Remote ActiveSync FAQ
By Chris De Herrera, Copyright 1998, 1999      Chris@Pocket PC FAQ
 Version 1.12  Revised 6/30/99

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Introduction

Besides dialing into the Internet, you can use the Dial Up server (Windows 95 with Dial Up Networking v1.2b installed - included on the Windows CE Services CDRom) or RAS (Windows NT/2000 Workstation or Server) for remote ActiveSync to your desktop. You must have a modem installed on your desktop and an internal modem, PC Card Modem or an external modem for your Handheld PC.  Also, you can use your Palm-size PC with an external modem or Compact Flash modem. The basic configuration does not require any additional software or hardware.

This solution allows users of various e-mail systems such as Exchange to connect via Outlook to retrieve their e-mail and convert the attachments to and from Pocket format on the fly.  You must configure the desktop to support e-mail synchronization via ActiveSync   You are limited to only one desktop for receiving e-mail via Outlook.   If you are planning on using configuration for that purpose, you may want to set aside a specific computer for multiple users to use.

You must have connected to your desktop via a serial connection prior to attempting the remote networking. This is required to setup the host name in the ActiveSync application. Note: You can only connect to 2 hosts via ActiveSync at a time. If you attempt a third connection, you will be asked which of the 2 existing connections to delete.

In order to diagnose network communications you will need a utility called Ping.  Please see my Network Utilities FAQ for a list of Ping applications.  You may find this useful during your configuration to confirm connectivity prior to performing ActiveSync. Windows CE now supports the ability for an Handheld PC to access a Windows 95/NT/NT Server network drive.  My Network Client FAQ describes how to do this after you have configured RAS or your Modem.   Also with SmartGate you can access a VPN with Windows CE as well.  If you want to use scripting, bUSEFUL Script and DialupMaster allow for automatic entry of user name and password information into a terminal.

Note:  You can use any PPP connection available to you including connections to routers and other access servers.  This includes Shiva Access Routers, Secur ID cards, etc.  You may have to use a terminal after connecting in order to enter your username/password in.  In this instance,  configure the PC Companion only.

Configuring Windows 95

Mobile Services provides the ability to select a serial port for connecting your Handheld PC from the File - Communications menu. You can also select a modem by name as well. You must shut down any application that is using your modem, including Outlook if you've configured it for faxing. When you select a modem, the Dialup Server is automatically configured and ready for a connection. I recommend that you set the baud rate of the modem on the desktop to 19,200 bps if it is a 33.6K-bps or 28.8K-bps modem, or 9600 bps for a slower modem. You'll find this option in the Modems Control Panel under Properties. You must choose another serial port, apply the changes, and then select the modem for the new baud rate to take effect.

You are now ready to configure your Handheld PC.

Configuring Windows NT

You need to install RAS on your system.  This is done from the Control Panel - Network.  Click on the Services tab and select Add.  Select Remote Access Service from the list.  Select the appropriate com port for the modem tin the Add RAS Device dialog box.

Once RAS is installed, you need to configure it.  This is done from the Control Panel - Network - Services.  Select Remote Access Service and click on Properties.  Select the entry for your modem. Configure it for incoming and outgoing calls.  Configure the Network, Server Settings, TCP/IP.  Configure this computer only to use static address pool 192.168.55.100 through 192.168.55.112.  Note:  You can use other IP addresses.  I recommend that you contact your Network Administrator before doing so.  Also, Windows NT Workstation only provides support for 1 RAS connection at a time.  Currently Windows CE Services uses this for the serial port so you must change the RAS connection each time you want to use a modem.  Windows NT Server allows multiple RAS connections.

Don't forget to configure your Windows NT domain controller to allow RAS access and grant security access to the user to use RAS for dialup.  You must do this even if you are not using RAS on the Windows NT server.  This is required just like using a regular PC for dialup.

You are now ready to configure your Handheld PC.

Configuring the Handheld PC

You must also configure a Remote Networking connection to connect to your PC. You must set the IP address to 192.168.55.100, No SLIP, Yes IP Header Compression, Yes Software Compression, Server Assigned Name Server. Don't forget to enter the phone number. Also, when you are on the road, you will need to change the number dialed for access codes, area codes, etc.  For Windows 95 modem connections you must set the baud rate to be the same as the desktop's baud rate.  If you do not, the connection will always fail.

Configuring your Palm-size PC

You must also configure a Connection to connect to your PC. You must set the IP address to 192.168.55.100, No SLIP, Yes IP Header Compression, Yes Software Compression, Server Assigned Name Server. Don't forget to enter the phone number. Also, when you are on the road, you will need to change the number dialed for access codes, area codes, etc. For Windows 95 modem connections you must set the baud rate to be the same as the desktop's baud rate.  If you do not, the connection will always fail.

Remote ActiveSync Usage

Then to connect and ActiveSync, click on Start - Programs - Communications - ActiveSync. Select the Remote Networking connection you created. Once connected, select the option to start Sync Now. Click on disconnect when you are done.  You will be prompted if your user name and password are incorrect.  Don't forget to use the same domain name/workgroup as your desktop

In Windows 95, you can not dial out while the Dialup Server is running. You will get a 630 error. The only solution is to select your serial port for synchronizing instead of your modem.

Tech Notes

The remote connection is subnetwork 192.168.55.0. Windows 95 does not support routing, but with Wingate you can access remote TCP/IP services on your network. With Windows NT you must enable IP forwarding in order to use your network services. With NT you can only have 1 Handheld PC /Palm-size PC connected to the whole LAN at one time unless you assign specific IP addresses for each RAS configuration (you can not use duplicate addresses in TCP/IP). In that case, I recommend using RAS on your server or router to connect to your PC's ethernet card. If you are running WINS or DNS then you may have to enter those settings in the connection. For those that do not have WINS or DNS then you must enter your desktop IP address in your Handheld PC's/Palm-size PC's WINS server setting for remote networking. This configuration will allow multiple clients to connect to multiple PC's on your LAN at the same time as well as share the RAS ports along multiple Handheld PCs. It is also compatible with Windows 95 or NT. Also you can access intranet web servers or e-mail over the same connection without having to disconnect..

You can check to see that Netbios is installed and working correctly by using NBTSTAT -n from a command line in Windows 95, 98 or Windows NT.  This will list all known  Netbios hosts.  Check to see if your Handheld PC'/Palm-size PCs name is listed while it is connected via RAS or Modem.  If it returns an error code of failed to "access NBTdriver 1" then you need to unbind and rebind Netbios to the TCP/IP stack.  This is done in the Start - Settings - Control Panel - Network.  If you can not see your Handheld PCs name then check that the Handheld PC has the correct WINS server address configured.

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