Calling Scott

Hey Scott, technical question for you ...

I want to hook my old computer up to my new one, so I can practise doing nefarious things but I ain't too sure about how to go about doing it, so, I have several queries for you to consider ... if you would?

As far as I am able to ascertain, there are two ways to accomplish my goal ; the first is by using a KVM switch, the second by linking them with a computer - computer cable.

Now then, as far as the second method is concerned, can I use a regular USB ended cable (the USB plugs being on either end) or do I need a special type of other, as yet unknown to me, cable?

If I use a regular dual ended USB cable, will it act in a similar way as an external hard drive, ie ; will my old computer when connected to the new one emulate a hard drive in the same manner as if it was a hard drive? ... if you get my drift ... or will it not work at all?

The problem I can envisage with this idea is that the second machine might not work like an external hard drive because it will have to be booted up separately prior to use, something that might not be possible if the first machine thinks that the second is a different drive ... and, if it does work, there will be two 'C' designated hard drives, one on each machine (and D E F ... etc ... ) so how will I be able to determine which drive is which ?

I do know that you run different machines simutainiously ... Mars, Jupiter, Saturn etc ... and I want to know how to do it, but with the caveat being that I only want to use one keyboard, monitor and mouse ... hence the first method (KVM switch) that I mention above.

Now then, both computers are dual booters, but the new one is 64 bit and the older one ain't, it's a 32, but that should not be a problem because they are both running 32 bit Windows XP pro (the new one runs Mandriva 2009 64 bit / XP pro 32 ... the old one XP pro 32 & Mandriva spring 2008 One 32) and I only want to run the second with Windows as a test platform for writing and testing some scripts, malicious ones, so I am going to wipe the Linux distro off it anyway and reformat the second drive back to NTFS ... but what I want to know is, will the new one be able to use the old one if I rig it up with a KVM switch or will the 64 bit architecture fuck about with the old one and interfere with it?

What, in your opinion, should I do ?

The easiest way is the USB cable / unknown cable route, but as I mentioned above, will it act just like an external hard drive or will there be something that interferes with that particular plan? namely the potential confusion regarding the same designated names for the two separate formatted drives.

So, to sum up then, KVM switch or double ended USB cable ... or something else?

Thanks

Fucking hell ... that was a close shave

I just tried method #2, with a USB cable, and I nearly blew my fucking computer up

I booted the old one up, but because it wasn't plugged into a monitor, I couldn't see what was happening in there, I think it booted into Mandriva because it does that by default after the timeout ... and there was no keyboard attached neither.

Next, I plugged a double ended USB cable into it and then plugged the other end into my new machine, which was running Mandriva 2009 64 ... and the fucking thing just shut down.

I unplugged the USB cable and rebooted it ... but it took about five minutes to boot ... I thought it was fucked, but it all seems okay, 'cept the internet was as slow as hell, but that's been the case all day so I don't think I fucked anything up, it's the broadcom wireless driver ... it's a tempremental bastard.

The Windows side works fine ... not slow.

So it would appear that method # 2 ain't a very good idea, unless perhaps I should have made sure it was running properly first (by plugging a screen and keyboard into it) before 'USBing' it into my new box?

Thoughts

I could really do with some advice here Scott ...

Right then, seeing as I enjoy talking to myself, this is what I am going to do.

I have ordered a KVM switch, so that is the route I shall be travelling.

However, new questions have arisen, namely ... when I get my rig up and running, how do I get the second machine to see the internet?

Will it share the same IP address as the one I have running now or will I need to create a new address?

Can I link the second machine to the first one with an ethernet cable instead, and negate the need for a new address? ...

... or ...

... will I need to equip it with it's own wireless card and create a separate account?

Lots of questions ... no answers

I want to use the second (old) machine as a server, my own personal server, so I can host anything that I want to ... Scott, you mentioned you were working on a mail server, that is what I am planning on doing with machine #2.

How are you setting it up?

Linux or Windows ... I take it you'll be using Apache and Mysql php server software ... ... how do you figure doing it?

Perhaps we could meet somewhere for a chat?

Please respond .......

Fuck, that was annoying! I'd almost finished typing my reply when I accidentally clicked the back button on my mouse and all was lost. I'd think about fixing that one if you can.

So, again in brief, because time marches on:

KVM good but you could have saved your self the expense.

Run "headless" using VNC!

Both need ethernet (whether wireless or wired)
then they can be connect through the router, a small switch, or crossover cable.
Don't bother with USB network.

Might have been better spending the money on networking.

I can't fix the mouse back button feature, I didn't write the site code, I just hired and customised it sorry.

However, I haven't ordered the KVM switch yet because machine #2 also needs a wireless card (I robbed the one it had and put it in the new one) so your remarks about VNC intrigued me.

There are several VNC (but no mention of 'headless') packages in the Mandriva RPM software manager, but I don't think that will work because the new machine has a 64bit distro and the old one is 32 (and is impossible to upgrade), having said that, I don't think you understood my dilemma properly, you see I can't network the two machines because I have only got one monitor, keyboard mouse etc ... hence the KVM switch ... so the real problem is the internet access for the old computer.

I will have to buy a new wireless card and create a new account (jason2@etc.com) which isn't a problem because the router can handle it, but if there where a way to join the two together with an ethernet cable instead, I wouldn't need a new wireless card or a new email account. Is this possible? I don't think it is because by switching from one computer to the other with a KVM switch, the connection would be lost because it wouldn't exist in the first place ... ... if you see what I mean ... ?

Besides, the VNC option won't work with XP, or will it? I don't really know. More research is required ...

VNC works with anything!

PC, Linux, MAC even UNIX.

I use x0rfbserver on Linux, UltraVNC on Windows.

You set the server to run at startup (after auto login Linux) and Bob's your whatsit!