I am new to Linux but i work in an environment where we use one. I really need to access a file on our linux server from my windows workstation but do not know how to go about it. Can somebody help me

gasper

Google for samba the basic setup is very easy.

Do you need to access the file on the linux server through linux or do you want to bring it over to your windows machine. Do you have an account on this linux server?

Assuming that you have an account on the server you can login using PuTTy (this is an executable that you download) and then use the commands:

cd path-to-directory-where-file-is-stored/

Then use vi to edit the file (vi filename). Vi is a little tricky to use at the start so I would advise googling it for the basic commands.

Alternatively you could ftp the file over to your windows machine. Open the DOS command and
ftp
open IP_address_of_server
Insert username & passwd
cd path-to-directory-where-file-is-stored/
get filename

Add "bin" if its not a text file: as linux and windows don't have the same standard for "Carriage return" the End of Line will be converted from 0a to 0d0a in windows. Good for a text file (you can see it with notepad) but not good at all if its not a text file (the file will be fucked)

ftp
open IP_address_of_server
Insert username & passwd
cd path-to-directory-where-file-is-stored/
bin
get filename

edit: you need an ftp server on the linux, this is quite common.

Oops! Forgot that essential line! Cheers nx5000.

Thank you all for your help. I was able to find answers to my questions. Actually, I found out it was just so easy. I just had to run \\192.168.1.11\filename from windows and voila, there was my answer. I just had to input my username and password and all my troubles were over.

I actually tried puTTY just like Feelda prescribed but when i used the vi command to open I didn't understand anything at all. But seriously, I am beginning to like this Linux stuff. It is complicated from a beginners point of view but really easy if you understand.

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If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got - an extract from Vic Johnson's mp3motivators.
Peace