how do i connect 2 computers together on a network with different operating systems?

[nitro2001]

my 2 computers one computer is a windows 7 home premium.the other computer is a linux ubuntu version 11.10.now since both computers have different operating systems how do i connect the 2 computers together on a network?any help will be greatly apreciated.

nitro2001

[PrntRhd]

TCP/IP is used for each.

[LochLomonder]

Are you thinking about sharing files between both PCs? If so, you'll need to utilise Samba.

This explanation should be a decent start for getting Samba set up under Ubuntu.

[nitro2001]

there are 2 things that i am very confused about.

1)most computers have only one ethernet port.i have never seen a computer with 2 ethernet ports.now one of the ways of networking 2 computers together is by running an ethernet crossover cable between the 2 computers.the thing is that if i connect the 2 computers together with an ethernet cable then how will i connect my modem to my computer?plus

2)i am having trouble downloading samba onto my linux computer.

any help will be greatly apreciated.

nitor2001

[PrntRhd]

easiest networking:
You can network each computer with a single Ethernet cable to a home router which acts as a switch device between the two PCs and the router also provides the Internet connection for both PCs via a single connection..

[nitro2001]

so basically if i connect both computers to a router that,s one of the ways to network 2 computers together.also after i connect both computers to the router how do i download samba to my linux computer?

also i might eventually share files & folders too but the main reason why i want to network 2 computers together is so that i can use the printer on my linux machine.(my dell laser printer is not compatible with linux).any help will be greatly apreciated.

nitro2001

[mjc]

What Dell printer?

Little hint...Dell doesn't make printers. They just sell them...with their name on them.

It's much easier the the other way around...using a Linux printer in Windows. Also, look to see if your printer happens to be supported in OS-X (Mac).

[azzey]

^ I think they're made by Lexmark.

My Dell 1720dn works fine on Linux.

[nitro2001]

i have the same dell 1720dn printer but when i go to printer & try to download drivers for my printer my dell 1720dn is not listed there.how did you get your 1720dn to work?i don,t see the dell 1720dn listed there.i see some other dell printers listed there like the 1100 series but not the 1720dn.

in all the years that i have owned computers i have never networked 2 computers together before(i bought the 1720dn in aug 2007).any help will be greatly apreciated.

nitro2001.

[LochLomonder]

From what I've read here, it seems as if the driver for the Dell M5200 will work for the 1720dn.

You might want to read this for installing Samba on Ubuntu.

[jlreich]

Doesn't Ubuntu come with Samba already installed? Been awhile since I have used the standard version so I could be wrong...

[azzey]

^^ I'm not sure which driver I'm using, I'd have to go check. I think it's just a default PCL one though.