Help needed with Lan, setup and sharing directories

Support & Help Requests
1

Using Ubuntu Mate 22.04 [NOT UBUNTU 22.04, IVE TRIED TO ADAPT THOSE DIRECTION AND FAILED]
How do I activate a LAN and how do I share directories and files to make them available on a wired LAN.
Where can I find written step-by-step instructions.
[new to LAN, not new to Mate]

2

The question will need more specifics. Mostly, a LAN, whether wired or wireless will be set up automatically by NetworkManager using a DHCP server. If you have a LAN, and it connects to the internet, you should have only a SINGLE point of connection, with a firewall at that location.

Sharing files is a totally different thing. Samba or NFS? What OSs are on the various hosts on the network? How much access control do you need? Do you need read-write access? And dozens of other questions. There is no step by step without more details.

3

You can create a public dir, configure samba to share that dir with every system in the LAN. In /etc/samba/smb.conf

[public]
  path = some location
  writable = yes
  guest ok = yes

sudo systemctl restart smbd

you can access files via smb://um22/public or smb://192.168.5.10/public

4

Since you withheld all details regarding your network, I will presume a regular ADSL setup.
That means computer -> 4ports modem/router -> internet.

That also means that you are not new to LAN. You are already using it.

I will also presume that you want this setup for a home situation and not for a company/enterprise setting.

Your questions:

How do I activate a LAN

Your LAN is already active otherwise you wouldn't be able to reach your modem/router and therefore not able to post any messages here.

how do I share directories and files to make them available on a wired LAN

I presume that you want a secure and standards compliant solution so here are the steps to set it up.

In my example I assume that you have two computers connected to your router/modem.

  1. Login to the first computer.
    Install 'sshd' : sudo apt-get install openssh-server

  2. Do the same on the other computer.

ready

Both computers can now read files and directories from each other.

How to use:

  1. open caja
  2. type in the addressbar: sftp://username@ipaddress/
    (username and ip address are the usename you have on the other computer and the ip address of the other computer)
  3. it will ask for the password so honour that request.

ready

This will work with ANY connected computer regardless operating system (except MS-windows ofcourse because MS-Windows is the only one that is not standards compliant)
If you want MS-windows to also be able to share, install 'winscp' on MS-windows.

In the very unlucky case that you want to be "compatible" with that horrible MS-Windows filesharing system because 'every windows refugee is using it', forget all the above, read up on SaMBa for filesharing and stock up on a family pack anti-depressants. :wink:

5

Thanks for the help.

Which ip do I use? [public/private] [sftp://username@ipaddress/]
On terminal how do I get a clear one address to use?

6

If the other computer is on the same lan, I always use the host name of the other computer for the ip address. Saves me from having to net scan for numerical address or having to set up a static ip address or go to the other computer and find out what address was assigned. I'm lazy.

You might give that a go.

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7

If what @mdd12 wrote works for you, you should do that.

if not, read on:

Which ip do I use?

The ip-address of the computer you want to contact.

On terminal how do I get a clear one address to use?

type ip addr on the computer you want to contact.

Alternatively, you can click on the networkicon in the systemtray and select 'connection information'

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