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Preparing Your Network 3-1
Chapter 3
Preparing Your Network
This chapter describes how to prepare your PC network to connect to the Internet through the
Model DG814 DSL Modem Internet Gateway and how to order broadband Internet service from
an Internet service provider (ISP).
Preparing Your Personal Computers for IP Networking
Personal Computers access the Internet using a protocol called TCP/IP (Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol). Each PC on your network must have TCP/IP installed and selected as
its networking protocol. If a Network Interface Card (NIC) is already installed in your PC, then
TCP/IP is probably already installed as well.
Note: In this chapter, we use the term “PC” to refer to personal computers in general, and not
necessarily Windows computers.
Most PC operating systems include the software components you need for networking with TCP/
IP:
•Windows
®
95 or later includes the software components for establishing a TCP/IP network.
• Windows 3.1 does not include a TCP/IP component. You need to purchase a third-party TCP/
IP application package such as NetManage Chameleon.
Note: If an ISP technician configured your PC during the installation of a broadband
modem, or if you configured it using instructions provided by your ISP, you may need to
copy the current configuration information for use in the configuration of your gateway.
Write down this information before reconfiguring your PCs. Refer to
“Obtaining ISP
Configuration Information (Windows)” on page 3-10 or “Obtaining ISP Configuration
Information (Macintosh)” on page 3-11 for further information.