Copying files between Windows and Linux made easy or ( how to make a zillion bucks)

[Kimbler]

The post on copying the RPMs from a linux box to a Windows box caught my attention because I have wanted to do this with my showeq files for some time. After eliminating the crap, it still boils down to ( a newbie ) a very complex and labor intensive process (except the e-mail of tar process).

It got me to reading about FTP, sshd,putty,sharity light, web site building, secruirty levels. All of these require a ton of reading and poking around and manualy editing config files or downloading binary files and compling them.....all a pain and again very time consuming to the point anyone new to Linux ( a newbie) would form the opinion Linux sure is not user friendly( please that was not stated to start a war or have the thread highjacked to redebate windows versus Linus).

What I did see is an excellent opportunity for one of you Linux wizards to make a zillion bucks. Heck you make it and i would pay $10 or $20 bucks for it.

So what would I pay for? simply this.

1. create a file I can download with a single click--->box pops up to where-->browse to the dir and click save.

2. you go to the file and click on it the file that then self executes (no compiling, .confg, make stuff) to install it. It does---->something like---> ADDING a selection to one of the Linux file managers a menu selection that simply reads "MOUNT A WINDOWS DRIVE" or "MAP A WINDOWS DRIVE"

3. a box pops up----> I type in a server\share HIT ENTER---(please dont go off on the security tangent most of us would use it on our home networks where we share drives to all computers in our house)

4. BINGO I have a windows drive I can pass files too (forget for the moment file attributes ...heck make it tar or zip file passage only)


Do this and you could make a few bucks and at the same time get over this HUGH hurdle of file transfer.

[Mr. Suspicious]

So,.. you want someone to make Samba? Just install Samba on the Linux box and if your network is setup correctly, then it'll display the Linux directories via "network neighberhood" in windows *shrug*

For 10$ to 20$ I'm sure you'll find someone that's willing to "take your hand" and guide you through the Samba setup, step-by-step (not that it's _that_ difficult to setup if you actually read the documentation _before_ starting to set it up)

Note the "if your network is setup correctly", if it isn't no programming in the world will make it work.

[Yueh]

Even with SWAT, Samba is about as easy for a novice to figure out as a kernel recompile. That is, if they can figure out how to turn it on :)

[Mr. Suspicious]

Samba is about as easy for a novice to figure out as a kernel recompile. That is, if they can figure out how to turn it on


Nah.... tis easy, I'm not even a novice Linux wise, just printed out one of the many step-by-steps found on the net, then (important) read it first to see if I could run into problems along the way, then followed it to the T and Samba up-and-running in 15 minutes.

Edit: There's even books about how-to for well below 10$ that will help you greatly along if you want to know realy realy realy everything about Samba, for instance: Sams Teach Yourself Samba in 24 Hours (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0672316099/o/qid%3D924612807/sr%3D2-3/103-7881934-6078249#product-details) for 4.89$)

[Mr Guy]

SAMBA is a PEICE OF CAKE to do easy stuff with.


Step by step:

1) Installing samba rpms
(I'm on mandrake, insert your own here)
samba-client-2.2.1a-12mdk
samba-2.2.1a-12mdk
samba-common-2.2.1a-12mdk

Those may have dependencies you aren't prepared for. Just go to www.rpmfind.net and start descending the tree until they install.

2) Making it work on the easiest case:

The file: /etc/samba/smb.conf

You need to set up what are called shares.

First the global options:


[global]
netbios name = NAMEHERE
workgroup= SAMEASWINDOWSBOX
server string = Linux File Server
hosts allow = 192.168.0. 127.
client code page = 850
character set = ISO8859-1

#Logging details
log level = 0
log file = /dev/null
max log size = 50
debug timestamp = yes

#Domain Controller
security = share
os level = 33
preferred master = yes
local master = yes

map to guest = Bad Password
encrypt passwords = yes
smb passwd file = /etc/samba/smbpasswd


The reason that map to quest line is important is so you don't have to actually screw with log ins. There is NO security inside of the LAN this way, so don't share porn if you are on a LAN with your parents or whatever.

Then you need to set up your "share" which is what other people can see:



[RPM]
comment = RPMs
path = /rpms
browseable = yes
writable = yes
guest ok = yes


See the guest ok line? That ought to let anyone on your local lan (or whoever matches hosts allow and workgroup) see your files, and add files. Linux file permissions still apply, so you can make stuff {rwx}.

That'll oughta work for base case. You can do tons of stuff with logins and passwords and scripts and all that, but ask yourself, do you NEED it?

[Kimbler]

Gentleman you missed my point ;).

Imagine you need you car oil changed. You don't know how and frankly don't care to go through the hassel of reading the owners manual and following the step by step instructions. you post on a local board "will to pay to have oil changed".

Everyone answers back....it's so easy go read the HOW TOOs and follow the directions will only take to 45 mins the first time you try it.


Except one guy --- he answers come to this location . You pay him $20 and you oil is changed in 10 mins. He then figures maybe there are alot more like them. He opens Jiffy Lub and retires to the islands ;)

I was just pointing out an opportunity that ALOT of us do not consider reading MAN or HOW toos or searching the web a pleasent experience. For those of you that do why not have the dream job.....you do what you love and the folks that dont will pay you to do it. Was all I point out. Have good friends.

[high_jeeves]

Because, contrary to your opinion, there is no market, and very little demand for this. People who run linux, dont use GUI clients to set things like this up (generally, because GUI clients dont give them the level of detail they need).

There is also a huge problem in the linux world of "code turnover". There are probably 50 versions and point versions of samba out there running as we speak. They probably use config formats that are 90% similar. A GUI client cannot easily deal with this 10% difference. Try going out and finding a configuration tool for X as an example. There are a few that work, but if somebody lets the config client get older than the actual app it is configuring, you end up screwed. This is why you just dont see these third party config tools very often in the open source world.

As for setting up samba in particular. It takes less than 10 minutes for a novice user to find an FAQ, add 5 lines to their samba.conf file, and be up and running. Oppose this to probably atleast 50-100 man hours to develop, test, and deploy a GUI client (which they would have to give away for free, nobody would actually buy this). Do you want to be the guy who develops, and maintains this system, for no gain, and minimal use? I know I sure dont.

And for future reference, if you arent asking a help question, why does this go in the help forum. Items like this should be posted in general forum (if at all on these boards).

--Jeeves

[Dedpoet]

I once read a quote, "Unix is user friendly, it's just picky about who its friends are." I love that quote.

Anyway, the truth is that Linux in its basic form isn't meant to talk to Windows...its a different operating system. Samba is what makes this possible. Just like you can't plug a US electrical device into a UK power outlet without an adaptor, you can't read Linux files from Windows without an adaptor. Once such adaptor is Samba. Sure, not everyone wants to fiddle with the adaptor and figure it out, but it exists for those who do.

If you want to pay people to help with these things, you buy Linux from one of the distributors who also provide technical support - it already exists. The OS is free by its nature, but lots of companies make lots of money by selling support for it.

This isn't meant to flame, I see your point. The fact is that I make a living doing things like this every day...I am a Unix administrator. I constantly move files between Unix and Windows based machines. Personally I tend to use ftp because that's what works for me. Of course, you could also put a cd writer in the Linux machine, upload to a web site, span the files across floppy disks, email them to yourself, pull the hard drive out and put it in the windows box and do a copy, use putty, dial up with a modem and Zmodem them, etc. There are a lot of ways to do this, but taking a little time and setting up Samba could be rewarding. The truth is that Samba works out of the box in Rehat if you choose to install it at setup. Like Mr. Guy said, you just have to add a few lines to the configuration file to tell it about your network and you're golden.

Sorry if that fanned the flames. I tend not to reply to posts when I don't have something to contribute, but this one was calling my name...

[casey]

Imagine you need you car oil changed. You don't know how and frankly don't care to go through the hassel of reading the owners manual and following the step by step instructions. you post on a local board "will to pay to have oil changed".
i happen to own the repair manual for my car and know how to change my oil, so i feel no sympathy.

frankly, if you arent prepared to sit down with a manual page, read a howto or do a little work, linux (unix in general) isnt for you. KDE, gnome and some others are striving to provide end user usability to linux, but its just not there yet.


Everyone answers back....it's so easy go read the HOW TOOs and follow the directions will only take to 45 mins the first time you try it.
it is easy, try it sometime.


Except one guy --- he answers come to this location . You pay him $20 and you oil is changed in 10 mins. He then figures maybe there are alot more like them. He opens Jiffy Lub and retires to the islands.
you want that package? tell you what, its not $20, but either $198 or $298 depending on flavor, and comes from microsoft.

[monster69]

One other option. (so easy its disgusting)

I am running Mandrake 8.2

Under "Control Center" (typically installed on your desktop)
choose "Mount Points"
choose "Partition Sharing"
It steps through installing the Samba server (client installed by default)

Now you go into your File Manager (Konqueror), right click a directory and click "share" at the bottom.

It doesnt give the control that most people want, but it is an easy graphical way to do the job.

monster69

[Kimbler]

Thanks folks now that you have explained basically:

1. No market

2. The code changes to fast

3. A GUI is to restrictive to the majority of Linux users

I see now why an easy solution has never been developed. Thanks for the education.

[Yueh]

Actually a GUI is included in the Samba distribution. Most linux gurus are just allergic to graphics :D

http://us1.samba.org/samba/docs/man/swat.8.html

[BlueAdept]

Since you want easy...

I am almost sure that the web services are started by default on several of the distributions. All you would have to do is tar up the files, put it in your web page dir, then download it from your web browser.

If you wanted to do a nightly or weekly transfer, you could even make a cron job to tar it up and put it in the web dir.

This is what it might look like.

tar -zcf /var/www/html/seqfiles.tar.gz /usr/local/share/showeq (the directories would vary depending on the linux you use, that is the default for Red Hat).

then from your windows machine put something like this in your address bar.

http://192.168.1.1/seqfiles.tar.gz (use the ip of your linux box)

One of 2 things will happen, either it will ask you what you want to do with it (save it or open it) or it will display garbage in your web browser. If it is the latter, just go to the File menu and then save as.

That is probably the easiest and fastest way to do it if you dont want to set up any of the other services like FTP, Samba, etc.

[Ratt]

Ugg... please guys, don't advocate this "Read and install" business with Samba. Following that kinda stuff will lead your box to being so compromised that I shudder at the thought.

Unless you generally KNOW what you are doing, setting up Samba is just inviting second-rate hackers to root your box to hell and gone.

I like the idea behind Samba, but because it essentially grew from Windows, it's a security risk of the first order. Not that FTP is much better...

Use SCP/SFTP, or even NFS if ya gotta... but then again, you still run into the same problem of security... if you don't know what you are doing, you are gonna leave holes galore open. Hell, I still leave a hole or two open now and again when I install new things.

[bonkersbobcat]

Since most windows machines are not installed to be secure anyway why not just use the samba client on linux and connect to a shared directory on your windows machine.

On windows you just share a directory. On linux you just issue the mount command. Unmount when you are done.

RedHat (and I assume others) ships with this ready to go, out of the box, with no editing of any configuration files necessary.

(Well you might have to create a mount point)

[landaile]

This little tool for linux that allows you to just fill in the info and hit connect..... it exists. Its even free. If I recall correctly it came with the redhat powertools and Im sure its easily downloaded from the net.

GNOMBA

You dont have to setup anything. Install the RPM and if you dont have what it needs install the RPMS that it depends on. Then you share out a folder on your on your windows machine and open GNOMBA.

Easy as that.

/shrug
Anyways I hope that helps those of you that are more interested in getting something done quickly and easily then learning the ins and outs of how it all works. There is a place is this world for both types of people.

[S_B_R]

Originally posted by bonkersbobcat
Since most windows machines are not installed to be secure anyway why not just use the samba client on linux and connect to a shared directory on your windows machine.

On windows you just share a directory. On linux you just issue the mount command. Unmount when you are done.

RedHat (and I assume others) ships with this ready to go, out of the box, with no editing of any configuration files necessary.

(Well you might have to create a mount point) it would go something like this
mkdir /mnt/shared
mount -t smbfs username=winuser,password=winpass //winbox/shared /mnt/sharedwinuser is your WINDOWS username
winpass is your WINDOWS password (or lack there of)
winbox is the name of your Windows Box
shared is the name of the directory you shared on you windows box.

[PainNSuffering]

Coming from another person who is not used to linux, I just use FTP, it is much easer to setup than samba, but due to my anal nature, I am still learning how to setup and configure samba. . . . soon now, soon . . .

[Kimbler]

WOW! I want thank everyone for the great responses and suggestions and after it ia all said and done BINGO!


S_R_B suggestion:it would go something like this code:

mkdir /mnt/shared
mount -t smbfs username=winuser,password=winpass //winbox/shared /mnt/shared

winuser is your WINDOWS username
winpass is your WINDOWS password (or lack there of)
winbox is the name of your Windows Box
shared is the name of the directory you shared on you windows box.

Did the trick!! No down loads, no how toos, no compiles, no configuration just two lines and bingo the files are on the Windows box.

Since those who run showeq have both a Windows and Linux box I figure a whole bunch of folks will be taking advantage of this sweet solution. My many thanks to all who offered suggustions and ideas. And I have to confess many suggestions have peaked my interest to look at Linux a little more indepth but for now THANK YOU ALL!

[BlueAdept]

Heh...see what happens when someone asks nicely? You get results.

[Yueh]

Naw, you don't even have to be nice. Just spark a debate among the devs and stand back! Course, a little niceness goes a Looooong way on the net :)

[Xalpus]

rofl linux is not and from what i have seen most people useing it have no desire for it to ever be user friendly,, which is actually terribley sad i would love a real mainstream alternative to MS but until a real good solid user friendly wrapper is put around linux it wont be..

i use linux for 1 thing and thats showeq.. i've messed with it a bit but have found no other real use for it,, unless of course i decide to start programing again..

sad part is it is just so stable as compared to xp if they could only make it so the normal joe could actually use it

[Cryonic]

Want a nice gui around Unix, get a Mac with OSX.

[Mr. Suspicious]

Want a nice gui around Unix, get a Mac with OSX.

And KDE or Gnome aren't nice and userfriendly GUI's? Linux IS as easy (or even easier) to use as Winblow$ (especially true for the XP version) the only thing that's keeping it from becomming mainstream is commercial home-user applications. By this I mean applications that come with an installer that will install everything by itself as with Winblow$ applications. Any company can switch over to Linux for it's office machines already without any loss of productivity.

[Phat_Lewts]

Hey don't know if you have gotten a fix for this but here is my 2cp worth

On windows box click on my computer and then click on map network drive choose a free letter and in the path box put in the ftp address to your linux box "example" ftp://yourusername@yourboxesnameorip and then press finish

then when you click on it it will ask you for your ftp password and you can then browse it like a webpage

Phat_Lewts

[flipper]

From my readings about computing security... turning on "File and Printer Sharing" from Win9x is a major no-no if your computer is attached to the internet. This is just something to keep in mind before you leap rump first into Samba. I personally use FTP to move data between my Windows and Linux computers.


on another note....

<---- weee, my penguin is there. thanks a ton for your hard work SEQ devs.

[MarkJames]

goto www.linuxapps.com
search for xsmbrowser
download xsmbrowser rpm for rh
install rpm
go to \etc\samba and edit smb.conf first line which reads Workgroup = "your windows workgroup", save file go to \usr\bin find the file xsmbrowser and run it, choose run when it prompts you and voila there have a Network Neighborhood in linux.

[photon_99]

I haven't read the whole thread but try WinSCP (http://winscp.vse.cz/eng/) .

Just log in to your Linux box as root, then drag and drop the files.

I'm assuming you have SSH installed and running as most modern distros do.