Networking different OS' thru a router?

[Jeff H]

Guys,

I have what I think is a simple question, but one that I can't ferret out via my normal channels. Previously I had two desktop units and one laptop, connected via a Linksys router, hooked to a cable connection. All three units were on Win98, and all three spoke to each other just fine.

I received a new (to me) laptop, w/ Win2k on it, from my employer. I made the mistake of changing the name and domain name on the laptop, to get it consistent w/ the two desktop units, and effectively locked up the laptop (it's configured to automatically tie into my work network via a program called Wins). So back goes the laptop to get reconfigured, as my support unit says they can't do that over the phone (that was OK by me, as the unit needed the screen replaced (under warranty) due to approx. six hot spots on it).

So, when I get this laptop back, is there a simple way (that won't pooch the laptop again) to get these three units to talk to each other through the router? I'm willing to make changes to the two desktop units if that will get the three of them to talk, but I'm a bit leery of changing any network settings on the laptop, as I don't want to have to send it back to employer a third time due to my messing around w/ it.

 

[MulLa]

Try this

 

[c0rv1d43]

Under the circumstances I would think that you'd want to ask the IS people at work how they would like for you to handle this. This Win2K system is capable of dealing with more than one network setup, depending upon factors like whether or not they are using DHCP there at work. In some situations a third party utility can make multiple network configurations for a notebook a little easier to set up. I've used NetSwitcher with excellent results on one Win2K notebook that travels among about twenty different networks. The thing here is that you can probably make changes to your other machines to enable networking among the Win98 systems and this notebook, but you will have to have at least some type of sharing turned on on the notebook -- and you should realize that your system admins at work may not want you to do that for your home LAN, and possibly for very good reasons. The most polite and respectful thing to do is to ask them before you connect this work machine to any network outside of the office. Unless the company's use policies prohibit it, the admins probably do the same thing with notebooks of their own. They should certainly be able to give you instructions that will give you at least some of what you want without placing the company network, or the data on the notebook, at peril.

- Collin

Edit: Ha-ha! MulLa beat me to it. That's what I get for taking a phone call while composing a message. But I still think you should talk with the IS people. That way at least, if things get borked again, they won't feel that you've behaved unreasonably.

 

[Jeff H]

MulLa, thanks for the link. c0rv1d43, thanks also. Your suggestion is a good one, and should greatly reduce the chance of ending up w/ another pooched laptop. I did speak w/ support on this originally, and I sensed they'd be willing to give it a go, as I use my main desktop a lot for work-related activities.

 

[c0rv1d43]

<< I did speak w/ support on this originally, and I sensed they'd be willing to give it a go, as I use my main desktop a lot for work-related activities. >>



Good point. If they understand this they should be more than willing to help you out. That way they might even help you make sure you have a reasonably secure Internet connection at home, too.

- Collin