Connecting to the Internet

The Internet Setup wizard makes it easy for you to connect to the Internet. You can use your local area network (LAN) or an Internet service provider to connect.

The information you need to provide to the wizard depends on how you connect. For more information, click a button.

I want to use a local area network.

I want to use an Internet service provider.

Note

If you want to connect by using an Internet service provider, you need a modem. For information about setting up a modem, click Related Topics below.

 Related Topics


Using a local area network to connect

To use a local area network to connect to the Internet, you need to provide the following information to the Internet Setup wizard.

The Internet protocol (IP) addresses of your main and alternate Domain Name System (DNS) servers.

If you have a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) installed, the IP addresses are assigned automatically.

The address of the Internet gateway computer on your local area network.

If you do not know this information, contact your network administrator before continuing with the wizard.

You can also set up your computer use Microsoft Internet Mail to send and receive e-mail over the Internet, if you have an e-mail account with your Internet service provider.

Do you want to use Microsoft Internet Mail?

Yes, tell me what I need.

No, I don't want to use Microsoft Internet Mail.

Return to Connecting to the Internet.


Using Microsoft Internet Mail

You can use Microsoft Internet Mail to receive e-mail messages over the Internet. To receive Internet e-mail, you must provide the Internet Setup wizard with the following information:

Your e-mail address

The name of your Internet mail server

Tip

[bmc bullet.bmp]	For more information about Microsoft Internet Mail, click the Help menu in Internet Mail, and then click Help Topics.


Turning off Microsoft Internet Mail

If you don't want to use Microsoft Internet Mail, don't fill in any of the boxes on the Internet Mail page of the wizard.


Using an Internet service provider to connect

If you already have a point-to-point protocol (PPP) account with a different service provider, you can use the Internet Setup wizard to set up access to this account.

The wizard asks you for the following information, which you can obtain from your service provider:

The name of your service provider

User name

Password

The phone number you dial to connect to the Internet

Domain Name System (DNS) server address

IP address and subnet mask, if any

Authentication procedure (whether or not your provider requires a terminal window to log on)

You can also set up your computer use Microsoft Internet Mail to send and receive e-mail over the Internet, if you have an e-mail account with your Internet service provider.

Do you want to use Microsoft Internet Mail?

Yes, tell me what I need.

No, I don't want to use Microsoft Internet Mail.

Return to Connecting to the Internet.


The Internet is a constantly evolving group of international computer networks connected by telephone lines. Since its creation in the 1960s, it has grown exponentially and is now used by millions of people, from those in commercial and educational institutions to individual consumers.

Once you're connected to the Internet, you can access a huge variety of information, including the World Wide Web, newsgroups (BBS), news and weather information, software, and games.


An Internet service provider maintains a server that is directly connected to the Internet. You must connect through a service provider or through The Microsoft Network (MSN) unless your organization is directly connected to the Internet.


An Internet gateway computer acts as a bridge between your local area network and the Internet. On a local area network, you can gain access to the Internet by connecting to this computer.


Profiles enable more than one person to use Microsoft Exchange to receive e-mail on the same computer. You can also use different profiles for different types of e-mail. For example, you could set up one profile for receiving e-mail over your corporate network and another profile for receiving e-mail over the Internet.