Connecting Windows 10 to Linux Mint 21.2 over ethernet cable to use samba shares

Connecting Windows 10 to Linux Mint 21.2 over an Ethernet cable to use Samba shares can be a useful way to share files and folders between the two operating systems. In this guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of setting up this connection.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following:

• A Windows 10 computer
• A Linux Mint 21.2 computer
• An Ethernet cable

Step 1: Connect the Computers

Start by connecting the Windows 10 and Linux Mint computers using an Ethernet cable. Plug one end of the cable into the Ethernet port of your Windows 10 computer and the other end into the Ethernet port of your Linux Mint computer. Ensure that the cable is securely connected.

Step 2: Configure Network Settings on Windows 10

Now, we need to configure the network settings on your Windows 10 computer:

1. On your Windows 10 computer, click on the Start menu and select "Settings".
2. In the Settings window, click on "Network & Internet".
3. In the Network & Internet settings, select "Ethernet" from the left-hand menu.
4. Under Ethernet, click on "Change adapter options".
5. A new window will open, showing your network connections. Right-click on the Ethernet connection and select "Properties".
6. In the Ethernet Properties window, scroll down and find "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)". Select it and click on the "Properties" button.
7. In the TCP/IPv4 Properties window, select the option "Use the following IP address".
8. Enter the following details:
   • IP address: 192.168.0.1
   • Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
   • Default gateway: Leave it blank
   • DNS servers: Leave it blank
9. Click "OK" to save the changes and close the windows.

Step 3: Configure Network Settings on Linux Mint

Next, let's configure the network settings on your Linux Mint computer:

1. On your Linux Mint computer, click on the network icon in the system tray and select "Wired Connected".
2. In the Wired Connected menu, select "Wired Settings".
3. A new window will open. In the window, click on the gear icon next to your wired connection.
4. In the Wired tab, select the IPv4 tab.
5. Choose the option "Manual" from the Method dropdown.
6. Click on the "Add" button to add a new IP address.
7. In the Address field, enter the IP address as 192.168.0.2 and set the Netmask to 255.255.255.0.
8. Leave the Gateway field empty and click on the "Apply" button to save the changes.

Step 4: Install and Configure Samba on Linux Mint

Now, we need to install and configure Samba on your Linux Mint computer:

1. Open the Terminal on your Linux Mint computer.
2. Install Samba by running the following command: sudo apt-get install samba
3. Once the installation is complete, open the Samba configuration file by running the following command: sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
4. In the smb.conf file, scroll down to the bottom and add the following lines:

   [shared]
     path = /path/to/shared/folder
     writable = yes
     guest ok = yes
     guest only = yes
     create mask = 0777
     directory mask = 0777

5. Replace /path/to/shared/folder with the actual path to the folder you want to share.
6. Save the changes and exit the text editor.
7. Restart the Samba service by running the following command: sudo service smbd restart

Step 5: Access Samba Shares on Windows 10

Finally, let's access the Samba shares on your Windows 10 computer:

1. Open the File Explorer on your Windows 10 computer.
2. In the address bar, type \\192.168.0.2\shared (replace 192.168.0.2 with the IP address of your Linux Mint computer).
3. Press Enter to access the shared folder.
4. You should now see the shared folder and its contents. You can copy, paste, and manage files between Windows 10 and Linux Mint.

Congratulations! You have successfully connected your Windows 10 computer to Linux Mint 21.2 over an Ethernet cable and can now use Samba shares to transfer files and folders between the two operating systems.

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