I want to connect my Linux laptop to my Windows 7 desktop using a Crossover cable. How should I go about doing it?

Question

Background
I have a laptop running CrunchBang linux (debian based) and a Windows 7 desktop. I use the desktop only for working on SQL Server and Visual Studio and use the laptop for everything else.

Internet setup
From the laptop, I use a wireless router to connect to internet, which gets its internet from a DSL internet connection cable. For the desktop, I simply connect a LAN cable to one of the router's empty LAN ports.

Situation
I have now bought a Crossover cable with the intention of connecting both these machines.

I don't want to share the internet connection.

I want to be able to connect to the SQL Server residing in the Windows 7 machine to do some practice. I know that I need to use an rdp client to access a windows machine. I connected both machines using the cable, but I am not sure I am actually connected. Windows 7 machine shows as connected to Unidentified network and has a warning symbol at the bottom of the Network Connections tray icon.

How do I ensure that I am connected to the Windows 7 machine from my laptop?

Solution

Having both machines connected to the same router makes them connected to each other .. you do not need to connect them with a cable..

To connect to your windows machine from your laptop you have to:

a. On windows:

• Start -> Run -> type cmd and press the Enter key (this will open a command prompt window)
• in cmd window type 'ipconfig' (without quotes) and press the Enter key
• check the ip address

b. On laptop:

• use a rdp client to connect to the ip of the windows machine

Comments

[Simon Sheehan]

You need to set it up with a static IP

[Animesh]

From Windows or Linux? Can you please point me to step-by-step guide to doing so?

[Thalys]

With modern systems - gig-e on at least one end, a crossover cable would be unnecessary.