StarDestroyer.Net BBS

So I got bored yesterday and decided to try my hand at Linux, specifically debian 3.1. I installed it on my old Dell Inspiron 3800 with very little difficulty, and I've been putzing around with it. So far, so good, even if it looks like I won't be able to get my wireless working again (but that's another thread entirely!). What I'd like to do now is set up filesharing and/or some sort of fileserver arrangement between my desktops (which run XP Home) and the laptop (debian 3.1).

What are my options? Are there any guides any of you could recommend? Any tips for a Linux n00b?

Samba will allow a Linux PC to access Windows shares.

As said above, Samba lets both Linux and OS X access Windows shares.

Alternatively set up an FTP server on the Windows PC.

Look for smb.conf in the /etc or /etc/samba directories. Make sure the smb service is running, and that the workgroup defines in smb.conf is WORKGROUP (that's the default workgroup for Windows machines). Then just go through the smb.conf and file and copy one of the example fileshare entries to create a fileshare on the Linux box.

As for drivers, the way to run Linux is to always use the latest version. Mandrake 10.0 doesn't support the onboard LAN and audio on my Asus PVR800-VM motherboard because it's an older release, and I had trouble compiling the shitty Linux drivers on the Asus website (which have never been updated since Day One, by the way; fucking lazy bastards). But the newer Mandriva LE2005 (note: Mandrake changed its name to Mandriva for some unknown reason) supports both out of the box.

Type "man smbmount" in the console for further details. You only need Samba set up if you want to share files from the laptop (and be sure to disable it/firewall it off when you are connected to a network outside of home, as should be the case w/ Windows as well).

Darth Wong wrote:(note: Mandrake changed its name to Mandriva for some unknown reason)

It's because they merged with Conectiva.

Clarification: The kernel should usually be compiled w/ SMB support built in as a module so you don't need Samba to mount Windows shares, but in order to do the reverse, you need Samba. GNOME also can browse SMB shares w/o messing w/ any of the above, and probably KDE as well.