README for XFree86 on OS/2 : Remarks on the Network Configuration
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10. Remarks on the Network Configuration

It is beyond the scope of this document to even give an introduction about the correct installation of the TCP/IP networking system. You must do this yourself or seek assistance elsewhere. It is only possible to say here that a PC working well in a TCP/IP based LAN network will also work with XFree86/OS2 (when all other prerequisites are matched as well).

With IAK, there is a special configuration necessary, unless you want to use XFree86/OS2 only during a hot link to your Internet provider, the so called ``localhost'' or ``loopback'' configuration. This is a local network interface which ``loops'' back to the same host. The following settings are necessary for this:

  1. Create a file \tcpip\etc\hosts with the following content:
    127.0.0.1  localhost
    
  2. Add the following line to your \tcpip\bin\tcpstart.cmd:
    ifconfig lo 127.0.0.1 up
    
    If you don't have such a tcpstart.cmd file (Warp 4 calls this file \MPTN\BIN\MPTSTART.CMD), create one, and add a line like the following to your config.sys file: CALL=C:\OS2\CMD.EXE /Q /C C:\tcpip\bin\tcpstart.cmd >NUL: (implying that your bootdrive is C:).
  3. Set the HOSTNAME environment variable to localhost as described in the last section.
  4. Add the following line to CONFIG.SYS:
    SET USE_HOSTS_FIRST=1
    
  5. After rebooting, verify that the following command works:
    [C:\] ping localhost
    

You don't need this ``loopback'' interface if your PC is connected to a LAN (either directly or through SLIP/PPP).

In case of a SLIP/PPP line, you have to establish this connection BEFORE you start XFree86. See the next section for more details.

Note that the ability to use host names, for instance in the DISPLAY variable, correlates with the existance of a name resolver. If you don't have a LAN-based DNS server available, you have to add the relevant hostnames to your HOSTS/ file. The TCP/IP configuration dialogue in your system configuration folder allows you to edit this file. The checkinstall.cmd script coming with XFree86/OS2 gives some advice on the configuration as well. If you have problems to get this or other basic networking things running, seek assistance in the FAQ, the xf86os2 mailing list or the mailing list archive.

10.1. Dynamic IP Considerations
10.1.1. Configuring X for Your Hardware

README for XFree86 on OS/2 : Remarks on the Network Configuration
Previous: Adding Variables to CONFIG.SYS
Next: Dynamic IP Considerations