PDA

View Full Version : Linux to Windows network/file sharing

Inspector Fowler
12-14-2008, 10:33 AM
Howdy guys.

I'm learning to use Ubuntu on my new Netbook. One thing I'd like to do is be able to access the files on my desktop computer. My desktop is running Vista. I have some folders set to share, and my 360 and my wife's computer can see those files just fine.

Although my netbook can get as far as seeing the generic "MSHOME" network, when I open it, it appears empty. Why is this? Nothing is password protected, and my 360 and wife's PC have no problem seeing all the files.

Thanks for any help. I'm sure some of you have dealt with this before.
KingGorilla
12-14-2008, 01:28 PM
When you say files, are you talking documents, media, photos? All of the above? Most of the major server tools, that I know of, are for building a linux server for use with Windows work stations.

But for media. VLC can work as a server for music and video. I suggest an 802.11n network for video, however.

Orb: http://www.orb.com/en
This works very much the same way a slingbox would function, but rather than having a set tob box, you do most things remotely via the web.
Heresyte
12-14-2008, 02:52 PM
I have no experience trying to connect to a windows network through linux, but I know that the software people use to do it is called Samba.

http://us1.samba.org/samba/
Jackel
12-14-2008, 06:24 PM
Vista needs some security authentication settings changed I believe. I'm not sure what exactly..but google should be able to help you.
Inspector Fowler
12-15-2008, 12:19 PM
I should also be more clear:

I'm not trying to set up a real network with a server. Just share files between computers.

My PS3 can see all my files just fine, so I assumed the Linux device would be able to as well.
Heresyte
12-15-2008, 12:34 PM
The way windows does its networking stuff is exclusive to windows. It isn't a standard way of doing things. If you want your linux box to talk to windows boxes in that special way, then you'll need to install Samba, the software I linked to earlier.

If you don't care about them talking to each other in the special windows way, another option would be to install an FTP server on one or both of them.