Hi everyone. I have to say I am at a loss here. I am really confused with the terms and different settings and to be quite frank - not sure where the hell to start.... Is someone willing to literally take me by the hand through this set-up? I will understand if not but it is either getting help here or going through endless web pages confusing myself even further.... I have one PC which runs Mandriva and is connected to the ADSL line via a USB speedtouch modem. I would like to be able to connect a laptop (also running this magnificent OS) to the PC and share the ADSL connection and perhaps some files as well. I get really lost when I go to the MCC and go through the wizard. What do I need to chose? DHCP or manual settings? Do I need to change anything or just click on 'OK' or 'Next' so the system go for default settings? Then how do I configure the laptop to log on to the host PC? I am seriously in need of help to even uderstand half of the terms. Thanks for your help.
DHCP is Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. If your computer is configured to use DHCP, and your connected to a DHCP server you'll get an auto assigned ip address. Unless you're using your PC as a DHCP server, I don't think that will work. To share files, you can use Samba, which works with Windows PCs aswell or NFS (Network File System). I think that if you get a router then it would save a lot of hassle. You could connect each computer to the router via ethernet and then the router would have the internet connection via your modem (must be through ethernet aswell). It would also solve the problem with DHCP the router would act as the DHCP server and you don't have to manually configure ip addresses.
Thanks Addis. I am not in the position of purchasing a router (with a modem or not). I am just trying to make do with the equipment I have.... Thanks for the explenation of the DHCP.
In that case, you can use a static ip for your computers. Configure each computer to have an ip address, say 10.0.0.1 for your PC and 10.0.0.2 for your laptop. These are statically configured ips and you then avoid the DHCP thing.
Thanks again addis. So I need to go through the manual configuaration. I think I can understand that. So once I have manualy configured the IP address on both machines, how do I actualy log into the hosting PC? so I can share resources? For example, if I wish to connect to the internet from my guest laptop, I think I need to configure FireFox's connection settings don't I?
I'm not sure on connection sharing with linux, you may need to set up a light proxy server on your PC so that you can access the internet. To share files use the Mandriva samba wizard and you should be alright from there.
Samba is to provide compatibility with Windows File and Print sharing and has nothing to do with the Internet at all.
Well... I think I have solved the LAN 'problem' but now my ADSL modem will not connect. Or to be more precise the system will not bring the interface (ppp0) up. So my eth0 connects fine but now I cannot connect the ADSL line.... Right.... How can I go back to square one? Is there a away of undoing everything I have done? Or is this a really stupid statement? Also, lets pretend I managed to work this, how do I configure Firefox on the guest PC? and if I want to update the urpmi on the guest PC how do I do that? I am assuming I need to configure some proxy somewhere? No? Thanks!
