Network 3.1 to XP

[bluejay_ca]

Anyone could point me in the right direction, would be greatly appreciated.
I am working on a '85 Sharanova with a Win3.1 OS. I'm set with the hardware, just not sure how to set up network as "network wizard" states only compatable back to Win98. Thankyou.

[ckm]

Well, the easiest way to do this would be using ethernet and tcp/ip. You will need four things:

Hardware

1. Network card in both machines (10 base T, looks like a wide phone jack)
2. Hub or switch - you can find these for really cheap, look for 8 'ports' (jacks)
3. Cables - These are sold in various lengths, try to use lengths less than 100ft. They are pre-terminated with jacks. Different colors will help identify where they are going...

Software

4. You will need software on both Windows 3.1 and XP. XP usually has the software built in, and it will consist of a driver for the network card and the TCP/IP software. On Win3.1, you will need something called WinSock, which is TCP/IP software for Win3.1, as well a driver for the network card. Your best bet is to find an old network card (like a 3com) on ebay or in a computer junk store. The drivers and Winsock for Win3.1 should be findable using Google.

Be aware that this is not hard, but it's also not trivial as win3.1 was not really designed as a network operating system. Also, if you are trying to move files around, you will need to use software that speaks 'SMB', which is the file sharing protocol for Windows. I don't know if it was built into Windows 3.1 or came as an addon. Again, this is probably findable via Google.

HTH,

Chris.

[stratcat50]

It is do-able. All XP machines that need to be accessed by the 3.1 machine
will need to have the IPX protocol installed. It's free. If it's not on your XP
CD, it's on Win2k. The reason for IPX is that once you get TCP/IP installed
on 3.1 (which is MS-DOS), there's not enough memory for apps.
XP will handle IPX (a very lightweight net protocol) MUCH better than trying
to shoehorn TCP/IP into an OS that wasn't designed to be networked.

Make sure all XP machines are members of the same workgroup (NOT MSHOME!,
use real workgroup and unique machine names), and set up the
DOS machine similarly. The DOS machine will find the XP machine(s) easily
if the XP boxes don't have their firewalls set too tight and NETBIOS is not
disabled. Another nice thing about IPX: No need to assign or figure out IP
addresses, etc.

Is there no way possible to put a real OS on the DOS machine?
Some programs run fine in DOS boxes in XP and 2000. (Some don't.)

Emory

[neilw20]

Make sure you don't embed spaces in workgroup names.
Makes it a bit hard sometimes.
Win3.11 is Windows for workgroups. Win 3.1 precedes it.
Win 3.11 is one step away from Win95.
It is much easier with 3.11
Have a fiddle at DOS level.
NET /? or
NET HELP should get you into it.