Connecting a linux laptop to a windows server

SillyNymph · 10-08-2009, 12:55 PM

Hi, guys,

I'm considering making the switch to Linux on my laptop, most likely to Ubuntu. However, I have a home server running on Windows 2003, is there any way I can connect my laptop on Ubuntu (or if there's a different version that would work) to this server?

tredegar · 10-08-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

I have a home server running on Windows 2003, is there any way I can connect my laptop on Ubuntu [SNIP] to this server?

Of course.

The linux application that talks to windows networks is called samba

Do a search on howto samba and follow, pretty much, any of the links you receive.

Personally, I don't "do" windows, but others manage it without a lot of fuss, so I expect it works OK.

Google has a special search engine for linux related Questions here: http://google.com/linux It works very well.

May I suggest you try it?

Welcome to LQ!

Smartpatrol · 10-08-2009, 06:14 PM

vincent@landour.com · 10-19-2009, 02:12 PM

Hi SillyNymph,

I hope that you are still wanting to make the switch to Linux.

You can always "try out" Ubuntu before installing it to your laptop. Download the CD Installation ISO image from the Ubuntu website and burn it to a CD. Boot the laptop from the CD. One of the options is to run Ubuntu from the CD without making changes to the laptop.

Ubuntu makes it very easy to access files on a Windows share (folder / directory) because it has the required software installed.

The steps are
1. Select "Places" from the top menu bar
2. Select "Connect to server .."
3. This open a dialogue box
4. Select "Windows share" as the service type
5. Give the the server name (or IP address) and a user name that can access the files on the server

You can then browse to the files via
Places -> Network
Which opens a file browser where you can open the files on your server.

If you want to view the server's desktop, you need to use the "terminal Server Client"
Applications -> Internet -> Terminal Server Client
Fill in the details required.
Computer the IP address or name of the remote computer (your server)
Protocol - generally leave as RDPv5
Username & password - user on the server
Client hostname - use the server's name
Click on "connect" and your server's desktop will appear.
Note you can save the settings for later use.

I hope that this helps.

Vincent