In article <O3uYavRrHHA.1208.DeleteThis@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, "pjp"
<pjpoirier_is_located_at_.DeleteThis@_hotmail_._com> wrote:
>>>In my "Network connection on Win98SE machine keeps
>>>failing" thread, one of the things I reported is the use on
>>>my Win98SE machine of both TCP/IP and NETBEUI
>>>(wired network to a WinXP machine and the Internet via a
>>>2wire gateway connected to Telus DSL). I've run across
>>>a couple of recommendations that one should use only
>>>NETBEUI in this and maybe other situations, dumping
>>>TCP/IP altogether. These suggestions go back some few
>>>years -- but then, so do WinXP and Win98SE. Any
>>>thoughts from this group on which protocols or
>>>combinations thereof are more reliable? Thanks.
>>
>>I've done setup and troubleshooting on hundreds of networks with WinXP
>>and Win98SE. I always remove NetBEUI (and IPX/SPX) if present and use
>>only TCP/IP. I strongly recommend using TCP/IP has the only network
>>protocol:
>>
>>1. Using more than none network protocol can make File and Printer
>>Sharing unreliable, especially when XP is involved.
>>
>>2. NetBEUI is an unsupported protocol in XP. Microsoft didn't test it
>>fully, and there's no guarantee that it will work.
>>
>>3. Nothing in Windows networking has ever required NetBEUI.
>>
>>4. TCP/IP is required for Internet access.
>>
>>5. TCP/IP supports all Windows networking functions.
>
>Funny as I've always setup my Ethernet using Netbuie since (if memory serves
>me right) it was all that 'came in the package' back in WFW3.x days. I've
>seen no reason to change and have had no problems using it on any mix of 9x,
>2K & XP pcs. What I like about it is the lack of any 'bs' to set it up. Give
>the pc a name and assign it to WorkGroup and it works. Seems to me tcp/ip
>involves a lot more rig-a-more-ol before it works. That's not to say it
>doesn't but the only reason I install it (and sometimes IPX/SPX) is for
>multiplayer gaming in-house and for apps such as PCAnywhere. In fact, I feel
>"safer" when the pc uses tcp/ip for internet and solely netbuie for
>ethernet.
WfW3.x came with IPX/SPX and NetBEUI -- it wasn't necessary to use
NetBEUI even back then. Microsoft later released TCP/IP for WfW3.x.
The OP's network uses a broadband router (2wire gateway) connected to
a DSL modem. A broadband router acts as a DHCP server and NAT
firewall, so:
1. The only required setup is to configure each computer to obtain an
IP address automatically.
2. It's safe to use TCP/IP as the only network protocol. The
computers have non-routeable private IP addresses and can't be
accessed by other people on the Internet.
I've written a web page with more information on network protocols:
Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)
Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional - Windows Networking
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm