SkydivinGirl
Retro Girl
Hi everyone!
This is a review of the AmigaKit EasyNet software version 0.175. I purchased this package for use with my X-Surf 3cc Ethernet Adapter. I've been using the card for the IDE interface for quite some time, but networking has been a bit bothersome on the Amiga so I never got around to it, until now.
First, the packaging. EasyNet comes in your standard DVD style case containing a disc inside. The disc itself looks like a professionally printed disc, but it has the green colored bottom side with obvious signs that it was a blank disk that was burned at AmigaKit. This makes complete sense because they most likely always want to ship you the latest version of the software whenever it's ordered. In addition, it appears that the serial number is contained in the data on the disc. There's no paper documentation included so you need to read the installation information from the disc. All-in-all, a pretty professional job for the packaging and media.
Second the installation. When you run the installer, you have the standard installation types that are available in almost every Amiga program: Novice User, Intermediate User, and Expert User. I always use Expert so I know a bit more about what's happening during the installation. After a couple more screens, you are presented with a message telling you that you must install your network card drivers before installing EasyNet. I had not done this yet, so I was glad for the reminder.
Since I have a X-Surf, I downloaded the latest drivers, version 1.4, then copied the appropriate x-surf.device for my processor to my DEVS:networks folder. The x-surf.device comes in three flavors: x-surf.device000 for 68000 processors, x-surf.device020 for 68020 and 68030 processors, and x-surf.device040 for 68040 and 68060 processors. No matter which one you copy, it needs to be renamed to x-surf.device in lowercase letters. After that, you simply copy the x-surf.config to the ENVARC:sana2 folder.
Having installed the drivers, I was able to continue with the EasyNet installation. After the driver warning, you select the folder where you would like EasyNet installed. A sub-folder named AmiTCP will be created automatically in the folder you select. After clicking proceed, the files will be copied to the computer.
The next step is to choose the type of icons for EasyNet. There are three options: Standard Icon, Glow Icon (OS3.5/3.9), and Power Icon (32-bit Icon). I chose Glow Icons because I'm running ClassicWB 3.9. After that, an assign statement is added to s:user-startup then the SMB handler is installed in SYS:L.
At the end of the installation, you proceed to EasyNet's configuration. The first step is to select your network device. I selected the x-surf.device from the list, then clicked Settings. I changed Unit0: to 20MB/S Full Duplex then saved the settings. Saving again takes me to the IP configuration.
Most of the IP setup is standard TCP/IP v4 static IP address affair, but there are some pre-defined settings for different routers that you can select from the Router Default Presets option. All that this option does is configure a static IP address within the default subnet for a few different routers. If you already know what your subnet is, then it's easier to just assign one yourself. You can configure EasyNet for dynamic IP address assignment, but it requires some additional utilities from AmiNet. It seems more of a hassle than it's worth. The documentation can give you details on the programs you need to perform DHCP IP assignment.
The part that really messed me up was the Network Domain Name. The documentation is quite vague about what this option is and why it's required. I've submitted questions to AmigaKit to try to get more information on why this setting is required. This option is directly related to the DNS settings. If you open the Configure DNS options, you can assign up to three DNS servers. There are also DNS presets for different ISP providers that you can cycle through, just like the Router Default Presets earlier. Selecting one of these presets fills in the Network Domain Name for you.
AmigaKit told me that the Network Domain Name should be your ISP's domain name. For example, my ISP's domain name is rr.com (RoadRunner). Unfortunately, choosing my ISP from the DNS presets did not work properly and I was unable to resolve addresses. Luckily, I prefer to use OpenDNS at the router level instead of my ISP's DNS servers. With that, I was able to set my DNS server IP address to be my router's IP address, which automatically uses the OpenDNS servers. However, my DNS was still not resolving properly. Finally, I changed the Network Domain Name to opendns.com and everything started working!
So, from what I can discern, the Network Domain Name should be your DNS provider's domain, not necessarily your ISP's domain. Hopefully I'll hear back from AmigaKit to clear this up.
Other than the confusion with that one settings, I could not have asked for a simpler installation program. It was well worth the cost and the software is still being developed so there will be additional features coming soon.
Now all I need is a good web browser!
Heather
This is a review of the AmigaKit EasyNet software version 0.175. I purchased this package for use with my X-Surf 3cc Ethernet Adapter. I've been using the card for the IDE interface for quite some time, but networking has been a bit bothersome on the Amiga so I never got around to it, until now.
First, the packaging. EasyNet comes in your standard DVD style case containing a disc inside. The disc itself looks like a professionally printed disc, but it has the green colored bottom side with obvious signs that it was a blank disk that was burned at AmigaKit. This makes complete sense because they most likely always want to ship you the latest version of the software whenever it's ordered. In addition, it appears that the serial number is contained in the data on the disc. There's no paper documentation included so you need to read the installation information from the disc. All-in-all, a pretty professional job for the packaging and media.
Second the installation. When you run the installer, you have the standard installation types that are available in almost every Amiga program: Novice User, Intermediate User, and Expert User. I always use Expert so I know a bit more about what's happening during the installation. After a couple more screens, you are presented with a message telling you that you must install your network card drivers before installing EasyNet. I had not done this yet, so I was glad for the reminder.
Since I have a X-Surf, I downloaded the latest drivers, version 1.4, then copied the appropriate x-surf.device for my processor to my DEVS:networks folder. The x-surf.device comes in three flavors: x-surf.device000 for 68000 processors, x-surf.device020 for 68020 and 68030 processors, and x-surf.device040 for 68040 and 68060 processors. No matter which one you copy, it needs to be renamed to x-surf.device in lowercase letters. After that, you simply copy the x-surf.config to the ENVARC:sana2 folder.
Having installed the drivers, I was able to continue with the EasyNet installation. After the driver warning, you select the folder where you would like EasyNet installed. A sub-folder named AmiTCP will be created automatically in the folder you select. After clicking proceed, the files will be copied to the computer.
The next step is to choose the type of icons for EasyNet. There are three options: Standard Icon, Glow Icon (OS3.5/3.9), and Power Icon (32-bit Icon). I chose Glow Icons because I'm running ClassicWB 3.9. After that, an assign statement is added to s:user-startup then the SMB handler is installed in SYS:L.
At the end of the installation, you proceed to EasyNet's configuration. The first step is to select your network device. I selected the x-surf.device from the list, then clicked Settings. I changed Unit0: to 20MB/S Full Duplex then saved the settings. Saving again takes me to the IP configuration.
Most of the IP setup is standard TCP/IP v4 static IP address affair, but there are some pre-defined settings for different routers that you can select from the Router Default Presets option. All that this option does is configure a static IP address within the default subnet for a few different routers. If you already know what your subnet is, then it's easier to just assign one yourself. You can configure EasyNet for dynamic IP address assignment, but it requires some additional utilities from AmiNet. It seems more of a hassle than it's worth. The documentation can give you details on the programs you need to perform DHCP IP assignment.
The part that really messed me up was the Network Domain Name. The documentation is quite vague about what this option is and why it's required. I've submitted questions to AmigaKit to try to get more information on why this setting is required. This option is directly related to the DNS settings. If you open the Configure DNS options, you can assign up to three DNS servers. There are also DNS presets for different ISP providers that you can cycle through, just like the Router Default Presets earlier. Selecting one of these presets fills in the Network Domain Name for you.
AmigaKit told me that the Network Domain Name should be your ISP's domain name. For example, my ISP's domain name is rr.com (RoadRunner). Unfortunately, choosing my ISP from the DNS presets did not work properly and I was unable to resolve addresses. Luckily, I prefer to use OpenDNS at the router level instead of my ISP's DNS servers. With that, I was able to set my DNS server IP address to be my router's IP address, which automatically uses the OpenDNS servers. However, my DNS was still not resolving properly. Finally, I changed the Network Domain Name to opendns.com and everything started working!
So, from what I can discern, the Network Domain Name should be your DNS provider's domain, not necessarily your ISP's domain. Hopefully I'll hear back from AmigaKit to clear this up.
Other than the confusion with that one settings, I could not have asked for a simpler installation program. It was well worth the cost and the software is still being developed so there will be additional features coming soon.
Now all I need is a good web browser!
Heather
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