Getting your computer onto the network is a very simple task. Follow these simple steps and you'll be up and ready to game in no time.

Requirements:
In order to get on our network you need a few things.  First of all you need a computer.  You'll also need a network card.  Not just any network card though.  It needs to have an RJ-45 jack. If you don't know what RJ-45 is then just look on the back of your Network Interface Card (NIC).  If you see a small plug that looks LIKE a regular phone plug then you're probably ready to go. Please note that an RJ-45 jack is slightly wider than a regular phone jack (RJ-11).  If you see two phone jacks on one expansion card on the back of your computer then that is most likely NOT a network interface card (NIC).  It's probably just your modem.  You cannot use a modem to get onto our network.  You might also see a connector that looks sort of like the cable connector on the back of your TV.  That's a BNC connector and you won't be using that to access our network.

If you do not have a network card, We have them for sale at the LAN party and will install them for you.  Just let us know ahead of time so we can make preperations for this.

Please note that if you own an OEM computer (Compaq, Gateway, Dell) then you might have the required RJ-45 jack built into your computer.  This means that you might not have the jack installed on one of the expansion slots you see on the back of your computer.  If you have a computer like this then you have nothing to worry about, it's ready to go!

Setup:
Most, if not all, of the people that game with us run Windows as their operating system to play games.  These instructions will be for Windows users.  If you happen to run Linux or BSD, you won't have any problem getting on our network.  The setup for you will just be different.  But, if you're running Linux or BSD then you probably already know how to setup the network settings on your computer.  With that said here we go...

First thing to make sure is that we have the proper drivers installed for our Network Interface Card (NIC).  If you bought the NIC from Best Buy or somewhere else it probably came with a disk and instructions on how to install it.  I'll leave that up to you since I cannot give instructions on how to install every single NIC out there.  Simply read the instructions carefully and you won't have any problems.  If you have an OEM computer (Compaq, Gateway, Dell) and have the jacks built into your computer you'll probably already be setup as far as the drivers go.  After you got our NIC properly installed with drivers and all; it's finally time to setup the actual network settings you need to get onto the network.  This is the easiest part.

Before I go into this I would like to express one small matter.  We would greatly appreciate it if you did not physically plug your computer into the network before you setup your network settings.  I know many of you out there run your own networks at home.  I also know that lots of home networks like to use 192.168.0.0 network addresses.  That's all fine and dandy but our network uses the same addressing scheme.  Since this is the case it's VERY important that you do not accidentally conflict with the IP address of our router or DHCP server.  If you do then we will have problems and most likely people will start losing connectivity (that's bad), and everyone will make sure to snipe you in the head with the Scout in Counter-Strike.  So please make absolutely certain not to plug your computer into the network until after all of your network settings have been made.

Also, please make sure that you install your NIC and drivers prior to coming to the LAN party!  Helping to install hardware and drivers is very time consuming and it will only take away gaming time from you.  So please make sure you have the hardware and drivers installed before coming.

Windows 95/98/ME users:
Right click on the "Network Neighborhood" icon on your desktop.  Then left click on "Properties".  A new window opens up.  This is our Network Properties window.  This is where you will be spending most of your time.  In the window you'll see all your adapters, protocols, and services installed.  For now we'll just pay attention to what's most important; adapters and protocols.

If you've properly installed your NIC along with the proper drivers, you should see the name of your network interface card (NIC) listed in the box with a picture of a small green circuit board next to it.  That small picture means that it is either a NIC or a modem.  For each NIC you can have several protocols bound to it.  For now let's just pretend you have one NIC on your computer.  In the same window you should see something like "TCP/IP" with the name of your NIC next to it.  This is what we want.  If you do not see this line in the window then you do not have the TCP/IP protocol installed.  Also the window does have a scroll bar so make sure to scroll to the bottom and take a look there.  If you don't see TCP/IP listed with the name of your NIC listed don't worry.  Installing it is easy.

To install the TCP/IP protocol simply click on the button labeled "Add" near the middle of the window.  Another window will pop up asking you what you want to install.  Choose "Protocol".  You will then see a list of company names (Microsoft, Novell etc...). Double click on Microsoft.  You will now see a list of Protocols.  Choose "TCP/IP".  Then hit "OK".  Your computer will pause for a few seconds while it installs the protocol.

You should now be at the Network Settings window we started in.  Now hit "OK" on the bottom.  Windows might ask you for your Windows CD, so stick that CD in to make it happy.  Inserting the CD if needed is very important.  Chances are Windows will now ask you to reboot your computer.  Click "Yes".

After your computer reboots go back into Network Properties by right clicking "Network Neighborhood" and choosing "Properties".  Now look for "TCP/IP" with the name of your NIC next to it.  It should now be listed.  Double click this line.  A new window will pop up.  This window allows us to configure our TCP/IP settings to get onto the network.  Looks complicated?  Don't worry; we are only going to set a few settings.

The most important setting is conveniently shown to us at the start.  You have two options on how to configure your IP address.  If you don't know what an IP address is, think of it as a house number on your street.  Every computer on the network has a separate address and it MUST be unique in order to function properly.  Remember when I asked not to plug your computer in before you set up your computer?  That's why.

Back to our IP addresses; we have two options.  We can either; A.) "Obtain IP address automatically" or B.) "Use the following IP address".  Since our network is based off Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) we will be using option "A.)"; "Obtain IP address automatically".  Make sure that that option is checked.

Now click on the tab labeled "DNS" on top of the window we're in.  This is where we set up our DNS servers.  These settings aren't vital to play on our network but if you want to get onto the Internet, check e-mail and chat with your friends; then we will need to configure this too.  To avoid complications please choose the "Disable DNS" option.  You will have a DNS server assigned to you when you boot up via DHCP.  If you wish to use another DNS server for whatever reason then go ahead.  But, getting the setting automatically is much easier and avoids headaches.

The next setting is vitally important to access the Internet.  Click on the tab labeled "Gateway".  If there are any gateway server addresses entered please highlight them and click "Remove".  If you have a gateway address entered you will probably notice slower access to the Internet.  You need not worry about this setting since this too will be supplied to you when you boot your computer via DHCP.

The last setting to set is "WINS".  Click the tab labeled "WINS" at the top of the current window.  You will be taken to a new page.  Make sure you have no WINS servers entered.  If you do, please remove them.

After all this hit "OK" on all the windows.  Windows may ask you for your Windows CD again.  Make sure to insert the CD so it can finish installing the new settings.  Windows will then ask you if you want to reboot your computer.  Choose "No".  Now, completely shutdown your computer.  Start -> Shutdown.  When your computer is powered down connect the network cable to your computer and the available network jack installed on the wall.  With your network cable connecting your computer to the network jack turn on your computer.

Since you've configured Windows to set everything up automatically you can just sit down and wait.  While Windows boots up it contacts the DHCP server we have setup to get its appropriate settings to get onto the network.  Once you finally get to your desktop you should be able to access web pages, check e-mail and chat with your friends normally.

Windows 2000 users:
If you're using Windows 2000 all the settings are the same except that they are laid out slightly different than Windows 95/98/ME has it.  Apply the above settings to you.  Chances are Windows won't ask you to reboot.  Once you have the above settings configured for you computer open a command prompt: click on Start, go to Run then left click.  A small box will open up.  This is the run line.  Simply type "command" (no quotes) and hit enter.  You will now be at a command prompt.  You'll need to run the "ipconfig" command.  The entire command you need to type is "ipconfig /renew" (no quotes) then hit enter.  The command will pause for a few seconds while it fetches the settings from the DHCP server.  It will then print out the settings onto your screen.  That's it; you're ready to go!  Now you can access web pages, check e-mail and chat with your friends normally.

Conclusion:
That's it!  If you still can't play online games, access the Internet or are having troubles setting up your NIC or install drivers simply look for the fat guy yelling obscenities at his computer :).  Also, I sit right across from Dino.  Come to me, tell me what's wrong and I'll come over to look at your computer to make sure you've done everything correctly.  If you have any questions about setting up your computer or what type of hardware you would need simply send me an e-mail.

My Email address is: dave@chicagolanparty.com

-Dave (a.k.a Commander FAT)

*If you have a question about these instructions or have a suggestion, please e-mail Dave directly.  If you need help setting up for the party, you CAN send Dave an email.