N00b network question(s)

[ives]

Hi,

I have a pc running XP and have just got hold of an old pc and want to network them.

I understand that the easiest and cheapest way is to buy a couple of network cards and some crossover cable. This ,presumably, will obviate the need for a router. Is this right?

My idea is to have my ADSL modem in the old pc and have it share the connection with my current rig.

Ok, now what if I want one of the pc's to run Linux and the other XP. Am i right in thinking that Windows can't read and write to Linux partitions? So , would that mean that I couldn't send data from the XP machine to the Linux machine?

Any advice/suggestions much appreciated.
ives

[Trash Man]

Yup, you are right. The cheapest way would be just to get to NIC's and a crossover cable, this does indeed rule out the need for a hub/router.

Not sure on the linux/windows question though.

[Angus]

I understand that the easiest and cheapest way is to buy a couple of network cards and some crossover cable. This ,presumably, will obviate the need for a router. Is this right?

you're right here.

Ok, now what if I want one of the pc's to run Linux and the other XP. Am i right in thinking that Windows can't read and write to Linux partitions? So , would that mean that I couldn't send data from the XP machine to the Linux machine?

I don't know if it would be able to read and write across a network, but I've got a linux formatted hardrive in my computer and it won't recognise that it's there. The best solution I can think of would eb to set the Linux system up as a server (one of linuxs strong points). I haven't tried or tested any of this - just my 2cents worth

[Jiff Lemon]

Kill 2 birds with one stone. Install Clarkconnect on your spare PC (its a linux server/router/everything!) - Its Free!

Windows will see any shares created on there (so I'm told).

www.clarkconnect.org

[ives]

Originally posted by Jiff Lemon
Kill 2 birds with one stone. Install Clarkconnect on your spare PC (its a linux server/router/everything!) - Its Free!

Windows will see any shares created on there (so I'm told).

www.clarkconnect.org

From my Linux days, I seem to remember that Windows can 'see' Linux stuff but can't write to it.
Does that ring true?
If that's the case, then I might have to give up on the Linux idea.

[nichomach]

One word - Samba. http://samba.mirror.ac.uk/samba/samba.html

[ives]

Originally posted by nichomach
One word - Samba. http://samba.mirror.ac.uk/samba/samba.html

ok.
Thanks for that one word: Samba.
Might it be possible for you to elaborate.
Perhaps use a few more words this time?

I've read:
"Samba is an Open Source/Free Software suite that provides seamless file and print services to SMB/CIFS clients."

and I'm still clueless as to what Samba might be.

Please forgive my ignorance,
ives

[Moby-Dick]

a samba file server provies windows clients with file serving capabilities. its also built into clarkconnect

[ives]

thanks Moby.
So, if I turned my spare PC into a Samba file server, then my windows machine could read and write to directories on the Samba file server?

I think I may have to check out this clarkconnect thingy

[nichomach]

Yes ives, it could, as the page I pointed you to states further down. " Samba is an Open Source/Free Software project that allows Linux and UNIX servers to interoperate with Microsoft Windows clients." In fact, it'll stand in nicely for Windows Domain Controller servers if you want it to.

[ives]

thanks nichomach.
So ,are the only two options that will allow Windows to read and write to Linux, either a Samba file server machine or this Clarkconnect thingy?

thanks,
ives

[nichomach]

Well, clarkconnect uses Samba anyway, so you're going to end up using Samba, it's just that you don't HAVE to use clarkconnect if you'd rather use a Mandrake or Red Hat or whatever box. SMB = Server Message Blocks, the native core protocol for windows network communication (does a similar thing to NCP, Netware Core Protocol) and hangs around the Application layer of the OSI model http://www.geocities.com/SiliconVall...osimodel.html.

[ives]

Ok, thanks nichomach.
I've just put Mandrake 9.2 on the old PC.
I guess I'll hang out on some Linux forums and ask about setting up a Network using Samba on there.

cheers
ives

[nichomach]

Mandrake actually has wizards for file sharing using Samba built into it - http://doc.mandrakelinux.com/Mandrak.../wizdrake.html

[ives]

thanks nichomach.
I've installed M 9.2 but haven't had the chance to explore it yet.Been a bit busy.
Thanks for the link

[oshta]

is there a good samba "walk thruogh" because it sound just like what i need, but im a total noob to linuxs/window intergration