Hi!
I use redhat linux 8 to connect 2 pcs using ethernet.

How do I share files or folders or printers on a LAN so that the other computer can see and access them? Is there a GUI program in redhat or any commands to type to share the files and printer ?

On the LAN,the 2 pcs use the workgroup name ONG. The hostname for each pc is: localhost.localdomain. The host IP add for each pc is:127.0.0.1
Are the hostname and host IP address supposed to be the same or different in order to access each other on a LAN ? ( The IP address for each ethernet card is different though)

I opened a Nautilus window and typed smb: in the location bar. The workgroup ONG icon appeared. Then I double clicked on the ONG icon and only 1 icon with the name localhost appeared. This is puzzling because there are 2 computers on the LAN. ( Microsoft network showed 2 computers in win98 and xp when connected). Do you know how to determine whether this icon represents the computer I am using or the one which I am trying to access ? Or have I not successfully logged in?
I have typed smb //169.254.61.56/home/share ( I have not shared the share folder in /home yet ) and the message was: anonymous login successful. But there is this ominous line : NT_STATUS_BAD_NETWORK_NAME error.

So now, I think I can log into the LAN using samba but am not so sure whether the pcs can see and access each other on the LAN. Do you have any ideas? Besides I am clueless on how to share printers and folders on a LAN.

Please reply quickly if you can......thanks!!

Well, I use LinNeighbourhood to manage my sharing. In KDE, right-clicking a folder etc gives you a tab Share - you go into it and decide who can see it, etc.

Does that help?

It is unclear how many computers you are trying to connect.

Are you trying to connect two Windows computers to a Linux machine?

Please clarify.