A not so brief explanation of DUN for Windows95 and Dynamic IP connections to the Internet. (DUN means Dial Up Networking for Windows95)

The Experts say that it should be a piece of cake to get your Internet connection up and running from scratch. Or so it seems<G> (this means a big Grin)

This paper is designed primarily for those connecting via a Dynamic PPP and using
Windows95 to connect to a new Internet account. Do not read further if you are using Unix, OS/2 or WindowsNT 4.0. or have a Static IP address. If you don't know what that is, then you probably don't have one..

Do read further if you are trying to get your CPCUG.ORG account working on the new provider IDS and have an account with Millkern for our domain. Or you have an account on many of the other ISPs (Internet Services Provider) where they provide you PPP dial up access.

First of all, you should already have your modem installed and working on your machine. One thing that does cause problems for people trying to get their Internet access working is that they end up with too many modems, None or the wrong one in their Control Panel | Modems window. Make sure that your modem is listed correctly and only once. In the Modems control panel, once you have your modem installed, to test it you can go to the communications program that comes with Windows95 called Hyper Terminal. By using this windows communications program, you will be able to determine whether your modem will dial out properly. It is normally available from the start button, programs, accessories and select Hyper Terminal. Execute it and put in some phone number you know will work, like the MIX BBS (301) 738-9060. As a hint, I normally tell my modems configuration option that my home area code is 999, this allows me to use the correct area codes for the Washington DC metro area where those of us who live in MD must dial the area codes even for local calls.

Another area that causes problems is that some install FAX software and then leave it in auto-receive. Doing this allows the FAX software to take control of the modem and not allow your system to use it for other purposes. Like dialing up the internet<G>. Also some of the all-in-one software packages have a voice mail system installed and ready to receive calls via your modem. These of course must be turned off for us to proceed. Turning them off sometimes can be a pain but search your start up folder for items that execute upon starting your computer. Others can be located in your WIN.INI or SYSTEM.INI files.

Some terms used here and their explanation.

ISP: Internet Services Provider, The people who you paid your money to for Internet access, i.e Millkern for CPCUG.ORG or Bellatlantic.net or Erols.

DUN: Dial Up Networking, a feature of Windows95 and NT that allows you to configure your connection to an Internet Service Provider. It is the workhorse of your Internet connection. Look at it as a pipe to the internet where all of your Internet Clients like Netscape, Eudora, Microsoft Internet Explorer can send data thru. It is the weak link in the chain and is required to be successfully setup and running before any of the internet clients can do their thing.

DNS: Domain Name Service, Where all the lookup tables of Internet names are stored on the ISP's host.

TCP/IP: Transfer Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol, the underlying layer of protocol that every computer in the world uses to connect to the Internet.

PPP: Point to Point Protocol, This is a sub protocol under the TCP/IP layer of protocols.

IP: Networks using the TCP/IP protocol route messages based on the IP address of the destination. The format of an IP address is a 32-bit numeric address written as four numbers separated by periods. Each number can be zero to 255. (i.e. 123.123.123.123)

When you enter a name in your WEB browser like WWW.CPCUG.ORG, the Internet service you are connected with goes out to their DNS (Domain Name Service computer). which then tells the computer the IP address of who you are

What You Need to Get Started:
A PPP account with an Internet Service Provider such as Millkern for IDS for CPCUG.ORG
Your user name
Your password
(These are normally case sensitive, UPPER or lower is very important)
To know whether you have a static (dedicated) or a dynamic (variable) IP address
(you probably have a dynamic one) Most CPCUG.ORG accounts are Dynamic PPP accounts.
As are many of the other local ISPs.
Your ISP's local access telephone number

Step 1

Verify that the Dial-up Adapter and TCP/IP Protocol are installed correctly.
Click on the START button,
Select Settings
Control Panel.
Double-click the Network Icon.
You'll see a dialog box with the network clients, devices and protocols selected.
Both Dial-Up Adapter and TCP/IP should be present. If not, then the next step will do that.
If you wish to be able to save your password in Dial Up Networking
you must have Client for Microsoft Networks installed in addition to the other two.

If the TCP protocol is not listed then you will need to install TCP/IP
Select Add button,
Select Protocol
Select Microsoft, then TCP/IP, and select OK.

Your Network dialog box should contain
Client for Microsoft Networking
Dial-Up Adapter
TCP/IP
If there are other protocols listed here and you are not connected to a Local Area Network then you may safely delete these other protocols. Please remember to end up with only three options in this window. If you are at work and are connected to an internal network, check with your system administrator first before you start deleting options<G> Or you will be sorry and your agrivation level will increase dramatically.

Select the adapter, click Properties then Bindings,
Make sure the TCP/IP box is checked.
You're now ready to proceed
If you had to select any of these items to be added, Windows95 will require your CD-ROM and a system restart after it has installed these items. If all are installed, then you can proceed.

Step 2

Configure the TCP/IP Protocol
For this step, you'll need to know if the IP address your provider assigns to you is
Static (stays the same every time) or Dynamic (changes each time you log on) ?.

Select the TCP/IP protocol and press Properties button.
You will then be shown the TCP/IP Properties box.

There are six sections in this dialog box. Normally there should not be any reason to go in and change any of the default settings. EXCEPT, sometimes the WINS Configuration needs to be disabled. But for now. Don't make any changes. Exception would be if you have a STATIC IP, then your ISP will give you the information necessary to be entered into this properties box.

When you're all done setting these options, press the OK button. Then press the OK button in the Network dialog box. Windows 95 will ask you if you want to reboot. Select YES.

Step 3

Set up a Connection Icon:
You can either Open up the My Computer Icon from the desktop and double-click the Dial-Up Networking icon. Or you can go to the start button, select programs, accessories and then select Dial Up Networking.
First you will need to select and Double-click the Make New Connection icon.

You can name this connection anything you wish but I recommend you give it a name that means something to you like cpcug.org via IDS or whatever (This is so that you can remember which connection you will be running).
Your modem (which should have been configured when you installed Windows 95) should be shown in the Select a modem area.

If you do not have a modem installed then go directly to install a new modem as the rest of this would not be relevant. Most modems are installed via the automatic feature in Windows95.

Press the Configure button and you'll get a dialog box to allow you to set some of the Modem parameters. On the General tab, set your modem speed to as fast as you think it will go. If you have a 14.4K modem, for example, make the maximum speed 57600. Most automatic installs for modems will set the maximum speed to something like 115,000 bps. You can leave it alone if it is already setup.

Never, however, select Only connect at this speed. Leaving this unchecked will allow your modem to adjust as the connection needs to.

Select the OK button.

Click the Next button in the Make New Connection wizard.
Enter in the phone number of your Internet provider. You do need to put in the area code if you live in multi area code locations such as the DC Metro area. Select the option for using country and area code.

A trick I use when installing a modem is tell the modem setup program that I live in area code 999, this requires communications programs to always use the area codes when dialing a number. In Maryland we must use 301, 202 or 703 to dial most local ISP's.

Select the Finish button and your icon will be created. Your Dial-Up Networking folder should now have another icon, the one you just created.

Step 5

Setting the Dial-Up Properties
Select this new icon by Left clicking on it one time and then press the right mouse button and choose Properties. You should get a dialog box for your connection.
There are three tabs at the top of this box. The first of course being the General tab next the Server Types tab and finally the Scripting tab. Do not select OK until you have completed the following option settings.

Select the second tab on the top of the box which is named

Server Types.
In the Server Types dialog box under Type of Dial-Up Server section, Make sure that "PPP, Windows95, Windows NT 3.5 Internet" is selected. Normally this is the one selected as the default. In this same box, make sure that the only boxes with check marks in them are:

Go to the third tab on the top of the DUN connection marked Scripting.
The only selected item here should be
Start Terminal Screen Minimized.
Everything should now be setup correctly for your Dial Up Networking (DUN)
Select OK

Step 5:
Configure Dial-Up Networking to Automatically Redial a busy number
Some ISP phone numbers experience heavy use times and could be busy when you decide to call. You should configure your dial-up sessions to automatically redial when it encounter a busy signal.
To do this:

From the Dial-Up Networking folder, select the Connections pull down menu item,
select settings and check redial.
Choose the number of times you would like your dial-up session to attempt a connection by selecting how many times you want it to redial.
The option to "Show a icon on the task bar" is a good one to have checked so that you can hang up easily and if you wish to check the status of your connection while your online.
The option "prompt for information before dialing" will allow you to enter userid's and
passwords . Best to leave them at the default for now which is "Prompt...".

Check OK

Once you have your DUN properties setup properly, you may create a shortcut on your desktop for this connection. To do so, go to Start | Programs | Accessories | Dial up Networking. A window will come up with at least two icons. Select the DUN Icon you just created earlier and then right click. Select "create a shortcut" and then answer yes to the question about creating it on your desktop. From that point on, you only have to execute it directly from your desktop instead of wending your way down thru the menus.

Caution, you CAN NOT change any of the icon's properties when you have selected a shortcut. Only from the DUN icon vial the Start panel, programs, accessories, dial up networking can you change any options.

Step 6

Dialing in and Getting Connected:
Double-click (or select and press Enter) this new icon in the dial up networking folder.

Select the Connect button and your modem should start dialing. If your phone line is OK, Your modem is connected and installed properly, and then your ISP's host machine should answer. If you have done things correctly so far, Windows 95 should take care of the rest! (Lots of big IF's there) You should see a small icon in your system tray that looks like two computers with lights which flash when you transfer data to the host machine. If you click on this icon, a screen should come up which shows the connection speed and the number of bytes sent and received. Also there are three check boxes on the right that allow you to disconnect, OK or cancel. The only one that really matters is the Disconnect box. Selecting this will hang up your modem connection to the host.

Congratulations! You're now connected to the 'Net! Open your Web browser and start surfing!

To test your connection, you can either double click on the icon for Microsoft Internet Explorer that Microsoft includes on your desktop, or from the start panel, programs select the (MSIE) Microsoft Internet Explorer. First it will ask you if you want to use a new Internet connection. Select the option to use an existing Internet connection. Then put your userid and such in the spaces that it asks for them. One hint on MSIE is that it wants you to use it for mail, news and the web. You do have options available to use other mail clients and news readers if you wish. Netscape Navigator or Communicator is an equivalent web browser. Mail clients abound and my recommendation is Qualcom's Eudora E -Mail client. Great program and well worth the investment in time and money to learn.

Both MSIE and Netscape will immediately try to connect to their respective initial log on sites. This is not 100% necessary as you can stop this and set options to go to any home page you wish or NONE. I recommend you set it to