gateway address in the boxes provided. For this example we are assuming that all network clients will be configured using DHCP.
Click the button to proceed with TCP/IP configuration. Refer to “Advanced Network Settings.”.
