Bridge Cable User s Guide Table of Contents Overview -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Driver Installation -------------------------------------------------------- 3 Chapter 1 Build up your Bridge Cable LAN Step 1. Install Driver ----------------------------------------------------------- 3 Step 2. Network Protocol Setting ------------------------------------------ 7 Step 3. Network Login --------------------------------------------------------- 8 Step 4. Connect the Bridge Cable------------------------------------------ 8 Step 5. Sharing your Resource --------------------------------------------- 8 Chapter 2 Connecting to your existing Home or Office LAN CASE 1. Windows 98SE / ME / NT / 2000 --------------------------------17 CASE 2. Windows XP ----------------------------------------------------------21 Chapter 3 Connecting to Internet through Bridge Cable Connecting to Internet through Bridge Cable --------------------------27 FAQ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------30 1
Overview Bridge Cable is the best solution for providing the easiest network connection service to you. By connecting multiple PCs through Bridge Cable, you can build up a local area network without any network adapter. We give this Ethernet emulation environment a name -- Bridge Cable LAN. Bridge Cable supports TCP/IP, NetBEUI and IPX protocols. These features make your PCs can share their resources such as files or printers to each other. Further more, Bridge Cable also give you the ability of connecting your Bridge Cable LAN to your existing Home or Office LAN for network resource or Internet sharing. 2
Driver Installation The driver installation procedures of Bridge Cable will be separated in two sessions. First, we will let you know how to build up a pure Bridge Cable LAN. That is, all PCs are connected via Bridge Cable cable (for example, one PC and one Notebook). After that, we will tell you how to connect your Bridge Cable LAN to your existing Home or Office LAN through the new advanced feature of Bridge Cable. USB Hub Peripheral Sharing Bridge Cable A sample Bridge Cable LAN 3
Chapter 1 Build up your Bridge Cable LAN The setup procedure is same for each computer if all your computers are connected via Bridge Cable only. Bridge Cable LAN driver must be installed in each computer of Bridge Cable LAN. The installation procedures are described as follows: Step 1. Install driver 1. Insert the Bridge Cable setup disk into your CD ROM drive. 2. Run Setup.exe and the welcome dialog box appears. 3. Click Next button. 4. Choose the destination folder. If you don t want to install the driver in the default folder, click Browse button to select another folder. Click Next button. 4
5. Select components that you want to install. Leave Software Router unchecked, then click Next button. 6. The Setup Program will install all necessary components for Bridge Cable automatically. 7. Setup complete. Then Setup Program will ask you to reboot you computer for updating your driver configuration if your operating system is Windows 98 / ME. Select Yes, I want to restart my computer now radio button and click Finish button to reboot your computer. If your operating system is Windows NT / 2000, you don t need to reboot your computer, thus just click Finish button to complete the installation procedures. 5
After you complete the installation procedures, you ll find Setup Program has installed Bridge Cable driver in your computer. It binds TCP/IP, NetBEUI and IPX protocols to Bridge Cable device. Therefore, those computers which connecting to Bridge Cable LAN can communicate with each other in TCP/IP or NetBEUI protocol. One last thing, please double-check if you define the same name for two or more computers within Bridge Cable LAN. If you do that, name conflict will occur, and your Bridge Cable LAN won t work. Step 2 Network Protocol Setting * *This step is only needed when you re using two computer which run the Windows ME and Windows XP operation system in each, and being connected via Bridge Cable. The Windows ME computer won't be able to access the Windows XP computer unless the IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol of the Windows ME computer has been removed! (It will happen only under this condition. In other conditions, you just need to install the Bridge Cable driver in the computers.) Please follow the steps: a. In the Windows ME computer, move the cursor on My Network Places icon and right click on it. You ll see a pop-up menu. Click on Properties, you ll see another menu. b. Choose IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol in Configuration tag, and then press Remove button. And then press OK. 6
c. Done. Press Yes to restart your computer. Step 3 - Network Login When your restart your computer, you will be prompted for a user name and password to login your network. Enter a user name and a password when you prompted. This user name should be a unique name for your desktop or notebook; otherwise, you ll cause a network conflict and make your network mal-function. 7
Notice: Entering a Password is optional. If you don t enter your password when you were prompted for a user name and password in the very first time, you can just click OK button at network login screen to complete your login procedure. But remember, please don t just press ESC or click CANCEL button to bypass this login screen, or your Bridge Cable may not work correctly. Step 4 Connect the Bridge Cable Well, it s easy. Just find an available USB port on your Desktop/Notebook and plug Bridge Cable in it. Step 5 Sharing your resource You need to manually share your resources to make your resources (files, folders, drives and printers) accessible for other computers. Similarly, other computer s resources have to been shared if you want to access them. How to share your files, folders, drives and printers (Take Windows XP for example) a. Go to the file, folder, drive or printer that you want to share. b. Right click your mouse pointer on the resource you want to share, you ll see a POP-UP Menu. c. Select Sharing and Security, and you ll see another Pop-Up Menu. 8
d. You will see the Network sharing and security page, click on it. e. Now start to set up your network, click Next. 9
f. Before you continue set up your network, Windows will ask you to review the chceklist, click Next. g. Select a connection method, choose Other. 10
h. Other Internet connection method, choose This computer belongs to a network that does not have a Internet connection. i. Give this computer a description and name. 11
j. Name your network by specifying a workgroup name. k. Windows is ready to apply your network settings, click Next. 12
l. You will see Windows configures your network. m. Now you re almost done, you may choose Just finish the wizard. And then click Next. 13
n. Set up completed, click finish. And then restart your computer. 14
o. After the computer restarted, Right click cursor on the resource you want to share, you ll see a POP-UP Menu.. p. Select Sharing and Security, and you ll see another Pop-Up Menu. q. Click OK button. 15
How to check if you have already shared your resource? Go to the resource and check if Windows had added a hand on its icon or not. If yes, it means you ve successfully shared your resource and you can access it through Bridge Cable LAN; if not, you need to repeat Sharing your files, folders, drives and printers to complete your sharing processes and make your resources available on Bridge Cable LAN. 16
Chapter 2 Connecting to your existing Home or Office LAN CASE 1. Windows 98SE / ME / NT / 2000 To connect your PC or Bridge Cable LAN to another existing Home of Office LAN via Bridge Cable, you need to install Bridge Cable Software Router in addition to Bridge Cable driver. Bridge Cable Software Router is responsible for handling all network packets between Bridge Cable LAN and your Home/Office LAN. So only the computer that is physically connected to both LANs needs to install Bridge Cable Software Router (i.e., this computer should install both Bridge Cable for Bridge Cable LAN and one network adapter for Home/Office LAN). For those computers on Bridge Cable LAN, you only need to follow previous session ( Build up your Bridge Cable LAN ) to install Bridge Cable driver for them. Following procedures will show you how to install drivers to the computer that will link both Bridge Cable LAN and your existing Home/Office LAN: Install Software Router in this computer! Bridge Cable Ethernet Internet Bridge Cable LAN 17
Install Bridge Cable Software Driver 1. Insert the Bridge Cable setup disk into your CD ROM drive. 2. Run Setup.exe and the welcome dialog box appears. 3. Click Next button. 4. Choose the destination folder. If you don t want to install the driver in the default folder, click Browse button to select another folder. Click Next button. 5. Select components that you want to install. Click S oftware Router check box. Click Next button. 18
6. The setup program will install all necessary components for Bridge Cable automatically. 7. Setup complete. Then Setup Program will ask you to reboot you computer for updating your driver configuration. 8. Select Yes, I want to restart my computer now radio button and click Finish button to reboot your computer. 9. After you install Software Router, you also need to install Bridge Cable drivers for the Desktop/Notebook that would like to connect to this Software Router ready computer. To do that, please follow the instructions of Build up your Bridge Cable LAN. 19
Notice: if you want to connect your Bridge Cable LAN to your existing Home/Office LAN, you should use the same protocol for these two LANs. For example, if your Home/Office LAN uses TCP/IP protocol, you should also use TCP/IP protocol for your Bridge Cable LAN. Otherwise, these two LANs cannot communicate to each other. The Setup Program installs TCP/IP, NetBEUI and IPX protocols for Bridge Cable LAN by default. If your Home/Office LAN uses other protocol, please install the same protocol for those computers within Bridge Cable LAN. - 20
CASE 2. Windows XP To connect your PC or Bridge Cable LAN to another existing Home of Office LAN via Bridge Cable, you need to create the network bridge in addition to install Bridge Cable driver. Network bridge is responsible for handling all network packets between Bridge Cable LAN and your Home/Office LAN. So only the computer that is physically connected to both LANs needs to create the network bridge (i.e., this computer should install both Bridge Cable for Bridge Cable LAN and one network adapter for Home/Office LAN). For those computers on Bridge Cable LAN, you only need to follow previous session ( Build up your Bridge Cable LAN ) to install Bridge Cable driver for them. Following procedures will show you how to install drivers to the computer that will link both Bridge Cable LAN and your existing Home/Office LAN: Create Network Bridge in this computer! Windows XP Bridge Cable Ethernet Internet Bridge Cable LAN 21
Install Bridge Cable Software Driver 1.Insert the Bridge Cable setup disk into your CD ROM drive. 2.Run Setup.exe and the welcome dialog box appears. 3.Click Next button. 4.Choose the destination folder. If you don t want to install the driver in the default folder, click Browse button to select another folder. Click Next button. 5. The setup program will install all necessary components for Bridge Cable automatically. 22
6. The setup program will give you the information about the Windows XP network bridge function if it detects another network card on your computer. The procedures to create network bridge will be described at point 8. Click OK button to continue. 7. Setup complete, click Finish button to complete the installation procedures. 8. The following steps shows how we create the network bridge between Bridge Cable and another network card : 23
(1)Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, double click Network Connections icon. (2)Select both the Bridge Cable and your network card, then move your mouse pointer and right click on it. You ll see a pop-up menu. Click on Bridge Connections. 24
(3)After you Click on it, you ll see Windows bridges the connections between Bridge Cable and your network card. (4)Done! Your Bridge Cable and your network card are already bridged together. You will be able to connect your Bridge Cable LAN to your existing Home/Office LAN for network resource or Internet sharing! 25
9. After you create the network bridge between Bridge Cable and another network card, you also need to install Bridge Cable drivers for the Desktop/Notebook that would like to connect to this network bridge ready computer. To do that, please follow the instructions of Build up your Bridge Cable LAN. 26
Chapter 3 Connecting to Internet through Bridge Cable If your existing HOME/OFFICE network IS using DHCP to assign client s IP address, your Network Sever will configure your network configuration automatically. So you can skip those procedures described in previous session. For accessing Internet resources through Bridge Cable, here are something you should notice: a. You must define which computer should install Bridge Cable Software Router (or create network bridge when your OS is Windows XP); b. The computer which had installed Bridge Cable Software Router (or created network bridge) should have already been connected to internet; c. All clients which would like to access Internet resources through Bridge Cable should have installed Bridge Cable driver. Now we need to do some network configurations on the Desktop/Notebook which connect to Bridge Cable Software Router to make your Internet access possible (maybe you need to consult you Network Administrator for doing that): If your existing HOME/OFFICE network is NOT using DHCP to assign client s IP address, your need to: - Move your mouse pointer on Network Neighborhood icon and right click on it. You ll see a pop-up menu. - Click on Properties, you ll see another menu. 27
- Choose TCP/IP in Configuration tag, and then press Properties button. You ll see TCP/IP Properties menu. 28
-Now you need to navigate between IP Address, Gateway, and DNS Configuration tags to specify IP Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway and DNS Server. If you don t know their value, pleases consult your Network Administrator. -Press OK button to go backward to Network pop-up menu. Choose Identification tag. Specify a unique name for your computer if it doesn t have and fill the name of your workgroup. If you are not sure what s the name of your computer or Workgroup, please consult your Network Administrator. - Press OK to complete your network configuration. Restart your computer and you ll be ready to connect to Internet. SPECIAL NOTICE for those users who have already installed Network Adapter in their system: If you ve already configured your [IPX/SPX] and [Client for Netware Networks] before install Bridge Cable driver, we strongly recommend that you should also install Software Router when you installing Bridge Cable driver into your system. If you decide not to install Software Router, then the OS will not allow two IPX/SPX configurations co-exist in the same system. This will cause Bridge Cable Driver Install Program overwrite your original IPX/SPX configuration and make your original network configuration malfunction. 29
FAQ 1. Can I add an additional Bridge Cable parallel to the original one? Will it increase the transmission speed? Ans: No! If you already have a Bridge Cable between your two computers, please DO NOT add an additional one, otherwise the transmission will be failed! 2. My computer already has a LAN card installed, can I use Bridge Cable? Ans: In the whole Bridge Cable network, there will be only one computer allowed to have LAN card, and the "Software Router" should be installed on this computer for exchanging data between LAN and Bridge Cable network. 3. I have a desktop PC in office with a network card for accessing LAN in office. Recently I bought a Bridge Cable to connect my notebook PC to my desktop. After setup completed, I can see my desktop in "Network Neighborhood" of notebook PC, but I can not see other members on the LAN of our office. Ans: In this case, you may forget to install the "Software Router" on the desktop PC while you were installing driver! Please uninstall the driver on desktop PC and reinstall again. 4. As connected in case 3, I can see members on the LAN of our office from my notebook, but I can not access the Internet via the server in office. Ans: When you connect your notebook to desktop via Bridge Cable (with "Software Router" installed on desktop PC), it's equal to you have a LAN card on notebook PC connecting to LAN in office. You have to ask help from MIS people to make proper settings for the TCP/IP, proxy,... on your notebook PC. Note: If you need to acquire IP from DHCP server on the LAN, please turn on notebook PC AFTER the desktop entering OS! You notebook will acquire IP during turn on procedure, the desktop has to enter OS first to make sure the connection of Bridge Cable is OK for IP acquiring. 5. As connected in case 3, do I have to install "Software Router" in the notebook PC? Ans: No! The only one PC you have to install "Software Router" is the desktop PC in case 3, who takes the responsibility to exchange data between LAN and Bridge Cable network. If you want to daisy-chain another notebook (no LAN card) to the first notebook with Bridge Cable, this notebook does not need "Software Router" either! If you have 2 PCs at home and you want to connect them with Bridge Cable, both of them do not need "Software Router". 6. As connected in case 3, I installed "Internet Sharing" function in WIN98-SE (WIN98 Second Edition), but my notebook (connected as in case 3) failed to share the Internet resource of my desktop PC. 30
Ans: Please DO NOT enable the "Internet Sharing" function in WIN98-SE on the desktop if this desktop PC has installed "Software Router"! "Internet Sharing" function will provide a feature similar to DHCP server. But through "Software Router", notebook can also access the 'real' DHCP server on the LAN of your office. Therefore, there will be 2 DHCP server provide IP to notebook, and it causes conflict. Users of this case have 2 choices to manipulate their network resources: (1) Do not install "Internet Sharing". As recommended in case 4, install "Software Router" on the desktop, and make proper network settings on notebook PC as the notebook is a member of the LAN. Then notebook can access Internet as other members do on the LAN. (2) Sometimes the internet resources in office are not enough to provide additional IPs to your notebook, then you have to use "Internet Sharing" function. Please follow the steps: (a) Do not install "Software Router" while installing Bridge Cable driver. (b) Enable "Internet Sharing" function in WIN98-SE on the desktop. Please follow the instructions in WIN98-SE help file. Because "Software Router" was not installed, you have to give up the ability to access the other members on office LAN. 7. I have 2 PCs at home, one (PC-1) has modem and "Internet Sharing" installed, another (PC-2) does not have modem. I connect the 2 PCs with Bridge Cable, but PC-2 can not access internet via PC-1. Ans: If you are sure you have right setting in both 2 PCs, please remember to turn on PC-2 AFTER the PC-1 entering OS! Please refer to case 4 because the 2 cases are very similar. 8. Can I connect computers and transfer files between different operation systems with Bridge Cable? Ans: Yes! Just like what you did with LAN card. You can access other windows-based computers in "Network Neighborhood" if you use WIN98 (or "My Network Places->Computers Near Me" for WIN2000). For Mac PC, you can access other Mac PCs via "Apple Talk", or share file with IBM PC by 3'rd party software (like "Dave Client"). 9. When I want to access a WIN2000 installed PC by "Network Neighborhood" of WIN98 (or "Computers Near Me" of WIN2000), it said I didn't have the right to access this computer. Ans: For a WIN2000 installed PC on the same network, it will allow you to access the resource it shared only if you are a legal user in it's account list, and what it will check is the account you login your local PC. You have to add your name and password in the account list of that WIN2000 PC with the same login name and password of your local PC. Note: If you use a "Windows Family Login" in WIN98 and set the password to be 31
'blank' while you were installing WIN98 in your local PC, you may not see the login dialog when you boot your PC, and you may forget the original login name as time goes on! Please go to "Control Panel -> Users" to find it! 10.If I want to uninstall the Bridge Cable Driver, how can I do? Ans: To uninstall Bridge Cable driver program, Please follow the steps: (1)Unplug the Bridge Cable from your PC. (2)Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, double click Add/Remove programs icon. (3)In Install/Uninstall tab, select Bridge Cable driver. (4)Click Add/Remove button and then click OK. (5)Restart Windows system. 11. During the driver uninstallation, setup program told me that the driver could not be uninstalled due to some problems. Ans: It will happen only when there were unsuccessful installations before! Please reinstall the Bridge Cable Driver again, and then follow the steps in "case 10" to remove it! 12. My PC failed to shut down after installing Bridge Cable. Ans: PC will be a little slower to turn on/off after installing a network device. If your OS is WIN98-SE (Windows 98 Second Edition), please visit the following web site to update the shut down related software: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ Go to the "Product Updates" and select to download "Windows 98 Second Edition Shutdown Supplement" 13. Can Bridge Cable work in background when my PC in suspend state? Ans: No! Your PC must be activated! 32