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

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.

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