How to I connect to another linux box?

cottonmouth · 10-19-2002, 12:41 PM

Forgive me but I am used to the Network Neighborhood of Windows. I am sure there isn't anything similar in Linux because it doesn't use netbios but how can I see other Linux boxes on my network and connect to them?

peter_robb · 10-19-2002, 01:17 PM

There are several options, ranging from NFS, CIFS and Samba

NFS is a native *nix programme, documentation at http://tldp.org/HOWTO/NFS-HOWTO/index.html

CIFS documentation is in the samba files

Working with Windoze is achieved by using the Samba suite of programs.
Have a look at http://www.bibsyst.no/samba/docs/SambaIntro.html and the other documentation on the www.samba.org website.

If you want to share your files, you will need to run a server on your pc, otherwise, only the client.

Regards,
Peter

Thymox · 10-19-2002, 01:51 PM

Well, that sorts out the actual communications between various boxes, but if you're looking for a 'Network Neighbourhood' type thing, then your best bet(s) would be (IMO) Gnomba for Samba connections, and possibly also LinNeighborhood. I prefer Gnomba. And yes, netbios can be used. If you type man nmblookup you'll get the picture (sort of).

cottonmouth · 10-19-2002, 07:07 PM

I tried to find Gnomba today but the homepage I had for it was down.

I'm not really looking for a NN type thing for Linux I was just wondering how they see eachother. My assumption is that since there is no native SMB protocol they are running straight TCP/IP so if you were on a purely Linux network you can't "browse" to other Linux machines. You just have to know the IP.

Am I correct?

peter_robb · 10-21-2002, 05:38 AM

Yes, mostly correct...

Linux doesn't have a default server running to allow inward access like Windoze has... The distribution development has gone more towards legs closed rather than legs open... Users get the choice what to have running...

The name/ip number thing is just how you choose to connect, with or without name resolution. There are host name files inside Linux (/etc/hosts) or name servers (dns) externally...

Regards,
Peter