Thread: Setting up LAN

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.

Originally Posted by Addis

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.