Windows 2000 as Direct Cable Connection Client

for additional information:
See Parallel Technologies' Web Site for detailed information on
Windows 2000 DirectParallel^® DCC connections:
There are some very helpful Step-By-Step Setup Instructions for setting up
DirectParallel^® Direct Cable Connection (DCC) on Windows 95/98/2000/ME:

To define a Direct Cable Connection to another system:

	From the Dial-Up Connection window, select to "Make New Connection" to start the Network Connection Wizard"
	Select to "Connect directly to another computer"
	This seems to be somehow a redundant question, since I selected already to be a "Guest", to connect to another computer in the last step, so let's select again the role as "Guest"
	Select your connection via: a Parallel cable on the Printer port or a Serial cable on a COM-port (since I have on my system a modemon COM1, it is not an option to be selected for a DCC connection)
	select, whether the connection will be for all users or just the current Windows 2000 user.
	Give your connection a name, and you are almost done. On clicking on "Finished", the Connection box will pop up immediately: do NOT yet connect, please select Cancel.
	The Direct Cable connection is now part of the "Network and Dial-up Connection". Right-click on the DCC connection and select from the context-menu to view the "Properties" some information is trivial, but some is vital to review / modify.
	tab: "General" displays the selected connection (Parallel or serial port) You can also select, whether to display a connection icon in your taskbar, once a connection is active (which I highly recommend to do)
	tab: "Options" The default values work fine for me. Note: It looks to me that the "Idle time before hanging up" does not matter at all, but see details on that later.
	tab: "Security" This is a tricky page. Try to use the defaults, but if you are getting problems to connect (like most probably on connecting to a Win95/98 system), you may have to "play" with these options.
	tab: "Networking" Direct cable connection works best with NetBEUI protocol, please add that by clicking on the button "Install", selecting "Protocols" and then "NetBEUI". If you like just to connect 2 systems and there is no need for an Internet connection, you should "Uninstall" (or at least un-check) TCP/IP protocol. NetBEUI is simple, nothing to configure in "Properties" If you keep the TCP/IP protocol, should verify the TCP/IP configuration by first selecting it (single click) and then selecting "Properties"
	For the DCC connection, the system will need an IP-address. If there is a DHCP-server on the network on the DCC-host, then there is no need to change the default settings.
	You are ready to make your DCC connection, double-click it: to get your connection dialog. Connection to Windows95/98.