Connecting a PC to my linux machine -- local webhosting woes

[optimus prime]

Hello,

I've setup apache,php, and mysql on my mandrake linux machine. I've also set up a couple virtual hosts. So, i can type in MyVirtualDomain.com in firefox on my linux machine, and everything works great.

Now, I would like to connect my windows xp sp2 laptop to my linux box. I'd like to accomplish two things.

1. I want to be able to FTP files over to my linux machine.

2. I would like to be able to browse my virtual domains from my windows laptop. (ie, when I type in MyVirtualHost.com in internet explorer, it brings up my virtual host website from my linux machine)

I'm doing this because I'm an web developer, and it's always been a dream of mine to develop locally. I did this for a while with apache/php/mysql on windows, but I really want all of this running on a linux machines, so I decided to bite the bullet and set all of this up.

I've bought a 10 foot crossover cable (I think thats what I need, right?). Once I connect the machines, how do I go about setting them up so I can browse my linux machines virtual hosts via my windows machine. As for the FTP, I think I can find some tutorials on the web. For the moment, I'm most worried about the browsing thing.

Thanks for the help.

[Xenon]

As it is just the one machine you need to connect to first of all give it a static IP. Then add a line on you Windows box in c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

It contains instructions in the file how to do this and is very simple.

###############################################
# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.

#

# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.

#

# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each

# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should

# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.

# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one

# space.

#

# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual

# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.

#

# For example:

#

# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server

# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host



127.0.0.1 localhost
ip.ip.ip.ip MyVirtualHost.com