> I suppose win98 gives you a service?

Yes.

> Instead of using ping (not always a tell tale sign)
> Use
> telnet servername 3050
> or whatever port you have set your server on.
> This will test the same thing as ping but additionally test that the service
> is available on the port specified.

Or rather it will tell you when it can't connect ;)
Firebird does not give a logon message from telnet, just
waits for the next 'command'. It's not obvious to a newbie
that it has actually connected, but on a Command Prompt, the
screen goes blank quite quickly, and a couple of <Enter>'s
will give 'Connection to host lost'
No connection and after 30 to 60 seconds or so you will get
'Connecting To server ... failed' and the c prompt returns.

I'd go for a 'ping' first just to check the TCP/IP, then
telnet is an option.
--
Lester Caine
-----------------------------
L.S.Caine Electronic Services