Dial-Up Server

The Dial-Up Server software allows a computer to answer incoming calls with very little configuration or maintenance. The software comes standard on the Windows® 98 operating system and is available as an upgrade to Windows® 95 from the Plus Pack or the Dial up Networking upgrade (DUN 1.3 Upgrade).

The trade-off for the simple setup is a relatively slow connection and mediocre security features. As a general rule, don't leave dial up server running unattended on a computer with sensitive information.

STEP 1 - Setup Dialup Server on Host

The following configuration applies to the PC that will be answering the telephone calls (Host).

1. Windows 98 or Windows 95 - Install the DUN 1.3 upgrade.
2. Open My Computer
3. Dial-Up Networking
4. Connections
5. Dial-Up Server (figure 1)
6. click Allow caller access radio button
7. click Change Password button

Incoming callers will need to know the password you have just entered to establish a connection to the host computer. (Another password may also be configured to restrict access to certain drives or printers on the host computer.)

 Fig.1

STEP 2 - Installing a Protocol on the Host

Dial-Up Server will only work if NetBEUI or IPX/SPX is bound to the dial-up adapter. In other words the Dial-Up Server software speaks the NetBEUI language and uses the Dial-Up Adapter (modem) as its mouthpiece. Furthermore, the incoming caller must also be using the NetBEUI or IPX/SPX protocol for the Dial-Up Server to work.

1. Open My Computer
2. Control Panel
3. Networking (figure 2)
4. If NetBEUI is not listed, then from the Network dialog box click Add...
5. Highlight protocol
6. Click Add...
7. Highlight Microsoft
8. Highlight NetBEUI
9. Click OK

If NetBEUI is already installed then got to STEP 3.
 
 Fig.2
 
It is important to identify the host computer by giving it a name, as this will be used by incoming callers to access information.

1. From the Network dialog box click Identification tab and enter a name... In the example to the left the computer is called "family"
2. You must also enter a workgroup. Make sure the workgroup name is the same on both the server and the calling computer (client).

 Fig.3
 

STEP 3 - Setting the Binding on the Host

Now make sure NetBEUI is bound to the Dial-Up Adapter.
 

1. Highlight dial-up adapter
2. Click Properties.
3. Click the Bindings tab
4. Checkmark - NetBEUI

 Fig.4
 

STEP 4 - Sharing Resources on the Host

At this point Dial-Up Server is installed and will establish a connection using NetBEUI. However you must let people have access to files on the host or else the effort is point less.

Shared resources will be identified with a blue hand on the icon. For this example, lets assume that the C drive on the server is shared as "c on server". In other words, anyone wanting to access this drive must refer to it as "c on server".

1. Open My Computer
2. Right click the C: drive icon
3. Click Sharing...
4. Click Shared As:
5. Type "c on server"

 Fig.5
 

STEP 5 - Connecting to a Dial-Up Server

The following configuration is for the computer (client) dialing in to the server

1. Open My computer
2. Dial-Up Networking
3. Make a New Connection
4. Name the connection (Dial up Server in this example)
5. Enter the phone number of the server
6. Select Properties

 Fig.6
 

1. Click Server Types tab (figure 7)
2. Log on to network
3. Checkmark - NetBEUI

 Fig.7
 
Once the client is configured it is time to call up the server.

1. Click Dial up Server just created
2. Enter the password you specified in STEP 1
3. NOTE: The protocols and passwords on the client and server must match.

 Fig.8
 

STEP 6 - Mapping and Sharing

For information on mapping and sharing resources on a network follow this link Mapping and Sharing.