LAN Protocols and TCP/IP

N. Ganesan, Ph.D.

Module
A Preview of Major LAN Protocols

Major Protocols
TCP/IP
De facto protocols of the Internet

IPX/SPX
Used in Novell networks

NetBEUI
A non routable local protocol

NetBEUI
Supported by
Windows 9X, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP

Non-routable protocol used for setting a local LAN that does not require Internet access Can be used for an internal peer-to-peer or client-server network

IPX/SPX Compatible Protocol

Used in Novell networks Required for interoperability of Windows network with Novell networks Routable protocol IPX/SPX can be used for peer-to-peer or client-server networking

TCP/IP
An important protocol used widely on the Internet A routable protocol Supports communication with UNIX networks or any other network that work under the TCP/IP protocol

The base protocol in UNIX networks is TCP/IP

Can be used for configuring peer-to-peer as well as client-server networks of very large scale

A TCP/IP Application Scenario

Lab
Workstation Internet Router

Workstation

Local Router

The Internet

Configure the workstation for Internet access by Installing TCP/IP.

End of Module

Module
Basic TCP/IP Installation and Configuration

TCP/IP Installation and Configuration

A two-step process First, install the protocol
With many modern OSs such as Windows XP, it is automatically installed

Second, configure its properties

When TCP/IP is automatically installed, the properties are set to be obtained from a DHCP server However, it is also possible to manually set the properties

TCP/IP Installation Steps

Start From Network Neighborhood/ Properties.

Choose Network/ Properties

Install Protocol Add Choose TCP/IP OK

TCP/IP protocol installed.

End

Accessing the Window for TCP/IP Properties

Under different Windows operating systems the TCP/IP properties are accessed in different ways
The best and the most consistent way to access TCP/IP properties Windows is to go through the Control Panel and then select the Network Icon Another way to access the properties is to go through Network Neighborhood Thereafter, select the network properties (Based on the NIC) and then then continue to select the TCP/IP properties

Accessing TCP/IP Properties Tab

Start From Network Neighborhood/ Properties.

Choose Network

TCP/IP/ Properties

Proceed Define TCP/IP properties

TCP/IP Configuration Options

Dynamic IP
A DHCP server must be present in the network to issue dynamic IP In a number of cases, the MAC address of the client is registered to prevent unauthorized leasing of IP addresses to clients

Static IP
Obtain the IP address specifications from the network administrator

DHCP and TCP/IP Configuration

Without a DHCP server
Requires the static assignment of IP addresses and properties The DHCP server need not reside on the same subnet

With a DHCP server

IP addresses etc. are automatically assigned by the DHCP server Select the appropriate option for the TCP/IP address to be dynamically assigned by the DHCP server

IP Address

TCP/IP Properties

Subnet Mask

Gateway

TCP/IP Properties

Advanced

DNS

Assignment of Properties for TCP/IP

IP address Subnet mask Gateway address DNS address
Preferred Alternate, if available

Alternate IP
If the computer is used on another network as well, an alternate IP address may also be set
It can be a private IP address Or, it could well be a static IP address that is manually set

IP Addresses for Restricted Internal LANs

For an internal network, only the IP addresses and the subnet masks need to be assigned
Note that subnet mask is not an IP address

Such networks will not have access to the outside world meaning that it would not have a connection to the Internet There are also some IP addresses reserved for internal use that are known as private addresses
An example is 192.168.0.1

For internal access, private IP addresses should preferably be used

Facilitating External Access

A gateway address is required to facilitate external address A gateway is generally a router that directs the traffic to the next segment of the network that would eventually be linked through a series of hops over network segment to its destination There can be more than one gateway present in a network meaning that multiple gateway addresses can be entered in the TCP/IP properties window

IP Address Assignment Summarized

IP Address DHCP Non-DHCP

Obtain IP Address automatically

IP Address 123.345.678.90

Specify IP Address

Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0

Gateway, DNS and WINS addresses

End of Module

Module
Advanced TCP/IP Settings

Accessing Advanced Properties

Advanced properties can be accessed from the tab marked advanced

Advanced Properties of TCP/IP

IP settings DNS WINS Options
Security related

IP and Gateway Settings

Multiple IP addresses for the same NIC Multiple gateways

DNS
Multiple DNSs Search suffix order Registering current computer with the DNS server

WINS
Setting multiple WINSs Add LMHOST lookup Set NetBIOS over TCP/IP to cater for older applications that rely on NetBIOS

More on WINS
WINS Configuration
This can be configured if there is a WINS server on the network The purpose of the WINS server is to resolve Windows client names into IP addresses Windows names are not common in todays environment as all computer names are based on TCP/IP

Options
Set TCP/IP filtering by limiting access to certain ports for certain protocols

TCP/IP Implementation and Configuration End Result

The workstation is ready for Internet access Tasks possible
Access Internet

Note: The computer may have a name generated by the OS such as Windows XP

The End