DOS Compatibility Card: Using Windows for Workgroups 3.11

This article provides information on using Microsoft's Windows for Workgroups 3.11 with the DOS Compatibility Card for the Power Macintosh.
Introduction
This document assumes a working knowledge of DOS and Windows. This document will focus on aspects of network software installation that deviates from normal DOS/Windows installations. This document is not a substitute for and should be used in conjunction with product documentation!

Simultaneous Macintosh and DOS networking

Your Power Macintosh 6100 DOS Compatible can have simultaneously active connections in both environments, provided different networking prtocols are used. You cannot have two identical protocols running in both environments. If identical protocol support in both environments is needed, the only solution at this time is to encapsulate one protocol inside a different protocol, referred to as "tunneling". For example, there are various options to have TCP/IP active on both the Macintosh and the DOS side; They all require some form of gateway to either route IP encapsulated in AppleTalk, or IP encapsulated in IPX. One solution is to set MacTCP for EtherTalk and put an Apple IP Gateway on the network.

DOS networking and Memory

If you will be using the Power Macintosh 6100 DOS Compatible networking functions, it is recommended that you maximize conventional memory by removing unecessary device drivers and TSRs. Also, load the remaining device drivers and TSRs high if possible. Windows for Workgroups 3.11 requires greater than 540K of conventional memory for it's Browser to function properly.

Windows for Workgroups: Installation considerations

If you will be installing Windows for Workgroups 3.11, the Novell Netware client, AND TCP/IP support, install the NetWare client first, Windows for Workgroups 3.11 second, and the IP stack third.

ODI to NDIS translation issues

Novell provides an ODI to NDIS translator called "ODINSUP.COM", which is copied to the same directory as the client software. This allows ODI drivers to be used in an NDIS environment. When using ODINSUP.COM, you must specify an interrupt in the NET.CFG file. Use the statement:


INT 6

in the Link Driver section of the NET.CFG file. Failure to do this results in the following error message:

"ERROR: "First Mac ODI MLID does not conform to the latest ODI MLID
specification. Call adapter manufacturer and request a newer MLID that
preserves the PIC mask bit."

For a complete discussion of ODINSUP.COM and configuration information for it, please contact Novell.

Windows for Workgroups 3.11

If Windows for Workgroups 3.11 is to be installed, it is recommended that you become familiar with the protocol.ini file, which Windows for Workgroups 3.11 uses for setting up the networking environment. Without the proper entries in this file, Windows for Workgroups 3.11 networking will not function properly. The installer for Windows for Workgroups 3.11 does NOT modify the PROTOCOL.INI or NET.CFG file correctly, which means they must be manually edited. A suggested resource is the Windows for Workgroups 3.1 Resource Kit, available from Microsoft.

MACODI

MACODI.COM is located on the DOS Compatibility Card Installer Disk for DOS Environment.


It is important to note that the Power Macintosh 6100 DOS Compatible does not require any special settings where networking is concerned. The DOS side functions as would any DOS machine using ODI drivers. The only special consideration is to be sure the same protocols are not running in both environments unless tunneling is used.

Binding TCP/IP protocols in NET.CFG

For any TCP/IP setup, you MUST bind IP and ARP in the NET.CFG file. The only notable exception to this that we know of is FTP Software's PC/TCP. If the IP protocol stack you use requires RARP, you MUST bind this also. The entries that bind IP, ARP, and RARP will ALWAYS be the same, unless you are binding to a frame type other than Ethernet_II, which is unlikely. This is the standard IP, ARP, and RARP listing that MUST be in the NET.CFG file for IP support:

Link Driver MACODI
Frame Ethernet_II
Protocol IP 800 Ethernet_II
Protocol ARP 806 Ethernet_II
Protocol RARP 8035 Ethernet_II

As a general rule, do not add PORT or INT statements to the NET.CFG file. ODI drivers do not necessarily require them, and MACODI does not use interrupts. If using odinsup.com for NDIS compatibility, set the INT value to 10.

Example Installation and Settings Files

The following are some examples of networking configurations on the Power Macintosh 6100 DOS Compatible. Note that for all of these installations, Novell Netware was loaded. Also note that defaults were selected in all of these scenarios, which may not be valid for your environment. These are included as examples only. In some situations, the installer may not respond as outlined due to differences in files loaded into memory at the time of the installation. If that occurs, proceed per the software's documentation for using the software with ODI drivers. For the sake of brevity, only portions of files specific to the discussion will be listed. For further help in setting up the various networking environments, please contact the vendor of your network operating system.


Windows for Workgroups 3.11 installation

This assumes you are starting with a standard configuration; ie. Windows 3.1 is already on the machine. If you have not installed the NetWare client, do so before this step. Detail are listed only for the steps that deviate from the standard Windows for Workgroups 3.11 install.


That's it - the installer will take care of the rest.

Windows for Workgroups 3.11 adds two commands to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. One is "net start" which initializes Windows for Workgroups 3.11's network functions. The second is "odihlp.exe" which is Microsoft's ODI to NDIS mapper. Since Microsoft's networking functions work with NDIS drivers only, ODI drivers must be translated to NDIS. Microsoft's translator is supported by Microsoft, not Apple.


For further help with installing Windows for Workgroups 3.11, please call Microsoft. For further reading on Windows for Workgroups 3.11, a suggested resource is the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11 Resource Kit available from Microsoft or your local book seller. Here's a listing of the net.cfg, autoexec.bat, and protocol.ini file after the above Windows for Workgroups 3.11 install, with a Frame type of ETHERNET_802.2 selected. Note that NetBeui was NOT installed in this listing:

NET.CFG
------
Link Driver MACODI
FRAME ETHERNET_802.2
FRAME ETHERNET_802.3
FRAME ETHERNET_SNAP
FRAME ETHERNET_II


AUTOEXEC.BAt
----------
C:\\WINDOWS\\NET START
@CALL C:\\NWCLIENT\\STARTNET
C:\\WINDOWS\\ODIHLP.EXE
@ECHO OFF
LH C:\\DOS\\SMARTDRV.EXE /X
PROMPT $p$g
PATH C:\\WINDOWS;C:\\DOS
PATH=C:\\NWCLIENT\\;%PATH%
SET TEMP=C:\\DOS
SET SOUND=C:\\SB16
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H1 T6
LH C:\\SB16\\MIXERSET /P /Q
LH C:\\Apple\\ApplePC
LH C:\\Apple\\MacShare

LH C:\\DOS\\MSCDEX /D:CDDRVR /L:E
LH C:\\Apple\\DOSClip
set tmp=C:\\Temp


protocol.ini
--------
[network.setup]
version=0x3110
netcard=ms$odimac,1,MS$ODIMAC,4
transport=ms$nwlinknb,NWLINK
lana0=ms$odimac,1,ms$nwlinknb

[net.cfg]
PATH=C:\\NWCLIENT\\NET.CFG

[MS$ODIMAC]

[Link Driver MACODI]
data=Frame Ethernet_SNAP
data=Frame Ethernet_802.2
data=Frame Ethernet_II
data=Frame Ethernet_802.3
data=Link Driver MACODI

[NWLINK]

BINDINGS=MACODI
FRAME=ETHERNET_802.2

Published Date: Feb 19, 2012