> From: Dominic Mitchell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Dave Reed <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > > > From: Dominic Mitchell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > What do I need to connect these computers? > > > > Depends on what you mean by "connect". Do you just want to share files > > and/or a printer? Samba will allow you to do that. Will the "main > > computer" be connected to your internet connection and you want share > > it with the Windows computer? Yes, the IP-masquerading HOWTO is > > appropriate for this. > > Yes, I want to share the printer and the internet connection. The > main computer is running Linux RH6.2. It has the internet > connection and the printer. I also want to access files from my > computer from my wife computer. > > > > At a minimum you need a network card in each and some sort of > > connection between the cards - see comments after your next paragraph > > for more details. > > > > With just two network computers, you only need a cable, but you need > > what is usually referred to as a "cross-over" cable, not a regular > > network cable. The cross-over switches the wires so they match with > > different pins at either end. A hub takes care of switching the wires > > so a regular network cable is used with it. > > > > I guess the relative cost of the methods might depends on the cost > of these cables. My computer is in the basement while my wife > computer is in the living room above. I might need somewhere like > 30-40 feet of cable to link both computers. If the cross-over > cables are much more expensive, then it may be a better solution > to look at "router" or hub.
A cross-over cable should not be more expensive than a regular cable (it's the same wire just connected to different pins at one end), but it may be more difficult to find in a store. Since you mentioned you have an ethernet based high speed connection, you would need two network cards in your Linux box. Certainly, the Linksys (or other manufacturer) router is the easy way to go if you want a quick solution. These are typically 4 port hubs/switches along with masquerading capabilities so your internet connection goes into it and then you run a regular network cable from each computer to the router. File/print sharing can still be done with samba since this is also a normal hub/switch for your internal network. The Linksys router is probably more secure (unless you know what you're doing) and definitely the easier solution, but it's also more costly and less flexible if you want to allow incoming connections to your machines from the internet (which you probably don't). Dave _______________________________________________ Redhat-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list
