Configuring Network Clients
- 2. Client Operating Systems The client computer is governed y client operating systems and client computer is where you get work done on a computer. Here you learn about six client operating systems commonly used in networks: – Windows 95 – Windows NT Workstation – OS/2 – MS-DOS – Macintosh – Unix The client operating systems perform several important tasks on a network: – Executes user applications – Provides the user interface to the network – Provides the network connection
- 3. Operating System Application Multitasking Hardware Drivers Windows 95 16 & 32 bit OS. Execute 16 bit windows & MS-DOS Application as well as 32 bit win95 & WinNT Support cooperative and preemptive multitasking, more powerful 32 bit environment Run on Intel-based computers, this means 386,486, Pentium, or Pentium Pro microprocessor or compatible of these. Single processor OS. 8MB RAM. Win95 will nor run on RISC chips, such as PowerPC, digital Alpha, MIPS and ARM DOS version written prior to Win95. Drivers written for Win95 (but not any version WinNT). Windows NT (Work Station) Win95 application can run, some applications using special hardware function can not run correctly, 32bit features of Win95 and WinNT can run Uses preemptive multitasking. Each program will get a fair share of microprocessor time. Applications on WinNT WS are isolated from each other if one application crashes OS can cleanup that application and you can use other. WinNT require more powerful computer than Win95. Needs at least 486/66 Pentium microprocessor and RAM 16MB. Supports RISC, Intel, MIPS, Digital Alpha, and PowerPC microprocessors. Supports multiprocessing. Use same drivers as Win95. drivers written for WinNT. WinNT WS does use the same device drivers as Windows NT Server. OS/2 32bit OS. Supports MS-DOS applications and applications specifically written for OS/2. Also supports Windows software. Preemptive multitasking. OS/2 protects running applications from each other to prevent one application from crashing into another or crashing OS.- more sophisticated than other OS, supports multithreading, communications or multimedia programs that have to coordinate audio, video, text and voice. Intel and Intel-compatible computers, PowerPC Chips. OS/2 has the same hardware requirements as Win95. 386 microprocessor and RAM 8MB. OS/2 supports only one processor in the computer. Drivers written for OS/2 but some MS- DOS drivers will work. MS-DOS 16bit OS. Does not provide a graphical user interface. You use command line to run the application. Can not use more than one processor. MS-DOS does not multitask. Only one can run at a time. That program does not share memory or hardware with any other programs. It has complete control of the computer. MS-DOS can run on computers that run Win95 but it can also run on less powerful computers i.e. 386, 286, and even 8086 and 8088 processors. Drivers written for MS-DOS to use hardware other than the screen, hard drives, communications, and printer ports that have support built in to DOS Macintosh WIMP environment. Run only Macintosh applications. Some MS- DOS and Windows emulator programs allow you to run MS-DOS and Windows applications. Supports both cooperative and preemptive multitasking. Program written for Macintosh are separated and protected from each other to prevent one program from crashing another program or the OS. Does run on IBM-compatible PC. Motorola 68000 family of processors and PowerPC RISC family processors. OS can use more than one microprocessor. Drivers specifically written for the Macintosh OS. Unix Unix OS is generally run only Unix software but Unix manufacturers also make hardware and software packages that allows Unix computer to emulate a DOS and Windows computers. All Unix OS multitask preemptively and most support multithreading. Unix can run on Intel 386, 486 and Pentium computers as well as on RISC microprocessor computers. Unix like Windows NT can run on a variety of hardware platforms. Unix drivers can be used only with Unix. Comparison between Operating Systems
- 4. Installing Network Adapters • To install modern network adapters, first install hardware, then install software shipped with NIC • In some cases you must perform a third step: – Configure the firmware
- 5. Installing and Configuring Network Adapter Hardware • Jumper – Small, removable piece of plastic that contains a metal receptacle A jumper and a row of pins indicating two different settings
- 6. Installing and Configuring Network Adapter Hardware • DIP switch – Small, plastic toggle switch that represents “on” or “off” status DIP switches on a NIC
- 7. Installing and Configuring Network Adapter Software • Ensure that the correct device driver is installed for the network adapter and that it is configured properly • Device driver – Software that enables an attached device to communicate with computer’s operating system
- 8. Installing and Configuring Network Adapter Software Figure 6-14: Windows 2000 Upgrade Device Driver Wizard
- 9. IRQ (Interrupt Request Line) • Message to the computer that instructs it to stop what it is doing and pay attention to something else • An interrupt is the wire on which a device issues voltage to signal this request • Each interrupt must have a unique IRQ number
- 10. IRQ (Interrupt Request Line) IRQ assignments
- 11. IRQ (Interrupt Request Line) • When two devices attempt to use the same IRQ, any of the following problems may occur: – Computer may lock up or “hang” either upon starting or when operating system is loading – Computer may run much slower than usual – Though computer’s network adapter may work properly, other devices may stop working – Video or sound card problems may occur – Computer may fail to connect to the network – Computer may experience intermittent data errors during transmission
- 12. Protocol Stacks • After loading the NIC device driver, select the protocol your client operating system will use to connect to the network. Three protocols are included with windows i.e. IPX/SPX, NetBEUI and TCP/IP. You need to select at least one of the three protocols. – IPX/SPX : is the network protocol used by Novell NetWare Clients to connect to NetWare server. – NetBEUI : is also known as Server Message Block protocol, or SMB, NetBEUI is the protocol first implemented by Microsoft for the use in LAN Manager networks. It is an efficient network protocol and good choice for connecting to other Microsoft operating system over low-speed links, such as modem connection. – TCP/IP : TCP/IP is the transport protocol for Unix networks and the Internet. If you plan to connect to the Internet, you need to install this protocol. TCP/IP is also a good protocol to use if your LAN is part of a larger organization networks. It supports network sizes ranging from 10 or few users up to any size of large network.
- 13. Network Clients and Network Services • The final links to connecting your client computer to network are network clients and the network services software. – Client for Microsoft Networks – Client for NetWare Networks – File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks – File and Printer Sharing for NetWare Networks • Connecting to Workgroups and Domains • Sharing Drives and Printers • Connecting to Drives and Printers • E-Mailboxes
- 14. Troubleshooting Client Connections • Ethernet Card Problems • 10Base2 Problems • Ethernet, IPX, and Frame Types – Ethernet_802.2 – Ethernet_802.3 – Ethernet_SNAP – Ethernet_II • Cable Problems and Cable-Testing Tools • Token Ring Card Problems • Multiple Adopters