Hook two computers together

[Montana68]

Can I hook up my laptop and desktop together with a cable. Don't want to use a link want to hook up directly with a cable maybe a ethernet cable.
I'm using Ubkuntu 10.04 have been updating it when told to.
I'm a newbie so any commands given will have to be simple. I can use the command line with terminal.
Thank you in advance for your help.

[ptkobe]

The best way is to connect both to a router (or switch). Directly with a cable you have to use a special cable (I don't remember the name: crossover, switched pair, null modem?). Probably with fixed IPs. AFAIK.
Commands depends on what you mean by "hook up". scp, ssh or rsync commands may be what you need.

Regards
Luis

[MikeTbob]

The best way is to connect both to a router (or switch). Directly with a cable you have to use a special cable (I don't remember the name: crossover, switched pair, null modem?). Probably with fixed IPs. AFAIK.
Commands depends on what you mean by "hook up". scp, ssh or rsync commands may be what you need.

Regards
Luis

It's called a crossover cable. I don't believe a regular cat 5 Ethernet cable will work correctly.

[sgosnell]

With a standard cable, you have out going to out, and in going to in. You have to reverse those, so that in goes to out and vice-versa. A crossover cable does this. You can either buy a crossover cable, or use two standard ethernet cables connected to a router.

[jayd512]

What exactly are you trying to do?
If you're looking to share files, then it's a crossover.

But since you mentioned hooking a laptop to a desktop, are you trying to share your wireless connection from the laptop to give the desktop a 'net connection?
If so, a Cat5 cable. From there, just edit your connections in Network Manager.