I thought I would relay this information on to those who may be in the same boat as I am. Being a new father, my budget has dropped dramatically for new computer gear. Now, an easier method could be easiy used as well, such as a crossover cable. However, since I found this to be oh-so-helpful, I thought I would relay it everyone else.

Topic: Transferring files between Fedora Core 2 and Windows XP
Equipment: Motorola SB5100 Cablemodem
Connection Method: Xp machine connected to modem via USB, Fedora machine connected to modem via ethernet.
Connection Protocol: FTP
Purpose: To transfer files between the two machines, when your dog has urinated on your router, and you don't have the money to replace it.

The Motorola SB5100 Cable Modem, as well as other models of cable modems, come with built in DHCP Servers in them. The DHCP Server is activated when the modem has either been (1)disabled from the ISP for security or other reasons, (2)the modem has lost its signal and is unable to phone home, or (3)the modem itself is in stand-by mode.

To transfer files via this method, simply follow the instructions below.

1. Disconnect the USB and/or Ethernet cables fromt he SB5100.
2. Hit the Standby button on the top of the modem, to put the modem in standby. The standby button will illuminate, and the Power-Receive, Send and Online lights will go out.
3. Connect the USB a/b cable from the xp machine to the 5100, release/renew the ip. The modem will give this device, or the first device you connect for that matter, an IP Address of: 192.168.100.11
4. Connect the Ethernet cable from the Fedora machine to the 5100, release/renew the ip. The modem will give this device, or the second device for that matter, an IP Address of: 192.168.100.12
5. Create an account on the Fedora box, with full ftp access, for the XP machine to ftp in via an FTP application or IE itself.
6. Transfer files.

Things to keep in mind however, if you hit the standby button at any time, the last MAC ID in the modem cache will receove the IP from your ISP. Other networking techniques may be utilized when the two machines are connected.

This process also assumes you have the USB drivers for the modem install on the XP computer.

Hope this helps someone, as it did me, when my 10 year old pug became disgruntled and violated my router.

Be kind and be safe.
--PhiMati

NOTE: also working on using an old cable modem as a proxy relay for internet access netween the xp machine and my fedora goddess.