Hooking up and logging on
Your login name and password will be required to actually let you browse network resources and some IT departments don't let you log in more than once.

With my Socket LPE card I didn't need to install any new drivers. I just plugged it in and up popped a dialog box on the screen asking how I'd like to configure the card. I had to enter my IP address manually (my home network doesn't have a WINS server) and then I tapped on the Identification tab, and entered my username, password, and domain name to get connected.

If connecting at home (and assuming you don't have an NT server at home), you can fool Windows CE into believing you have a WINS server. Just enter the IP address of the Ethernet card in your desktop PC as the WINS server, as shown in Figure C. It's not really a WINS server, but now you can connect and synchronize with your desktop PC.

FIGURE C

Spoof your Windows CE device into believing you have a real WINS server. Click picture for a larger image.

Get ready to sync
When you go to synchronize with your device over the Ethernet, first disconnect the serial cable if connected. Then tap the Start menu, select communications, and select ActiveSync, as shown in Figure D.

FIGURE D

Look for ActiveSync in your Windows CE Communication menu. Click picture for a larger image.

The network option and the name of the desktop machine you last synchronized with should be shown in the ActiveSync dialog box, as shown in Figure E. Select Connect and you're ready to get started.

FIGURE E

Tell ActiveSync you've got a network connection. Click picture for a larger image.

Now when you connect you can synchronize data, install files and backup just as if you were connected over a serial link.

Fun with Ethernet
Here are a few of weird and wonderful things you can do when connected over Ethernet with a Windows CE device. During my "day job", I provide IT support for a bank, so please excuse some of the more obscure applications mentioned below.

You can access Unix servers and run applications on them using Telnet, as shown in Figure F.

FIGURE F

Telnet into your favorite UNIX machine from your handheld. Click picture for a larger image.

At one point, I was able to use my CE machine to act as a TFTP server to perform upgrades to hubs and routers, as shown in Figure G. I also used it as an FTP client to download files and Update our Web site.

FIGURE G

It's kind of cool when your handheld can be an FTP server. Click picture for a larger image.

You can access the corporate Intranet and browse the Web. Be forewarned: If you're in a corporate environment, you may need to get your Windows CE device's IP address into the firewall access list;

You can also access newsgroups on your Windows CE device. Figure H shows BSQUARE bMOBILE News being used to access the Microsoft public Windows CE newsgroup from a handheld.

FIGURE H

You can download your favorite newsgroups to your Windows CE device. Click picture for a larger image.

Once you're on the network, printing is fun and easy, as shown in Figure I. You can easily print documents to network printers anywhere in your organization.

FIGURE I

You have your choice of network printers when you print across your company's Ethernet network. Click picture for a larger image.