Configuring WFWG Workstations Through Novell Router (99379)

SUMMARY

Consider a configuration that includes a Novell (or other) router, two net cards, and several Windows for Workgroups workstations in each of the two network segments. Here is how to make Windows for Workgroups workstations (or any other Microsoft NetBIOS ones) work through the Novell router:

• Add entries to LMHOSTS on each Microsoft node for any system that you want to talk to through the router.
• Set the default gateway (DEFAULTGATEWAY0) on each workstation to the IP address of the "near side" of the router.

Workstations use the NetBIOS over TCP/IP interface, but NetBIOS uses broadcasts for name claims, name resolution, and so on. This means that functions relying on broadcasts won't work over the router unless it forwards broadcasts. The browser is an example.

Use LMHOSTS to map NetBIOS names to IP ADDRESSES, and HOSTS to map Internet domain names to IP ADDRESSES. TCP/IP utilities such as FTP and Telnet use Internet domain names, and Windows for Workgroups file and print services use NetBIOS names.