samba and lan with winxp and linux computers

From: Johnny Ventura (ventura_at_hoboken.com)
Date: 07/27/03 

Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2003 17:05:34 GMT

I have 3 winxp computers in a small lan all attached to a cable modem
through a linksys switch. It works fine. I can easily share files between
the three computers. Every computer can see each other computer. They all
share the same workgroup name and they all have unique computer names. They
all have two protocols installed: TCP/IP and IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible
Transport. There are no bindings for TCP/IP and the bindings are thus only
for the IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport. I have been taught that this
configuration helps secure the lan from the internet. Each computer has its
own folder designated for sharing of files which can be seen by the other
computers.

Then, I added a fourth computer running Redhat Linux 9 personal edition.
The computer works fine (it can browse the internet and do email) except for
one thing (which is why I am posting this message): I need help adding the
Redhat computer to the lan for purposes of file sharing. The Redhat
computer cannot see the other computers in the lan and vice versa. I have
read the redhat documentation and the samba documentation and these
newgroups and I bought the Bible book for Redhat 9. None of these sources
provide a clear, concise, cookbook STEP-BY-STEP guidance as to how to
configure the network (at least from my perspective).

I understand that samba is the program used to configure the redhat computer
to accomplish my goal but I am having difficulty getting it to work. I
would appreciate it if someone could post exactly how it is done. How do I
step-by-step configure the redhat machine and also what do I need to do to
the winxp machines to make it work. I read tidbits here and there on the
newsgroups but nowhere do I see a hold-my-hand and do this and that basic
instructions.

By the way, if I understand what is going on so far, Redhat 9 does not
install any samba components by default. To manually add them, at least
three different samba files need to be installed. Even after I did that
using the Redhat utility program for installing programs, the samba swat
file apparently was not installed. I fouind the file on CD#3, however I did
not understand how to install it as I don't think that file was listed in
the automatic check-the-box area of Redhat for installation. I know it has
something to do with RPM, but that is an illustration of what I am looking
for, namely, what exactly needs to be done to installl it. Apparently, the
terminal program needs to be run and then type "su" to get the terminal
window to pop up and then an rpm command can be typed in. Apparently,
Redhat discourages the use of swat by these hurdles and apparently
encourages the use of its own gui tool, a smaller program than swat that I
think is called the samba configuration utility. By the way, the
instructions I am looking for would use the gui interface, not the text
based commands. I gave up DOS ten years ago and I think it would benefit
everyone in my situation if someone could explain how to use gui tools
(graphical user interface tools) rather than pure text commands to the
extent possible.

That last paragraph is just an illustration of my total lack of procedural
knowledge of this problem. In my frustration in researching this problem, I
ran across Ximian Desktop2 which touts that it gives one-click access to
windows networks. I took the bait and installed it and yes there is an icon
now for the windows network but it still can't see the windows computers and
vice versa. However one new aspect is that Ximian allows easy installation
of swat. The desktop has a software update area and swat is listed as
available for installation (which Redhat alone apparently doesn't allow
easily) so click, click, click and it is now installed. See, I am from the
windows world and I love to click and not type (relatively speaking). I
also was able to start swat, it needs to be running as a "service" along
with smb and then my browser needs to call up the url for localhost:901.
Now I see swat, but other than change the workgroup name to match that of my
other computers, I am stuck.

I also seem to be aware that the security level needs to be changed because
firewalls impede my goals(?). Is this correct?

I also know I need to create a folder on the Redhat machine for sharing
purposes but does it matter WHERE it goes? For example, does it go in a
user's area or in the root area or does it matter?

Also, what about the issue of bindings? Does samba address this issue? Can
the bindings be the same as on my winxp machines?

Bottom line, now that I can access swat, can someone please post exactly
what needs to be changed in it to accomplish my goal and what else needs to
be changed on the Redhat computer and what, if anything, needs to be changed
on the winxp machines.

People who are curious about linux need help in making the transition. I am
sure a lot are in my position are not going to commit all their computers
until they thoroughly evaluate it first on one computer. So adding one
machine first is the natural first step. If it is too hard to network the
linux machine with the existing windows machines, a lot of people
considering linux on the desktop will just forget it. (I read after I
bought Redhat that Lindows 4.0 which just came out apparently does provide
easy windows networking connectivity, so should I give up and buy that?).

Thanks in advance for detailed step-by-step guidance on configuring the
Redhat and WinXP machines to see each other and share files.

Relevant Pages

  • Correlation of key to license number
    ... I have two different machines with WinXP Pro. ... two valid licenses and CDs for them, but I don't know which one goes ... with which installation. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment)
  • Re: RedHat - Sun JDS and LAN
    ... Last week I completely removed JDS ... Two machines are Windows XP. ... > Now that I have RedHat, the other machines do not appear. ... Or did I do the RedHat installation incorrectly? ...
    (linux.redhat.install)
  • RedHat - Sun JDS and LAN
    ... A month ago I purchased and installed Sun's Java Desktop System (JDS). ... Two machines are Windows XP. ... Now that I have RedHat, the other machines do not appear. ... Or did I do the RedHat installation incorrectly? ...
    (linux.redhat.install)
  • Linux Networking
    ... I have a small Network made up of a few WinXP and two ... Redhat 8.0 machines. ...
    (alt.linux)
  • RE: redhat-list Digest, Vol 11, Issue 18
    ... Re: Missing packages ... RedHat Network doesn't work ... squid proxy installation ...
    (RedHat)