setting up lan

[eskay]

hi ..
i have a laptop with ubuntu 7.10 installed and a pc with fedora core 7 installed ..
i would like to connect both the comps and set up a small lan ..
how should i proceed ?? pls help

eskay

[RobinVossen]

First you'll need a Cable.
Second you think to think. Do you only want to connect these two PCs or do you want to add something else?
Like Inet access, Wireless Access Point, Other PCs, Printers?

If you just want to connect these PC's
You should connect them.
Assign IP adresses to the ethernet cards. And test the connection with the ping command.

Hope that Helps.
Cheers,
Robin

[Dapper Dan]

I'm presuming you do not have a router...

Get a wireless router, run the cable that used to run from your modem to your Fedora box and plug it into the router. Then, another from the router back to Fedora box. It will be clear once you have examined the router. Next is to get the laptop going wirelessly. I'm pretty sure ssh server in installed on Fedora by default, but you will likely have to install it on Ubuntu. Once both machines are connected and operational with Internet, you can connect to each box from the other via ssh, vnc or other ways. For file transfter, ssh is the best way to go. Set each box up with a static IP. Let's say you set static IP for Fedora to be 192.168.1.101 and the laptop's to be 192.168.1.102. From a terminal in Fedora...

ssh username@192.168.1.102

It will ask for password. Enter it and you should get into Ubuntu. From Ubuntu to Fedora, reverse the process. Proceed on each machine from the command line as you would if you were on that computer. For a complete "how to" on ssh including file transfer, see here.

[RobinVossen]

Why do you want to give him Wireless for such a simple networking problem.
Wireless is very insecure.. (Ok, that aint correct WEP and WPA are insecure (WEP very))
But, this aint nessercery. if he wants a very easy network all he needs is a cable.
If he wants a more advanced Id buy a routed if I were him. But I whouldnt go wireless (If not needed).

In my eyes Wireless is still a teenager. It works. But still has bad achne. (Thanks for the Reference to TechnieMoe, used in his Arch linux Review ^^)

but, well I dont think he should get Wireless.
But then again its his own Choice

[Dapper Dan]

What is the purpose of having a laptop if not for mobility? Is he to run a wire from his patio into the house and into his bedroom to the Fedora PC if He wants to compute from the patio? Are you actually arguing that wirelss with a laptop should not be an option??

[RobinVossen]

Ok, you got me there.
Well I thought he is just going to use it to Sync/Backup the data to somekind of DataCenter.
If he doesnt have Inet on the other box. I dont even get the point of Networking aside from Gaming/backuping/coding
And with all those Functions you want to have a WorkStation (in my eyes)

Well, so get Wireless if you want to be Mobile.
Get a cable if you dont

Cheers,
Robin

[Dapper Dan]

Explain to eskay and me how to do it just with a wire. I'd like to know myself!

[RobinVossen]

Well, umm If I recall correctly from my CCNA class.
You could just enter a Cable to both PCs and setup the Network Cards.

but how Id do it is install DHCP and DNS on one box so basicly Id give one of the Boxes the Powers of a Router and Ill just connect the Second one.
I know for sure that works

Cheers,
Robin