Windows 95 can be easily configured to use the TCP/IP protocol. You must use the TCP/IP protocol stack that is part of the Windows 95 installer disk(s) to ensure compatibility with the Operating System and applications.
Windows 95 manages all network configuration in the Networks control panel, so we will begin our installation there.
1) Double-click the My Computer icon on the desktop. The Control Panel
folder is located in the window that opens.
2) Double-click the Control Panel folder.
3) Locate the Network control panel and double-click it to open and begin
the configuration.
You will typically find previous network protocols loaded. For this
example, the client is using NetBEUI to connect to a Windows NT
servers.
4) To begin the installation, click the Add... button.
5) In the screen that follows, choose Protocol and click the Add...
button.
6) Choose Microsoft in the Manufacturers: window on the left, and the
TCP/IP option in the Network Protocols: window on the right.
The computer will return to the Network control panel after the loading
process with an additional entry for TCP/IP now showing.
7) Choose the new TCP/IP entry and click the Properties button. The
resultant dialog box is where all TCP/IP configuration is performed.
Configurations can be made for a DHCP address server, manual address,
DNS gateways, WINS name services, and so on.
CAUTION: You MUST include the TCP/IP address and Broadcast mask at
minimum. Most installations will require DNS entries as well.
8) Fill out all entries needed for this installation with information
provided by the network administrator.
NOTE: If your installation requires DNS, you may find the DNS
configuration screen a little confusing. You must put the name of your
computer in the Host field and the domain you wish to be a part of in
the Domain field. After these value are entered you must add the
address of the DNS server(s) to the list and the domain names you wish
to be a part of to the other list.
9) Click the OK button to end the TCP/IP configuration. If TCP/IP is the
only protocol installed, go to step 10.
If TCP/IP is not the only protocol installed on the computer you must
tell Windows 95 which protocol is the default to use when connecting to
servers. To do this,
i) Select the desired protocol item (our example uses NetBEUI as the
default) and click the Properties... button.
ii) Choose the Advanced tab and you will find a check box on the page to
set this protocol as the default.
iii) Click the OK button when you have checked the box.
This completes this configuration of the network.
10) Close the control panel by click the OK button. Windows 95 will ask
for various parts of the original Windows 95 installation media while
it adds the new software components. It is possible you will get
messages about an attempt to install an older version of existing
components. Always choose to keep the newer versions installed in
these cases.
11) Once all new software is read from the original Windows 95
installation media (in step 10) you will be asked to restart. Select
the "continue" option instead and run the SETNET program located on
the DOS Compatibility Installer disk. Select the NDIS and TCP/IP
options (plus any other protocols you have loaded) and click the "OK"
button. This step will create the appropriate entries in the
PROTOCOL.INI file for the NDIS driver to use.
12) Restart the Windows 95 environment by clicking the "start" button,
selecting the "restart" option, and choosing "shutdown and restart".