Purging Underscored Hostnames in Linux/XP Pro Local Network

[W. Watson]

I'm trying to get a linux and xp pro machine to talk with one another via Samba and
to just do time synchs. When I first set the hostname in Linux, I made the mistake of
using an underscore in the hostname. That gave me some trouble with Network Places
(XP). I believe I removed them from Linux by giving various variable new names. The
odd thing though is that every once in awhile when I'm looking at the two machines in
Network Places the old underscore names reappear. Which machine is at fault for this,
and how do I get rid of the oddity?

There are times when I cannot access the Linux machine from XP. I have to play around
with booting and use of Network Places to get them to act civilly. These situations
seem to involve the underscore problem, but not always.
--
Wayne T. Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada City, CA)
(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: <home.earthlink.net/~mtnviews>

 

[Malke]

I'm trying to get a linux and xp pro machine to talk with one another
via Samba and to just do time synchs. When I first set the hostname in
Linux, I made the mistake of using an underscore in the hostname. That
gave me some trouble with Network Places (XP). I believe I removed
them from Linux by giving various variable new names. The odd thing
though is that every once in awhile when I'm looking at the two
machines in Network Places the old underscore names reappear. Which
machine is at fault for this, and how do I get rid of the oddity?

There are times when I cannot access the Linux machine from XP. I have
to play around with booting and use of Network Places to get them to
act civilly. These situations seem to involve the underscore problem,
but not always.

You have renamed the Linux box, removing all spaces and underscores in
its name, yes? The old name should disappear from Windows Network
Places eventually, but you might want to try not using Network Places.

1. Name your Linux box properly, if not already done.

2. Apparently you have set up your user accounts, passwords,
permissions, etc. in Linux and Samba. You've created shares with
appropriate permissions and added them to smb.conf.

3. On the Windows box, go to Start>Search>File & folders. In Search,
click on "Other search options" and then choose "Computers or people".
Then choose "A computer on the network" and enter the Linux box's name.
The shares you have set up should appear. Make a shortcut by
right-clicking and dragging to the Windows desktop. You may even want
to make a folder to hold the network shortcuts and get rid of the
Network Places icon (from the Display applet/Desktop/Customize).

4. The problem with sometimes not being able to access the Linux box may
have to do with computer browser issues. If your Windows box is turned
on first in the morning, let it be the master browser and set the local
master browser to "no" in smb.conf.

Malke

 

[W. Watson]

W. Watson wrote:




You have renamed the Linux box, removing all spaces and underscores in
its name, yes? The old name should disappear from Windows Network
Places eventually, but you might want to try not using Network Places.

1. Name your Linux box properly, if not already done.

2. Apparently you have set up your user accounts, passwords,
permissions, etc. in Linux and Samba. You've created shares with
appropriate permissions and added them to smb.conf.

3. On the Windows box, go to Start>Search>File & folders. In Search,
click on "Other search options" and then choose "Computers or people".
Then choose "A computer on the network" and enter the Linux box's name.
The shares you have set up should appear. Make a shortcut by
right-clicking and dragging to the Windows desktop. You may even want
to make a folder to hold the network shortcuts and get rid of the
Network Places icon (from the Display applet/Desktop/Customize).

4. The problem with sometimes not being able to access the Linux box may
have to do with computer browser issues. If your Windows box is turned
on first in the morning, let it be the master browser and set the local
master browser to "no" in smb.conf.

Malke

Thanks. The search found astropc2004, which is correct. I used astropc. I also tried
astropc_ , astro_pc. Neither were found. I don't believe I have the master browser
entry in smb.conf at all. I generally leave both machines on for days on end.

Unfortunately, I have not had much luck with Samba. 2.2.7 is on the linux box, and I
can fire up SWAT. smbclient -L xxx seems to execute properly. I've created a guest
account on both machines witht the same passwd. Otherwise, I'm at a standstill on
what to do next. It was suggested on another user group that I start with a very
rudimentary smb.conf file, which I did. When I use Network Places Near Me, and click
on the astropc entry, I get "cannot access. see your admin". I'm logged on as the
admin, which is the way I always operate. Here's my smb.conf file:

[global]
workgroup = GALAXY
server string = Samba Server %v
security = SHARE

[homes]
browseable = No

temp]
path = /tmp
read only = No
guest only = Yes
guest ok = Yes

[all]
path = /
force user = root
read only = No


--
Wayne T. Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada City, CA)
(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: <home.earthlink.net/~mtnviews>

 

[Malke]

Thanks. The search found astropc2004, which is correct. I used
astropc. I also tried astropc_ , astro_pc. Neither were found. I don't
believe I have the master browser entry in smb.conf at all. I
generally leave both machines on for days on end.

Unfortunately, I have not had much luck with Samba. 2.2.7 is on the
linux box, and I can fire up SWAT. smbclient -L xxx seems to execute
properly. I've created a guest account on both machines witht the same
passwd. Otherwise, I'm at a standstill on what to do next. It was
suggested on another user group that I start with a very rudimentary
smb.conf file, which I did. When I use Network Places Near Me, and
click on the astropc entry, I get "cannot access. see your admin". I'm
logged on as the admin, which is the way I always operate. Here's my
smb.conf file:

(snip) - We don't work with Linux files here in a Windows newsgroup, but
I can tell you that your smb.conf is pretty messed up.

One thing that would really help you is to use current software. IIRC
you are using RH9 which is already EOL and Samba is up to version 3.0.x
already. You also might find it easier to use an "all-in-one"
configuration solution like Webmin. It has a very nice gui and is easy
to understand. Download Webmin from http://www.webmin.com/

You might want to look around your area for a local user group or buy a
book about Samba and networking in a mixed os environment. I have a
feeling that you are making things far more difficult for yourself than
they need to be, but without actually seeing your setup it is hard to
be more specific.

You will undoubtedly have far better success by using current software
and having a knowledgeable friend come over and show you how to set up
your network.

Good luck,

Malke

 

[W. Watson]

W. Watson wrote:




(snip) - We don't work with Linux files here in a Windows newsgroup, but
I can tell you that your smb.conf is pretty messed up.

One thing that would really help you is to use current software. IIRC
you are using RH9 which is already EOL and Samba is up to version 3.0.x
already. You also might find it easier to use an "all-in-one"
configuration solution like Webmin. It has a very nice gui and is easy
to understand. Download Webmin from http://www.webmin.com/

You might want to look around your area for a local user group or buy a
book about Samba and networking in a mixed os environment. I have a
feeling that you are making things far more difficult for yourself than
they need to be, but without actually seeing your setup it is hard to
be more specific.

You will undoubtedly have far better success by using current software
and having a knowledgeable friend come over and show you how to set up
your network.

Good luck,

Malke

M,
Yes, I don't bother this group with Samba. For purposes here, it's just an XP issue
with Linux, the underscore difficulty.

Believe me I'd love to get off RHL 9. Unfortunately, I'm stuck here for the next few
months. It's the Linux application that is the sticking point.

Interesting that you think the smb.conf is messed up. I got it from a fellow on
<comp.protocols.smb>. He realizes it is not a robust conf file, but had me using it
to overcome my samba problems. We finally crossed the smbclient threshold, so that I
got a glimpse of some settings. That's when I got sidetracked by the weird underscore
nuttiness.

Yes, I've been using webmin for SWAT. That's the extent of my familiarity with webmin.

There are several books on the web about Samba. One is the O'Reilly book, the
complete book. I have only glanced at it. Much too big for me to print. There's a
pretty decent book on the net on net (<http://www.linuxhomenetworking.com/>), but the
somewhat unfortunate thing about these and other books, including the RH9 guides, is
they approach the use of Samba in a completely different fashion, and they tend to be
a bit out of date.

It's certainly possible, in fact likely, that I'm making things too difficult for
myself, but I think I'm edging to a solution. I think there's some connection that's
not quite right. I'm probing that avenue in comp.os.linux.networking by homing in on
getting the Linux box to sync time from XP. My whole interest in Linux/XP is really
to get an accurate time for Linux. Samba is further down the priority list. If I get
it to work, fine. It'll be helpful to me eventually.

Local help is hard to come by. I live pretty far out of the mainstream in the
foothills of the Sierra mountains. Right now we are having a warm up storm rattling
us for the big blow tonight in California. Had the power go out 2 times in the last
hour. I keep saving this as a draft. I think I'll eventually worked out with one of
the linux groups I mentioned. If not, I may just call MS tech support and put it to
them.

Well, before we have another outage...

W
--
Wayne T. Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada City, CA)
(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: <home.earthlink.net/~mtnviews>