If you don't have a DHCP server doing this for you automatically, then you need to hand-set each of those on the respective devices.

Except in the case of Win98. If you leave the TCP/IP setting to "Obtain an IP address automatically" it will first look for a DHCP server, then do whats called Autoconfig, where it somehow assigns it's self a 169.254.x.x address and a 255.255.0.0 netmask. So anyone with Windows 98 can simply install the NIC card, never open the network control panel, and just set the empeg to 169.254.1.1 and netmask of 255.255.0.0. With this, the two can talk together over a hub or crossover cable. And for now, the registry hack of . host="169.254.1.1". method=3 would need to be used.

The dial up issue may still be a problem, but I haven't used a modem that often since before 98 came out, so I can't offer much help in that area beyond the "Dial when a network connection is not present" should work.