Networking dual boot PCs [Solved]

[JoHubb]

I have two PCs, both are dual boot running Linux Mint 18.3 Mate and Windows 10 Home, both 64bit.

When both PCs are booted in Linux, under Network Servers there are icons showing Windows Network. Clicking on this icon in either PC produces 'Unable to mount location'. I can understand this, since both PCs are running Linux, not Windows.

So, how can I network these two Linux machines on my ethernet network? I want to network the Linux partitions - not just share files.

I'd be grateful for advice.

John

[catweazel]

So, how can I network these two Linux machines on my ethernet network?

This way.

[altair4]

So, how can I network these two Linux machines on my ethernet network? I want to network the Linux partitions - not just share files.

What does that mean exactly?

You don't want to share a specific folder but want the other machine to have access to your entire OS? If the latter is the case you might also consider SSH:

[1] On both machines install ssh:

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sudo apt install ssh

"ssh" is a metapackage that contains both client and server components of SSH.

[2] Then on Machine1 determine the host name of that machine:

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hostname

[3] On Machine 2 open a terminal and run:

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caja sftp://Machine1-host-name.local

Where Machine1-host-name is the host name you found in step [2] - and don't forget the .local at the end.

You will get a butt ugly response that looks something like this:

Click on Log In Anyway. Then it will ask you for the user name and password of a user on that machine.

You can bookmark the location after you make the connection.

BTW, "Windows Network" is the name given to the smb protocol. The folks who put Desktop Linux together think that smb/samba is a windows only thing despite the fact that it is the default file sharing protocol on all desktop systems - including Linux. Unless Mint goes out of it's way to mess it up Mint 19 will automatically broadcast it's SMB presence to other Linux and macOS machines under "Browse Network" and outside of "Windows Network" so this misunderstanding - on the part of the user anyway - should go away.

[JoHubb]

Thanks catweasel - trying this suggestion from altair4 first.

So, how can I network these two Linux machines on my ethernet network? I want to network the Linux partitions - not just share files.
What does that mean exactly?

You don't want to share a specific folder but want the other machine to have access to your entire OS? If the latter is the case you might also consider SSH:

Thanks, altair4. I want to share all folders between the two machines, including downloads. Access to a few specific folders is no use to me.

Terminal on Machine 2 - to access Machine 1 hostname Snow-White

howard@howard-System-Product-Name ~ $ caja sftp://Snow-White.local
howard@howard-System-Product-Name ~ $

then,

Could not display "sftp://snow-white.local/".
Error: timed out when logging in.
Please select another viewer and try again.

Where to from here?

[altair4]

Before I try to reproduce this error can you see if re-installing the following package does anything:

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sudo apt-get --reinstall install gvfs-backends

And just to make sure the firewall isn't in the way can you disable the firewall on Snow-White:

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sudo ufw disable

[JoHubb]

Job Done! Great stuff! Many thanks, altair4.

I can now access everything on Machine 1 (Snow-White) from Machine 2. Can I set up the reverse using the same method?

The Hostname for Machine 2 is given as howard-System-Product-Name.
It should be Rudolf!

[altair4]

Job Done! Great stuff! Many thanks, altair4.

I can now access everything on Machine 1 (Snow-White) from Machine 2. Can I set up the reverse using the same method?

The Hostname for Machine 2 is given as howard-System-Product-Name.
It should be Rudolf!

Yes.