The SLIP/PPP Route

Step by Step: How to SetUp RAS for Windows NT

One of the most practical and economical connections to the Internetis to dial in to an Internet Access Provider (IAP) using eitherthe Serial-Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) or the Point-to-PointProtocol (PPP). If you plan to use one of these methods, you'llprobably want to install a Web browser so you can access the fullrange of graphical and multimedia presentation available on theWorld Wide Web. However, to take advantage of these features,you must also install and configure the Remote Access Service(RAS) for Windows NT Workstation/Server 3.5.

Sign Up with an IAP
SLIP/PPP: Sign up for either a PPP or SLIP dial-in accountwith a local IAP. Other IAPs are available in lists on the Internet,but you have to be on it to get them.

Install and Configure RAS
SLIP/PPP: After arranging for Internet service, it's timeto install and configure the RAS software. (If you have not alreadyinstalled network support, the system will ask if you want toinstall it. Base network support must be installed to run RAS.)

Look in the Installed Network Software list to see if TCP/IP orRAS support is installed. If so, remove the TCP/IP protocol andreboot the system. Then, confirm that NetBIOS Interface is inthe list. If not, install it and reboot before continuing.

SLIP only: If you plan to use SLIP, MS Loopback Adaptermust be installed. If it's not in the Installed Adapter Cardsbox, click on Add Adapter to add it.

SLIP/PPP: Next, install and configure RAS. TheAdd Network dialog box contains the default path to your NT distributionfiles.

If you have an external modem, connect it to the proper COM portwith a serial cable. Then click on OK to start automatic detectionof your modem. After about a minute, a message indicates whichmodem the system found.

Click on Continue to confirm that NT has properly detected themodem and the correct COM port. The RAS Setup box displays theprogress of the install. If a warning appears about the automaticrestoration of network connections, click on OK to bypass it.

If the system does not properly detect your modem, obtain thelatest version of the Microsoft Windows NT Hardware Compatibilitylist and confirm that your specific modem model is listed there.If necessary, you can create a custom modem.inf entry for a non-supportedmodem; refer to the Windows NT 3.5 Resource Kit.

The system highlights the detected modem type and COM port inthe Configure Port box. Under Configuration, select Dial out onlyin the Port Usage section. In the RAS Setup, select Disable automaticrestoration of network connections at logon. Open the NetworkConfiguration box and select TCP/IP (and deselect NetBEUI andIPX). Confirm the path to your NT distribution files, and clickon OK to install the TCP/IP-related files.

When you return to the RAS Setup, reconfirm the path to your distributionfiles. Then, wait for NT to complete the installation of the RASsoftware, creation of the RAS program group, and installationof the RAS icons. When you return to Network Settings, click onOK to finalize it. It's okay if you receive a warning messageabout NetBEUI not being installed. Simply bypass it and rebootthe system.

Configure TCP/IP
SLIP/PPP: Open the Network control panel item,select the TCP/IP protocol, and click on Configure.

PPP only:The TCP/IP Configuration box should appear (see Screen 1). Clickon DNS and configure your host name and the domain name you willbe using--normally your IAP's domain name. If you already haveTCP/IP host and domain names defined for your local LAN, you mustchange them to access the Internet--NT supports only one hostname and domain name at a time per system. Unfortunately, whenthey are configured for Internet access, you cannot communicateon your local TCP/IP network.

You don't need to select a particular adapter to configure thehost and domain names; in fact, you don't need to have an adapterinstalled at all to implement PPP. The following fields will beblank: IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, Primary WINSServer, and Secondary WINS Server. Under Advanced, deselect EnableDNS for Windows Name Resolution and deselect Enable LMHOSTS Lookup.

SLIP only:The TCP/IP Configuration box should appear (see Screen 2). InstallMS Loopback Adapter from the Network Settings box. Click on OKto bypass the 802 option, then complete the binding and installationof this adapter. The TCP/IP Configuration box reappears so youcan configure an IP address for your Internet connection. SelectMS Loopback Adapter, and configure the IP address as follows:

Next, enter a subnet mask into its box. In most cases the maskvalue should be "255.255.255.0.' Then, enter the IP addressfor your IAP's default gateway into the Default Gateway box. LeavePrimary WINS Server and Secondary WINS Server blank.

SLIP/PPP:From the TCP/IP Configuration box, click on DNS to access theDNS Configuration box (see Screen 3). Enter the Host Name andDomain Name information you received from your IAP.

PPP only: Leave DNS Search Order blank.

SLIP only: Enter the IP address for your IAP'sprimary DNS in the DNS Search Order box. You can also enter theIP address for a secondary DNS system (if you have one).

SLIP/PPP: The TCP/IP Configuration box reappears.Click on Advanced to invoke the Advanced Microsoft TCP/IP Configurationbox (see Screen 4).

SLIP only: Confirm that Adapter equals MS LoopbackAdapter, and that your IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gatewayare correct.

SLIP/PPP:Under Windows Networking Parameters, make sure that Enable DNSfor Windows Name Resolution and Enable LMHOSTS Lookup are notselected (the system uses these settings if you dial in to RAS).Also confirm that Enable WINS Proxy Agent is not selected andthat Scope ID is blank. Click on OK to confirm these settingsand return to the TCP/IP Configuration box.

PPP only: You don't need to put anything in themain box to enable PPP dial-out.

SLIP only: Click on OK, and then on Yes to bypassthe warning message about the empty Primary WINS address. Thenclick on OK in Network Settings to complete the final bindingof TCP/IP protocol settings to MS Loopback Adapter.

Add Phone Book Entry
SLIP/PPP: Restart your system, log in, open theRAS program group, and double-click on the Remote Access iconto start the RAS program. Since your phone book is blank, thesystem asks if you want to add a new phone book entry. Click onOK; the Add Phone Book Entry box appears.

Type the entry name, the phone number, and (optionally) the descriptionfor your Internet connection. The entry name can be the name ofyour IAP; the phone number should be the one for the server. Clickon Advanced to unfold the box. In the expanded area, deselectAuthenticate using current user name and password and confirmthat the correct Port is selected for the modem.

Next, go to the Modem Settings box, which lists the selected Modemat the top. Set the Initial speed (bps) for 14.4K internal modemsto 38400 and for 28.8K V.34/V.FAST modems to 57600. If you areusing an external modem and don't have a 16550 UART-based enhancedserial card, you must limit the baud rate selection to 19200 orless for reliable communications.

I recommend that you use an enhanced serial card with 16550 UARTsif you are using an external 28.8K modem. (You can use the EventViewer under Administrative Tools to look for a source event labeledserial if the message reads as follows: "While validatingthat com(1-4) was really a serial port, a FIFO was detected. TheFIFO will be used.' This message indicates that NT detected a16550 UART for that particular COM port.) Also, make sure thatthe following options are selected: Enable hardware flow control,Enable modem error control, and Enable modem compression. Then,click on OK to confirm the modem settings and return to the AddPhone Book Entry box. Open the Network Protocol Settings box.

PPP only: Click on PPP. Make sure that only TCP/IPand Request LCP extensions (RFC 1570) are selected. (LCP or LinkControl Protocol is used to establish, configure, and test thePPP data-link connection.) Click on TCP/IP Settings to accessthe PPP TCP/IP Settings box (see Screen 5). To assign your IPaddress:

Leave WINS and WINS backup set to zeroes. Select Use default gatewayon the remote network. If your IAP supports PPP compression, alsoenable Use VJ header compression. Return to Add Phone Book Entry,click on Security, and check Accept any authentication includingclear text in Security Settings. Under Terminal or Script, setBefore dialing to none and After dialing to Terminal.

SLIP only: Click on Force header compressionand Use default gateway on the remote network. Leave frame sizeset to the default of 1006 unless your IAP tells you to use adifferent SLIP frame size. Return to the Add Phone Book Entrybox. Next, click on Security and check Use clear text Terminallogin only. Under Terminal or Script, set Before dialing to noneand After dialing to Terminal.

SLIP/PPP: Confirm all windows. The informationyou have entered is stored in a file named rasphone.pbk in thewinnt35system32ras directory.

Dial In to IAP
SLIP/PPP:To dial in to your IAP's server, locate the Remote Access iconin the Remote Access program group and double-click on it. TheRemote Access window appears (see Screen 6). Highlight the entryname you created earlier, and click on Dial.

PPP only: If your IAP requires PAP (PasswordAuthentication Protocol), enter the username/password for yourPPP account in the Authentication box, but leave the domain informationblank (it only applies for dial-in access to RAS servers). OnlyPPP servers requiring PAP use this username/password. (PAP providesa simple way for the NT client to establish its identity withthe remote PPP server; it involves an exchange of username/passwordinformation. After the initial link is established, the username/password is sent to the server until the request is authenticatedor the connection is terminated.)

If your IAP does not use PAP, you can leave the username, password,and domain blank. Click on OK.

SLIP/PPP: A Connect to Providername box appears.A series of messages, such as Opening com port, Dialing nnn-nnnn,and Postconnecting using terminal, also appear. When the connectionis established, an After Dial Terminal screen appears. Simplyfollow the login instructions furnished by your IAP.

PPP only: When you see the command prompt, typePPP, and press enter. Click on Done to complete the connection.

SLIP only: When you see the command prompt fromthe remote system, type SLIP and press enter. Note the IP addressechoed by the remote system, and click on Done. After the secondSLIP Login Terminal screen appears, type the dynamically assignedIP address (as echoed by the remote system) into the white boxlocated in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. Click onDone.

Explore … Then Hang Up

With your connection established, you can minimize the RAS boxand check out the functionality of your Internet connection. Whenyou have finished, restore the Remote Access box, and click onHang Up to terminate the link.

TRICKS & TRAPS

For additional troubleshooting suggestions, see the Help informationin the RAS program group and the Windows NT 3.5 Resource Kit.

IAPs Galore

One source of information on localized IAPs both in theUS and internationally is Connecting to the Internet, A Buyer's Guide by Susan Estrada (O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1993).