Simple way to transfer files between two machines?

xiaweitang · Apprentice Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 152

This could be very basic, but I have never done it before. I have a desktop running ubuntu, and a laptop running Gentoo. I want to occasionally transfer files between these two machines, and don't need fancy features. Maybe scp will simply work? But I don't have a domain name!

NathanZachary · Moderator Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 2609

It simply depends on what type of method you want to use. If you are wanting to transfer over the network, there are many options. If you only want to transfer files occasionally, and not very many or large files, you may just want to use a flash drive. Please provide a little more information on the specifics of your goals, and we'll work from there.

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toralf · Last edited by toralf on Fri Mar 05, 2010 7:34 pm; edited 1 time in total

xiaweitang · Apprentice Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 152

I want to copy all my personal files in my desktop to my laptop so that I can do a clean install on the desktop. I can use usb, but I don't have it around now.

Jaglover · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 7:34 pm Post subject:

I'd export a directory on Ubuntu desktop over NFS.
For rare transfers I'd use SCP.

xiaweitang · Apprentice Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 152

papahuhn · l33t Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Posts: 626

The IP.
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Raistlin Majere · n00b Joined: 04 Feb 2010 Posts: 61

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 7:50 pm Post subject:

xiaweitang,

The IP address of the remote system or its hostname if the name will resolve to an IP adddress.
You only need to specify <user>@ if you don't have the same username on both manchies.

The remote host will need to be running sshd.

Read

xiaweitang · Apprentice Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 152

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 8:12 pm Post subject:

xiaweitang,

Do you want to transfer files between machines over the internet or just on your local network?

As you use DHCP, your DHCP server should resolve host names to their current IP addresses, so it should just work.
There is no danger of picking some random machine on the neat as you will be using a non-routable subnet, probably beginning 192.168. but there are others.

Packets destined for these non routeable subnets are dropped on sight by routers on the internet.

You can run ifconfig on the remote host to see what its IP address is. Its unlikely to change while its powered up as it will renew its lease on the IP address from time to time. As there is no pressure on IP addresses on your network, its address will be static. It may change from power up to power up.
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Raistlin Majere · n00b Joined: 04 Feb 2010 Posts: 61

xiaweitang · Apprentice Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 152

I'm transfering through internet. Using scp and the ip address found by ifconfig did the job. Thanks to all.