Gateway setting up window networks User Manual

							35
Configuring Windows for a Wired Network
www.gateway.com
8Click to select the Local Area Connection check box, then click Next. The 
Give this computer a description and name screen opens.
9Type a description of the computer in the Computer description box.
10Type a unique computer name in the Computer name box. This name 
identifies the computer to other users on the network. Use a computer 
name of up to 15 characters with no blank spaces. Each computer name 
must be unique on your network. All-numeric computer names are not 
allowed. Names must contain some letters. 
						

							36
Wired Ethernet Networking
www.gateway.com
11Click Next. The Name your network screen opens.
12Type a name for your workgroup in the Workgroup box. Use a workgroup 
name of up to 15 characters with no blank spaces. The workgroup name 
must be the same for all computers in your network workgroup, and the 
name must be different than any computer name on your network.
13Click Next. The Ready to apply network settings screen opens. 
						

							37
Configuring Windows for a Wired Network
www.gateway.com
14Click Next to apply the network settings. The Yo u ’ r e  a l m o s t  d o n e screen 
opens.
15If you are setting up an Ethernet network on other computers, you may 
want to use the Network Setup Wizard to do so. Click a method for 
installing and configuring the network on your other computers, then click 
Next.
16Click Finish. Go to “Configuring the TCP/IP protocol” on page 40.
ImportantYou must give each computer on the network a unique 
Computer Name and the same Workgroup Name.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about using the Network Setup 
Wizard in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and 
Support.
Type the keyword Network Setup Wizard in the 
HelpSpot Search box  , then click 
the arrow. 
						

							38
Wired Ethernet Networking
www.gateway.com
Naming the computers and the workgroup in 
Windows 2000
The first time you use networking on your computer, you need to give each 
computer a unique name and assign each computer to the same workgroup. 
If you are naming the computer and workgroup in Windows XP, see “Naming 
the computers and the workgroup in Windows XP” on page 30.
To identify this computer on the network:
1Click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window 
opens.
2Double-click the System icon. The System Identification dialog box opens.
3Click the Network Identification tab.
4Click Properties. The Identification Changes dialog box opens.
5Type a unique computer name in the Computer name box. This name 
identifies the computer to other users on the network. Use a computer 
name of up to 15 characters with no blank spaces. Each computer name 
must be unique on your network. All-numeric computer names are not 
allowed. Names must contain some letters. 
						

							39
Configuring Windows for a Wired Network
www.gateway.com
6Type a name for your workgroup in the Workgroup box. Use a workgroup 
name of up to 15 characters with no blank spaces. The workgroup name 
must be the same for all computers in your network workgroup, and the 
name must be different than any computer name on your network.
7Click OK to close the Identification Changes dialog box.
8Click OK to close the System Identification dialog box. Go to “Configuring 
the TCP/IP protocol” on page 40.
ImportantYou must give each computer on the network a unique 
Computer Name and the same Workgroup Name. 
						

							40
Wired Ethernet Networking
www.gateway.com
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol
A networking protocol is a language computers use to talk to each other. One of 
several available protocols must be set up on each computer you plan to use 
on your network. We recommend you use the Transmission Control 
Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), which is widely accepted and compatible 
for local area networks (LANs), as well as for Internet communications.
When networking is set up in Windows XP or Windows 2000, TCP/IP is 
automatically installed as the default protocol.
Terms you should know
DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) lets a router temporarily 
assign an IP address to a computer on the network.
IP Address - Internet Protocol (IP) address is a number that uniquely identifies 
a computer on the network.
Subnet Mask - This number identifies what subnetwork the computer is located 
on. This number will be the same on all computers on a home network.
Entering the IP address and subnet mask on 
each computer
In order to use the TCP/IP protocol on each computer, you must either set the 
protocol to “Obtain an IP address from a DHCP server” or make the IP address 
settings manually. If you use a router that can act as the Dynamic Host 
Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, you can select “Obtain an IP address 
from a DHCP server.” Or if you require a static IP address (one that does not 
change), you must set the IP address manually. This means that you need to 
enter an IP address and a subnet mask.
If you are using Windows XP, go to “Entering the IP address and subnet mask 
in Windows XP” on page 41.
If you are using Windows 2000, go to “Entering the IP address and subnet mask 
in Windows 2000” on page 44. 
						

							41
Configuring Windows for a Wired Network
www.gateway.com
Entering the IP address and subnet mask in Windows XP
To enter the IP address and the subnet mask:
1Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your 
Control Panel is in Category View, click 
Network and Internet Connections. 
The Network and Internet Connections window opens.
2Click/Double-click Network Connections. The Network Connections window 
opens.
3Right-click Local Area Connection, then click Properties. The Local Area 
Connection Properties dialog box opens.
4Click to select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) check box in the This connection 
uses the following items 
list. If you do not see TCP/IP, drag the scroll bar to 
see more choices.
5Click Properties. The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box opens. 
						

							42
Wired Ethernet Networking
www.gateway.com
6Click the General tab. 
						

							43
Configuring Windows for a Wired Network
www.gateway.com
7If you are connecting to an office Ethernet network and are required to 
type a static IP address and subnet mask, ask your network system 
administrator for the correct values.
- OR -
If you are connecting to a home Ethernet network, have a cable or DSL 
modem, and a router that automatically assigns IP addresses to computers 
on the network, click 
Obtain an IP address automatically.
- OR -
If you are connecting to a home Ethernet network, have a cable or DSL 
modem, and do not have a router, use the IP address and subnet mask 
provided by your cable or DSL provider as the address for your computer. 
Each computer connected to your network will need a unique, static IP 
address.
- OR -
If you are connecting to a home Ethernet network, do not have a cable 
or DSL modem, and do not have a router, click 
Use the following IP address, 
then type the following values.
aType the IP address in the IP address box. Use the value 192.168.0.N 
where N is any number between 1 and 254. We suggest 1 for the first 
computer on your network, 2 for the next, and so on. The number 
must be unique on your network.
bType the subnet mask in the Subnet mask box. Use the value 
255.255.255.0 for all computers.
8Click OK to close the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box.
9Click OK to close the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box.
10Click X to close the Network Connections window.
11Repeat this procedure for every computer on your network.
12After you enter the IP address on all your computers, go to “Configuring 
your router” on page 47. 
						

							44
Wired Ethernet Networking
www.gateway.com
Entering the IP address and subnet mask in Windows 2000
To enter the IP address and the subnet mask:
1Click Start, Settings, then click Network and Dial-up Connections. The Network 
and Dial-up Connections window opens. This window has an icon for each 
networking connection available on your computer. For example, if you 
have both wired and wireless Ethernet hardware installed on your 
computer, there will be two icons, one for your wired Ethernet hardware 
and one for your wireless Ethernet hardware.
2Right-click the Local Area Connection icon for the wired Ethernet hardware, 
then click 
Properties. The Local Area Connection Properties dialog box opens.
3Click to select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) check box in the Components 
checked are used by this connection 
list. If you do not see TCP/IP, drag the 
scroll bar to see more choices.