4.3. Windows 2000 Configuration

The first step is to add a "null" modem connection. To do that, navigate to the "Phone and Modem Options" applet in Control Panel and go to the "Modems" tab.

Figure 4-1. Adding a "null" modem in Windows2000

From here, you will need to install a null modem, listed as a "Communications cable between two computers". If this is your first attempt at this, Windows will ask you to set up your local area code and region.

Click on "Add" on the "Modems" tab here, and then add a check to the option shown below, so that Windows does not detect your modem automatically. You want to select it from the list of modems that Windows knows about.

Figure 4-2. Do not detect the modem

You will now be presented with a list of modem manufacturers. You want to pick the first one from the "Standard Modem Types" list on the right, labeled as "Communications cable between two computers" here.

Figure 4-3. Selecting the "null" connection type

Click on Next after highlighting the proper choice, and then select the ports you wish to configure this connection on. If you only have one serial port, select that port from the list shown. I have selected both serial ports on my machine, so I can use either of them at any time, as shown below.

Figure 4-4. Adding the modem to the proper port

Follow the remaining prompts to install the "null" connection onto the proper serial ports, and complete the process. When completed, you should see a dialog similar to the one below, indicating successful completion of the operation.

Figure 4-5. Completed installation of "null" modem

Once you have the "null" modem connection installed as above, right-click on "My Network Places" and go to Properties. A dialog will open up with an icon in it that says "Make a New Connection". Double-click this icon and create a new connection. You'll want to make sure you select "Accept Incoming Connections" here as shown below. The only other sensible option, "Connect directly to another computer" is not what we want here. That's the exact opposite of what we need, where the Windows2000 box "dials out" instead of the Palm device.

Figure 4-6. Adding a Palm Connection Type

Point the new connection to the "null" modem device we just set up.

Figure 4-7. Selecting the "null" modem device

Select "Do not allow virtual private connections from the next screen.

Figure 4-8. Disallowing VPN connections

Select the users you wish to allow to connect using this connection type. You can see I've allowed my local user account in this case ("hacker")

Figure 4-9. Selecting allowed user accounts