For RA2 to work well on a lan you need to set up the following
1. IPX/SPX protocol installed on every machine playing
2. Disable ALL NIC's not directly connected to the network (you can play with the network settings in RA2 all you want, this is the most foolproof way of ensuring the game works crash free)
3. Not use vista

(No IPX protocol support as far as i am aware, however VMWARE + an XP install would solve that problem)
I would like to get a big game of RA2 happening, even Original RA (I have an install that works flawlessly on XP)
Generals... unless we play a small game is a lost cause imo

... damn broken engine
R4N