I've got two linux boxes, one with a CD burner and the other with a DVD burner. I would like to do some spring cleaning on the computer with the CD burner and would therefore like to transfer all of its data to the one with the DVD burner and then make some backup DVDs before deleting data from it. I only do this about twice a year, so I don't need a permanent connection.

I know how to do this with Windows: give the network a name, give each computer a different name... (Wizard)... use different static IP addresses - 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2, for example, and common subnet mask 255.255.255.0 - on each computer, connect the two with a CAT5 cross-over cable (or whatever it's called), then simply share files. This wasn't easy to figure out on Windows, but I eventually did.

I thought this would be relatively straight forward on Linux, but then realized that, apart from the static IP addresses, Linux is different: permissions, host names, etc., etc. I tried Googling it, but just couldn't find a site with very simple step-by-step instructions for doing this. I even tried different things on the computers, and royally messed up my Internet connection (I've got it back now, and learned a lot while doing that!).

So all I want to do is connect the two machines, transfer data, burn a few DVDs and set things back the way they were beforehand. One's got FC6 (GNOME), the other Mandriva Free 2007 (KDE).

Does anyone know of a site with simple step-by-step instructions for doing so? Or perhaps it's not all that complicated afterall.

Many thanks!

P.S. - By the way, I need to do this relatively fast because there isn't much room on my hard drive...

http://kangry.com/topics/viewcomment.php?index=151

Basically, in linux, you use network file sharing (NFS). I haven't tried the link above, but basically, you start an NFS server on the machine with the CD burner and then mount it over the network. Just give the two machines address on the same subnet like you did in Windows.

Alternatively, you could start an ftp server on the machine with the DVD burner and then just upload all the files from one machine to the other over ftp.

Well, there are a few ways.

First I'd try fish or sftp. Open your window manager (I presume you have a desktop environment installed) and type in one of these:
I don't know much about these protocols exept that they work : ). Sftp works through ssh I think.

The other way would be to make NFS shares. There's a good tutorial here that I've used.

Have fun.

pljvaldez, kummiliim,

Thanks for the replies and the links. It all seems pretty technical, but I've started editing some files on the server side. This is a great way to start learning some basic system administration stuff. I haven't actually tried hooking the computers up yet, I'm going to do more reading and rereading beforehand.

I've had a close look at the intro, server and client pages from the
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/NFS-HOWTO/intro.html site. Much of it is too new for me to grasp all at once, however, I will eventually try and get things going, and I'll be sure and post back, relatively soon, I hope.

Could this setup also be used in a peer-to-peer two-computer CAT5 cabled connection setup? Do you have to have server and client?

Many thanks.

Hehe, I can't really see a point in two-computer p2p connection since it works by allowing all participants to help in the sharing. In two-computer scenario that would mean one participant and one reciever, which is almost a typical client-server connection. (Or you can correct me of course, I'm not sure.)

Other then that, I wish you luck. You're absolutely right about the fact that you learn most in Linux by just trying to do stuff yourself. Have fun and let us know, if you need help with anything.