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Configuring TCP/IP in Windows XP
Hemant Joshi
hjoshi@ipr.res.in

Microsoft Windows XP uses different protocols for different purposes. Some protocols are required on your computer, so as to work in LAN environment. Following are most commonly used protocols.

1. Client for Microsoft Network
2. File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
3. Qos Packet Scheduler
4. Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

When you want to give an identity to your computer on local area network Windows XP provides TCP/IP configuration.

TCP- Transmission Control Protocol.

TCP - is responsible for verifying the correct delivery of data from client to server. Data can be lost in the intermediate network. TCP adds support to error detection or lost data and resends data until the data is correctly and completely received.

IP- Internet Protocol

IP - is responsible for moving packet of data from node to node. IP forwards each packet
based on a four byte destination address (the IP number). The Internet authorities assign range of IP Addresses to different organizations.

The Internet Protocol was developed to create a Network of Networks (the "Internet"). Individual machines are first connected in a LAN using some protocol. TCP/IP connects the LAN to the rest of the world.

Each technology has its own convention for transmitting messages between two machines within the same network. On a LAN, messages are sent between machines by supplying the six byte unique identifier (the "MAC" address). On top of these local or vendor specific network addresses(MAC address), TCP/IP assigns a unique number to every workstation. This "IP number" is a four byte value that, by convention, is expressed by converting each byte into a decimal number (0 to 255) and separating the bytes with a dot.

Hundreds of routers are configured to connect hundreds of LANs in several buildings. All traffic outside the organization would typically be routed through a single connection to a regional network provider. However, the end user can install TCP/IP on a personal computer without any knowledge of either the corporate or regional network. Three pieces of information are required:

1. The IP address assigned to this personal computer.
2. The subnet mask.
3. The IP address of the router machine/gateway that connects this LAN to the rest of the world.
In addition you may use DNS (Domain Name Server) address to resolve IP address to Name
and Name to IP address.

Following are steps to configure TCP/IP in Windows XP

1. Click on Start.

2. If your desktop view is like below Click on Network Connections or Goto 4.

3. Click on Network Connections Icon.
Goto 7.

4. If your desktop view is like below Click on Control Panel.

5. Click on Network and Internet Connections.

6. Click on Network Connections.

7. Right Click on Local Area Connection.

8. Click on Properties.

9. Select Internet Protocol(TCP/IP) and Click on Properties.
You can Click on Show icon in notification area when connected, To see Local Area Connection on Taskbar.

10. Click on Use the following IP address.
Enter the IP address, Subnet Mask, Default gateway and Preferred DNS server.

11. In DNS suffix for this connection write Domain Name Server.

Click on all OK buttons



Now the computer is configured with TCP/IP settings. You can use UTP cable mounted with RJ-45 connector to connect LAN card on computer to network node. The ping command can be used to check connectivity of computer on network.

Happy Networking !!!