First network problems

I'm setting up my first network, a very simple setup with two systems hooked up via a crossover cable. But I'm running into trouble.

Both boxes are running Win98. When I click the Network Neighbourhood icon (on either system), any number of things can happen. Most commonly, I get the "Cannot browse network" error, but sometimes the local computer I'm on will show up in the NN box, but not the remote system. Screwing around with various things (rebooting the systems, unplugging and replugging the network cable, etc.) will eventually enable the connection, at which point everything runs fine until one of the systems is shut down, at which point I have to start all over again. Both systems have the Client for Microsoft Networking enabled, we enter our usernames and passwords on each system upon boot, but it doesn't seem to be doing any good.

I know this is pretty vague, but the simple fact is that there doesn't seem to be any consistent behaviour here. The errors (or just missing systems) appear to be random, as does the sudden appearance of the remote system on the network. Any thoughts as to what I'm doing wrong? I don't see why this has to be so complicated.

Thanks.

Have you used the Start/Settings/Find/Other Computer tab? This may help if the auto-detect functions aren't working. The other suggestion is to enable NETBios and file sharing in your firewall if you have a secondary software one on either rig. The Network tab in the Control Panel also has mine at Configuration/Mircosoft Family Login/Print and File Sharing/give others access. Identification/your rig name and hosts work group name. Access Control/Share-level access. Winipcfg.exe in the Windows folder is also a good thing to check your IP configuration too.

Now if you had all that like stuff on toast already, hw connections I'm not to sure about yet as I wasn't the one with the host rig.

You didn't indicate the protocol(s) you have running or their configuration. Make sure your computers have unique names and are in the same workgroup.

The quickest and easiest way to get the network running is to install the NetBEUI protocol on each box.

Currently I have TCP/IP and IPX/SPX installed. Each system has a unique name, but they have the same workgroup name.

At this point, if I wait long enough after booting up, both systems can browse the network via Network Neighbourhood, but they only see themselves. The remote system doesn't appear at all.

This is Win98 original release, by the way, not SE.