Linux Windows co-exist : How to

[Gagan Indus]

Hi
I new to linux and lately installed Redhat 8.0 distribution and must admit i 'm thrilled to say the least.
Apparently, i want to learn n deploy more of usable features of linux now and to hav it effectively co-exist with my current setup.I hav certain queries regarding tht :
( all queries refer to a multi-boot system with win98, winXP and red-hat linux )
1.) How can i access files on my win98/winXp partitions ( FAT32 ones ). My specific requirement is i want to edit MS_Word files currently present in win98 partition using OpenOffice Writer.
2.) How can i go the other way round, reading linux-files from windows, that is.
3.) Is there any way to run applications across both platforms. Like run win32 apps from linux, or run linux-apps from windows. ( I suspect WINE has something to do with this ). I specifically need to run a java IDE, JCreater, which is win32 app.
4.) How do i get my now linux-machine on already existing windows LAN. Like, i 'll love it to show in 'network neighbourhood' from other windows machine, share files and printer, and also hav such a functionality itself. ( i suspect Samba deals with this prob, not sure tho )
5.) Where do i go to learn more ab' setting LAN of Linux machines ( about 22 in number ). And how can i make this network communicate with windows LAN setup i already have, communication need to be both ways ; tht is windows machine should see linux ones, n linux ones shld be able to see windows one. i guess this question is related to 4th question.
6.) What tools/techniques/technologies should i concentrate on learning n how to learn them ( any URLs r welcome ) to make my linux-experince effective and efficient. Like should i learn more of shell-programming, or administrative-features or what. My primary goals are; to get everyday work done on linux machine ( everyday work invovles emailing, word processing etc), second goal is to develop n configure tomcat web-applications, and also develop intranet-apps.

i know answers are out there, the reason why i am asking questions here instead of searching web is tht i hate to start blank, because i know i am not the first to face this set of problems, and by now many of us already have the knowledge of best solutions to these problems.
Any suggestions/solutions/pointers-to-solutions will be much appericiated. Also, any tips for linux-novice are very welcome.
thankx n regards

[SJ Adnams]

1)I think you should be able to mount a FAT32 partition.
2) More tricky. Better using 2 PC's and use samba/ftp etc.
3) At work I am stuck with Win2k so run cygwin/XFree86.
4) Yup samba
5) AFAIK Linux does not have NIS+, Linux is still a few steps behind here. Maybe someone else can answer this one.
6)vi

[Ashik Uzzaman]

Gagan, so you are here in the world of Linux! Welcome.... I have just started Linux so don't know how much I can help. Let me try.
1) You can mount your windows drives so that Linux can access them. I installed Red Hat 7.3 and mounted all the windows drives, so getting no problem to access them.
2) & 3) I am not sure whether reading Linux files are possible from Windows normally. There are some Linux Windows bridging software that let you use Windows applications from linux. Like VMWare, Win4Linux. But I don't know of any software to do the reverse. Probably Lindows or simulators of Linux in Windows (I forgot one's name) can do it.

6) I have pointed out to work with OpenOffice and as a replacement of Outlook Express, Ximian. Downloaded java SDK for Linux and moving with a 2-and-half year old book "Java Programming On Linux" --- remember. "Old is Gold"!
The rest upto time now.
Wish you a good journey in Linux.

[Greg Harris]

4) How do i get my now linux-machine on already existing windows LAN. Like, i 'll love it to show in 'network neighbourhood' from other windows machine, share files and printer, and also hav such a functionality itself. ( i suspect Samba deals with this prob, not sure tho )

i set up a network (redhat 8 desktop and a sony vaio laptop with win98) a couple weeks ago... i think the easiest way is to do it is to give your windows LAN access to your linux box.
i started out using DHCP to dynamically assign IP's to my win98 laptop when it logged onto the linux server... but for some reason that is not working now.
so, i assigned a static IP to my laptop and created an account on my linux box with that IP, username and password for the laptop.
now, as for the samba set up... i would recommend using "SWAT" to handle the configuration. you can open a browser and type "http: // localhost:901" in the address and SWAT will come up in the browser (if it is installed).
the samba configuration file is really big, so if you are not comfortable with editing config files yet, SWAT is the way to go. however, the samba config file is very well documented, so you should not have a problem figuring it out after a little reading.
as for giving your windows box access to the linux files... you have to create "shares" on the linux box. kind of like "sharing" in windows. i found the easiest way to do it is to save the files you want to be "shared" in the directory for the windows machine. when you create the new user under samba, you will create a user account on the linux box. that will give you a new directory and the windows box will be able to save and read files there (when you set up the permissions).
i am working on setting up my linux box as an FTP server, so i will post my story when i figure it out.

[Gagan Indus]

Thankx Simon, Ashik and Greg !
That helped a lot.
got FAT32 partitions mounted , got WINE installed , learning vi, working on Samba..... and the rest..