Written by dotancohen the 13 Mar 09 at 21:15.

When Ubuntu discovers that it is connected to another machine via a crossover cable, it should offer to browse the logged-in user of the other machine in a fashion similar to that when plugging in a disk-on-key. Additionally, permission should be requested to allow the second machine to browse it's own logged in user. Thus, both machines have to grant permission to allow access, and both machines can browse the other's files.

The only step that the user would have to do before plugging in the crossover cable would be to install the magical app.

When Ubuntu discovers that it is connected to another machine via a crossover cable, it should offer to browse the logged-in user of the other machine in a fashion similar to that when plugging in a disk-on-key. Additionally, permission should be requested to allow the second machine to browse it's own logged in user. Thus, both machines have to grant permission to allow access, and both machines can browse the other's files. The only step that the user would have to do before plugging in the crossover cable would be to install the magical app.

Written by manishmahabir the 14 Mar 09 at 17:19.

Lanshark is a free filesharing tool for local area networks. Lanshark allows you to share files with other users in the same network more efficiently. It automatically detects other lanshark users in the same Network and lets you browse trough their shares. Lanshark has a very fast search function that allows you to search through all the shares in the whole network in just a few seconds!

Features

* Free software (GPL)
* Easy to configure and use
* Fast searching
* Cross platform
* Rich user interface (GTK)
* Integrated webserver
* Additional web interface
* Automatic Peer Detection
* No installation Required


http://lanshark.29a.ch/

Lanshark is a free filesharing tool for local area networks. Lanshark allows you to share files with other users in the same network more efficiently. It automatically detects other lanshark users in the same Network and lets you browse trough their shares. Lanshark has a very fast search function that allows you to search through all the shares in the whole network in just a few seconds! Features * Free software (GPL) * Easy to configure and use * Fast searching * Cross platform * Rich user interface (GTK) * Integrated webserver * Additional web interface * Automatic Peer Detection * No installation Required http://lanshark.29a.ch/

Written by benjamimgois the 15 Mar 09 at 03:31.

System-config-samba is a small application that makes easy to setup samba, configure workgroup and share folders with other operating systems.

System-config-samba is a small application that makes easy to setup samba, configure workgroup and share folders with other operating systems.

Written by Vendaval the 16 Mar 09 at 02:34.

What about integrating Giver (or similar functionality) into Nautilus?
"Giver is a simple file sharing desktop application. Other people running Giver on your network are automatically discovered and you can send files to them by simply dragging the files to their photo or icon shown in Giver. There is no knowledge or set up needed beyond what the person looks like or their name to use Giver. "

http://code.google.com/p/giver/

What about integrating Giver (or similar functionality) into Nautilus? "Giver is a simple file sharing desktop application. Other people running Giver on your network are automatically discovered and you can send files to them by simply dragging the files to their photo or icon shown in Giver. There is no knowledge or set up needed beyond what the person looks like or their name to use Giver. " http://code.google.com/p/giver/

Written by elias1884 the 20 Mar 09 at 00:06.

Most of the time, one does not want to share a directory indefinitely but just wants to get a file or a folder to a Friend or co-worker. Therefore we need 2 different ways to deal with this.

* One for permanently sharing folders on the network.
* One for quickly exchanging files and folders (send, receive).

The one could be Samba based, the other giver based.

Most of the time, one does not want to share a directory indefinitely but just wants to get a file or a folder to a Friend or co-worker. Therefore we need 2 different ways to deal with this. * One for permanently sharing folders on the network. * One for quickly exchanging files and folders (send, receive). The one could be Samba based, the other giver based.

Written by nazgul77 the 24 Mar 09 at 17:43.

Tackle steps (1) and (2) above

The idea is to have NetworkManager automatically set up a network configuration that enables communication between computers when there are no other means for an automatic configuration (DHCP server etc.).

This is sufficient to enable decentralised services like samba/avahi file sharing, rhythmbox(DAAP) music sharing and GNOME remote desktop.
Zeroconf was built for this purpose and is used e.g. by MacOS X.

As of now NetworkManager attempts by default to automatically configure a network interface by DHCP when a physical link is detected (or a wireless device radio switched on) and gives up if that fails. Obviously this does not work when connecting two clients, i.e. there is no DHCP Server to provide the network configuration. You will have to manually create a NM profile and choose it. This is not very user-friendly.

For Ubuntu Desktop I suggest to make NetworkManager configure the network by Zeroconf when automatic configuration (DHCP) fails so that two clients can communicate. Exact details are left to developers as this is not as trivial as it seems.

Tackle steps (1) and (2) above The idea is to have NetworkManager automatically set up a network configuration that enables communication between computers when there are no other means for an automatic configuration (DHCP server etc.). This is sufficient to enable decentralised services like samba/avahi file sharing, rhythmbox(DAAP) music sharing and GNOME remote desktop. Zeroconf was built for this purpose and is used e.g. by MacOS X. As of now NetworkManager attempts by default to automatically configure a network interface by DHCP when a physical link is detected (or a wireless device radio switched on) and gives up if that fails. Obviously this does not work when connecting two clients, i.e. there is no DHCP Server to provide the network configuration. You will have to manually create a NM profile and choose it. This is not very user-friendly. For Ubuntu Desktop I suggest to make NetworkManager configure the network by Zeroconf when automatic configuration (DHCP) fails so that two clients can communicate. Exact details are left to developers as this is not as trivial as it seems.

Written by nazgul77 the 25 Mar 09 at 20:46.

Tackle steps (3) to (6) from the description above

If Solution #6 (Have NetworkManager auto-configure the mini-network with Zeroconf) is implemented more applications need to be tuned for hassle-free networking capabilities. GNOME remote desktop and rhythmbox(DAAP) music sharing are already working examples.
A killer application might be nautilus making use of avahi-enabled samba

http://www.askbjoernhansen.com/2007/10/27/setup_samba_for_bonjour_networking_wi th_os_x_105_l.html


Avahi " ... allows programs to publish and discover services and hosts running on a local network with no specific configuration. For example, you can plug into a network and instantly find printers to print to, files to look at and people to talk to."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avahi_(software)

Tackle steps (3) to (6) from the description above If Solution #6 (Have NetworkManager auto-configure the mini-network with Zeroconf) is implemented more applications need to be tuned for hassle-free networking capabilities. GNOME remote desktop and rhythmbox(DAAP) music sharing are already working examples. A killer application might be nautilus making use of avahi-enabled samba http://www.askbjoernhansen.com/2007/10/27/setup_samba_for_bonjour_networking_with_os_x_105_l.html Avahi " ... allows programs to publish and discover services and hosts running on a local network with no specific configuration. For example, you can plug into a network and instantly find printers to print to, files to look at and people to talk to." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avahi_(software)

Written by robertjlee the 29 Mar 09 at 18:06.

There are many ways to connect two PCs; the old serial and parallel cables should still work, as well as null modem cables. But we now have IR ports and “USB host-to-host cables” are available (http://www.linux-usb.org/usbnet/#t-host ).

Regardless of the method used, it would be really cool if connecting to a netbook, PC, PDA, etc. could be auto-detected (where possible), and bring up a consistent program to synchronise or transfer files.

There are many ways to connect two PCs; the old serial and parallel cables should still work, as well as null modem cables. But we now have IR ports and “USB host-to-host cables” are available (http://www.linux-usb.org/usbnet/#t-host ). Regardless of the method used, it would be really cool if connecting to a netbook, PC, PDA, etc. could be auto-detected (where possible), and bring up a consistent program to synchronise or transfer files.

Written by sanketmedhi the 4 Apr 09 at 06:50.

I feel Solutions #2 and #4 and not suitable for all situations and are only temporary or situation-based solutions. Why do we need another new application for something so simple as sharing files on a network? Plus, both users need to co-ordinate and install those applications to share files.

We need a solution that just works without installing any new application and without necessary co-ordination between users. Imagine hundreds of users sharing files in a big company or on a network of casual users sharing books, music, etc. Do you expect everyone to install and use LanShark or Giver? I don't think so. People are more comfortable sharing files on Windows and MAC OS; we have to make ourselves compatible with them and limit ourselves to particular apps which allows files to be shared by only people using those apps.

We already have Samba to view/add shares. Samba is compatible with most knows OSs and works out of the box. If we can increase compatibility between Samba and Nautilus to improve the user experience and make things work out-of-the-box, I think we will have a permanent effective solution.

I feel Solutions #2 and #4 and not suitable for all situations and are only temporary or situation-based solutions. Why do we need another new application for something so simple as sharing files on a network? Plus, both users need to co-ordinate and install those applications to share files. We need a solution that just works without installing any new application and without necessary co-ordination between users. Imagine hundreds of users sharing files in a big company or on a network of casual users sharing books, music, etc. Do you expect everyone to install and use LanShark or Giver? I don't think so. People are more comfortable sharing files on Windows and MAC OS; we have to make ourselves compatible with them and limit ourselves to particular apps which allows files to be shared by only people using those apps. We already have Samba to view/add shares. Samba is compatible with most knows OSs and works out of the box. If we can increase compatibility between Samba and Nautilus to improve the user experience and make things work out-of-the-box, I think we will have a permanent effective solution.