MS-Windows 95 Dial-Up Networking PPP Connection over a NULL modem cable

DATE: August 20, 1999

SUMMARY:

A PC running MS-Windows 95 can be connected to a PortMaster (TM) over a NULL modem cable using a PPP connection. This document describes how to configure "Dial-Up Networking" to make such a connection.

BEFORE YOU START:

  1. Install TCP/IP and Dial-Up Networking on MS-Windows 95 for a NULL modem connection.
  2. Configure port on PortMaster for dialup networking (PPP) Configure a user profile for PPP dialin.
  3. Connect a NULL modem cable from a COM port on your PC to a serial port on the PortMaster.

CONFIGURING DIALUP PPP NETWORKING FOR A NULL MODEM CONNECTION:

  1. Double-click the "Dial-Up Networking" group icon found under the "My Computer" icon on the MS-Windows 95 desktop.
  2. Double-click the "Make New Connection" icon which will open a dialog-box labeled "Make New Connection"
    • In the field labeled "Type a name for the computer you are dialing" with whatever you want.
    • From the pull-down list labeled "Select a Modem" single-click the modem named "NT Direct Connection"
    • Single-click the "Configure" button which opens a dialog-box labeled "NT Direct Connection Properties"
    • On the tab called "General" select the COM port on your PC to which you will be connecting the NULL modem cable.
    • On the tab called "General" select the speed that matches the speed on the 0 port.
    • On the tab called "Options" Under the heading "Dial Control" check the box labeled "Operator assisted or manual dial"
    • Single-click the "OK" button.
  3. Now you should be back to the dialog-box named "Make New Connection"
    • Single-click the "Next" button.
    • On the next screen enter anything for the "Area Code", "Telephone Number" and "Country code". MS-Windows 95 requires values for all these 0, but they will be ignored.
    • Single-click on the "Next" button.
    • Single-click on the "Finish" button.
  4. To speed up the connection process set the connection NOT to negotiate un-used functions and protocols.
    • Double-click the "Dial-Up Networking" group icon found under the "My Computer" icon on the MS-Windows 95 desktop.
    • Right-click on the newly created connection icon and select "Properties" from the pull-down menu.
    • Next, single-click on the "Server Type" button which brings up the "Server Types" window.
    • Uncheck the "Log on to Network", "Netbeui" options as they are never necessary when connection to a 0.
    • Uncheck the "IPX/SPX Compatible" check-box if you are not using IPX.
    • Single-click on the "OK" buttons.

CONFIGURING FOR PPP USER WITH A STATIC IP 

The above configuration is for a PPP user being assigned a dynamic IP address by the 0. If you have a user with a static ip, meaning the PPP user gets assigned the same IP address each time they log in, then you will want to make the following updates.

  • Double-click the "Dial-Up Networking" group icon found under the "My Computer" icon on the MS-Windows 95 desktop.
  • Right-click on the newly created connection icon and select "Properties" from the pull-down menu.
  • Single-click on the "Server Type" button which brings up the "Server Types" window.
  • Single-click on the "TCP/IP Settings" button.
  • Single-click the radius button labeled "Specify an IP address" and enter the static IP address in the space provided.
  • Single-click the "OK" buttons.

CONNECTING PPP OVER NULL MODEM CONNECTION:

  1. Double-click the "Dial-Up Networking" group icon found under the "My Computer" icon on the MS-Windows 95 desktop.
  2. Double-click on the newly created icon.
    • At the "Username" field enter the username of a PPP dialup user.
    • In the "Password" field enter the password of the PPP dialup user.
    • Single-click the "Connect" button.
    • Single-click on the "Continue" button when the window labeled "Manual Dial" appears.

TROUBLESHOOTING:

"You have been disconnected from the computer you dialed. Double-click the connection to try again."

  • Make sure the port speed on the S0 serial port matches the speed set for the properties of your network connection icon.
  • Make sure you do not have "encrypted password" checked under server types which is part of your connection icon properties.
  • Make sure you have the "Operator assisted or manual dial" check-box checked. (see above configuration)

You get a window labeled "Terminal Screen" after pressing the "Connect" button.

  • Go to the properties of your connection icon under Dial-Up Networking.
  • Press the "Server Type" button and make sure that the "Type of Dial-Up service" is set to PPP and not SLIP.

You get a window labeled as PRE or POST "Terminal Screen"

  • Go to the properties of your connection icon under Dial-Up Networking.
  • Press the "Configure" button
  • Make sure the "Connection Control" check-boxes are left unchecked.

While connecting it takes a long time to get through the "Verifying Username and Password" or "Logging on to Network" status.

  • Double-click the "Dial-Up Networking" group icon found under the "My Computer" icon on the MS-Windows 95 desktop.
  • Right-click on the newly created connection icon and select "Properties" from the pull-down menu.
  • Next, single-click on the "Server Type" button which brings up the "Server Types" window.
  • Uncheck the "Log on to Network", "Netbeui" options as they are never necessary when connecting to the S0 port.
  • Uncheck the "IPX/SPX Compatible" check-box if you are not using IPX.
  • Single-click on the "OK" buttons.