basic connection help
Forum: Networking
Topic: basic connection help
started by: dmizzel
Posted by dmizzel on Aug. 09 2005,23:21
I want to link my DSL laptop to my DSL desktop via either net cable. Is there any simple step by step instructions? I'm not new to DSL but I am cluless with no experience networking.
Posted by mgmont on Aug. 10 2005,14:54
From the physical stand point, you can connect the two with either a single ethernet cross over cable or run a standard ethernet cable from each computer to a hub or switch. A cross over cable of course would be cheaper. A cross over cable is made by switching the pair of wires in pins 1 and 2 with the pair of wires in pins 3 and 6 on one end of and ethernet cable (usually the orange pair swapped with the green pair). These can be purchased in some places or if you are so inclined and have the crimpers, you could make it yourself. What this does is to connect the transmit pair from the first computer to the receive pair of the second computer and the receive pair of the first computer to the transmit pair of the second computer.
Posted by dmizzel on Aug. 12 2005,04:42
wow... I'm even more clueless than originally thought! I've been using a regular cable, not aware of the difference. I will purchase one soon (tomorrow). Then... O patient one... what's next? 
Posted by mgmont on Aug. 12 2005,22:16
After you get the hardware side connected properly, you need to configure the ethernet drivers with static IP addresses that are unique but in the same subnet. The example that I will give you is a series of numbers separated by periods. The first three numbers identify the subnet and the last number is a unique machine identifier with in the subnet. I would suggest addresses in the range of 192.168.1.1 through 192.168.1.254 where only the last number of the group is different. For instance, one pc could have an address of 192.168.1.5 and the other could be 192.168.1.10 just as long as the last number of the group is different and the rest of the group is the same. There is also a thing called subnet mask which you need and for the examples that I gave, that would be 255.255.255.0 and this must be exactly the same for both machines.
Once you have this set up, you can test your connectivity by opening up a terminal window and type "sudo ping 192.168.1.5" (without the quotes) from the machine that you set up as .10 and do the same from the machine set up as .5 but change the ping address to point to .10. You should see a series of replys from the opposite machine if they are talking to each other.
At this point you should be good to go. Just load up what ever software you want to use to communicate. For instance, you can run monkey web server on one machine and browse it from the other by typing the monkey machine's IP address into the url line of the browser.
I hope this helps.
Just a side note. When you are connected to a normal network, you usually do not have to go through all this. You just set the drivers up for something called DHCP and when you boot up, all this is automatically filled in by a machine on the network called a DHCP server. But in the case where you are connecting two computers back to back of course there is no DHCP server.
Posted by dmizzel on Aug. 16 2005,08:18
perfect! they like eachother! but now what? as far as communicating... how can i transfer files from one box to the next? Actually... how can I even see files on the other box? I see the different programs (Rdesktop, vnc, ftp, etc.) but I'm clueless how to use them or set them up.
Posted by mgmont on Aug. 17 2005,01:28
I am not one to advise you on the details of the different communications programs since I have not done this myself, but you can probably find the details for what you want to do by searching the forums. Here is one link that I found that might be of use to you.< http://damnsmalllinux.org/cgi-bin....;hl=nfs >
If you can't find what you want with a search I would suggest starting a new post concerning the specific communication method you are interested in.
Good luck.
Posted by dmizzel on Aug. 17 2005,03:21
Thanx for your help!
Posted by newOldUser on Aug. 17 2005,16:25
Dmizzel,I think you've done the hard part. If I understand correctly, you have wired the machines together with a crossover cable and set their IP addresses.
An easy way to transfer files is to use FTP. You would run a program called an FTP server on one machine, lets say the desktop, and a program called an FTP client on the Laptop.
DSL comes with both these programs. The server program is called BetaFTP. You can start it from the DSL control panel with the click of a button. The client program is called AxYFTP and should be an icon on your desktop when you boot.
You can search the forums for more information. I did a little write up on how I use them here:
< What to do after the install... part 5 >
With BetaFTP running on the desktop and AxYFTP on the laptop you should be able to upload and download files to/from the desktop.
Good luck
Posted by mgmont on Aug. 18 2005,01:53
NewOldUser, thanks for the input on FTP. Since I am only running one DSL box at home, I havn't had the oportunity to try out the ftp server or any of the other communications programs yet. I read your write up on the ftp server and client. I will have to set up another computer and try it out now that I know how easy it is.
Posted by dmizzel on Aug. 18 2005,07:07
newOldUser, great blog! I read part 2, 3, & 4. Very useful info.I'm now an FTP specialist!
well maybe not, but I've figured some more things out.After setting using the 'networkcardconfig' button on the DSLpanel and following mgmont's instructions, I assigned IP addresses for my laptop & my desktop.
Next, I opened an xterminal on my laptop (which will be the FTP server... serving files to the FTP client; the client is my desktop) and typed: sudo passwd dsl
You will then be prompted to enter a password for the user 'dsl'. Enter any password you like, then re-enter to confirm.
Then push the 'BetaFTP' button on the DSLpanel (we're still on the laptop; which is the FTP server)
Now switch to the client computer (in my case, the desktop). Double click on the AxyFTP icon. Enter the 'Hostname/address' which is the IP address previously assigned to the FTPserver(in my case the laptop).
The user ID is: dsl
The password is: whatever you previously entered as the password on the server (laptop)
Then click okay, and its on!
Unlike oldNewUser's blog (which is much better written and easier to follow than my writing), with this setup you do have access to the entire harddrive of the server, not just one folder.:D