2 computer network. Simple? no.

[Legithrandil]

I have two computers, connected by a simple crossover cable. One is a Linux box running Mandrake 9.0, the other is a a windows box running 98SE.

Basically, this question is about samba. I've tried configuring my smb.conf file, but it doesn't seem to work (ie, the linux box doesn't show up on the windows box's network neighborhood list). They can ping each other, so I know the connection is good. There is no internet connection in the picture, the Linux box IP I set to192.168.0.2, the windows box is 192.168.0.3.

Help would be nice.

[michaelk]

Is samba runnig? Check top or ps for smbd and nmbd if not present samba isn't running. Check the samba log files to see if there is a problem. The command testparm will check for the correct syntax of your smb.conf file.

If you selected samba during the install process the only minor tweaks in the smb.conf file would be to change your workgroup. You also need to add a samba password for a user. The user name should also match the Win98 username you log on with.

A linux box doesn't always show up in Network Neighboorhood right away. Try the command in a dos prompt

net view
or
net view \\win_pc_name

See www.samba.org for complete samba documentation.

[Legithrandil]

smbd and nmbd were both running each time I tried. Where is the log file for samba? I'll add the username, but do I not put in a password (I don't use a password for the winbox)?

I thought this would be simple...

[michaelk]

You need to be root to add a samba password.
smbpasswd -a username
It will then prompt you for a password.

The win98 password does not need to be the same as the smb password but the username does.

The log files are in /var/log/samba. You probably need to be root to view them.

You also might want to post your smb.conf file. If its long leave out the comments.

Can you see the linux box from the windows box using the command

net view