share folders between two Ubuntu 12.04 machines

Question

I have two machines (1 laptop, 1 desktop) on same network connected to a router both have Ubuntu 12.04. I need to share my e.g. "movies drive" from Desktop computer so that i can watch those on laptop just by accessing it through Nautilus.

Currently in my nautilus it only shows Windows Networks under Browse Networks and fails to show my desktop over there.

Thanks

Solution 1

At first, to share folder between Ubuntu machines: choose folder -> right click -> folder sharing(or in file Properties).

If your computer isn't shown in Browse Network, maybe your network isn't configured right way. But anyway you can try the next: open nautilius, press Ctrl+L, and put smb://ip.address(change ip.address with ip of PC you wanna connect to, like smb://192.168.1.1

Solution 2

You can access files on a remote computer using SSH:

1. Install openssh-server on a computer you want to connect to.
2. Choose File -> Connect to Server in Nautilus running on a machine you want to connect from and select SSH.
3. Enter the remote machine name (you may need to use the .local suffix), user name (on remote machine), password and (optionally) folder name and click Connect.

The remote folder will appear in the sidebar and will be accessible as your local folders.

You can even setup a passwordless connection. See https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SSH/ for more details.

Comments

[nanofarad]

Do the machines have sharing enabled?

[Aaron]

This question has answers for solving this via Samba and folder sharing - askubuntu.com/questions/119668/….

[nanofarad]

Welcome to Ask Ubuntu! Whilst this may theoretically answer the question, it would be preferable to include the essential parts of the answer here, and provide the link for reference.

[Shashank Degloorkar]

Thanks this worked... Maybe others will work too but it was simplest. Thank You.

[Shashank Degloorkar]

can i make a softlink to this folder which will save typing and just opening that folder will take me here??

[Viktor K]

No. The link won't work until you mount the resource. If you need it always be mounted than you can mount it when Ubuntu starts.

[JFA]

Is this safe on a non-private network?