Linux and windows sharing pain

dazsly · 2 Apr 2008 at 19:57

Hi all, just like to share my thoughts on linux including suse and ubuntu.

I like Linux it seems a really good alternative to Windows and is fast and clean looking interface, but why is sharing file on folders across a Windows domain a nightmare to setup? I have followed the tutorials etc.

I cannot understand why the user and file sharing setup is not easier for beginners. e.g a easy to follow wizard based setup. I have half set it up but upon connecting from the Windows workstation it will not locate the share.

Is their a good dist that has a good tutorial built in?

Thanks

TrX · 2 Apr 2008 at 20:07

Are you getting an error or just nothing??

Can you ping the host with samba on? (guessing you have set samba up as the server?)

Have you tried //<IP-ADDRESS>/share instead of the name (just to make sure you dont have name resolution problems)

//TrX

Ethics · 9 Apr 2008 at 17:40

Some distros and DEs do have wizards, KDE is pretty full featured in network sharing etc.

Like mentioned you need to be reading up on Samba, and cifs. you can use SWAT for a web ui for it.

Personally i have never seen a wizard done well. They always rush through the options, providing little or no explanation and it's hit or miss whether it works out. Thus meaning nothing is learnt, jsut a sequence of buttons and options are memorised, what would you do if the next distro had no wizard?

That enevitably leads to the situation we have now, idiot masses all using computers with no knowledge or respect for the systems and their potential and/or pitfalls.

tntcoder · 9 Apr 2008 at 19:50

Ethics said:
That enevitably leads to the situation we have now, idiot masses all using computers with no knowledge or respect for the systems and their potential and/or pitfalls.

Completely agree! Linux wasn't built with GUIs in mind and it isn't Windows, therefore there will always be a certain amount of background knowledge you really need to have on the subject. While GUIs do make certain tasks much easier, some things you really need to know how to manually configure if its gonna be worthwhile in the long run.