I've plugged my modem and more than one computer into an Ethernet switch, so that any computer plugged into the switch can use my Internet connection. On a couple of occasions, I've wanted to transfer a file from one of the plugged-in computers to another (both using Linux) and have been able to do so via ssh. A few days ago, I learnt about Woof: http://enterprise.linux.com/print.pl?sid=07/02/07/2118208, and decided to try it instead of ssh. I followed the instructions in the document and got the transferor computer to announce that it was serving, on a specified URL, the file I wanted to transfer. However, when I tried to go to that URL using Opera on the transferee computer, all I got was the hour glass; nothing else happened. I then tried wget instead. Then, I got the output "connecting to" the specified URL, but again nothing else happened. I'm satisfied that the connection problem isn't a firewall one. The transferor computer uses Firestarter and it gives no indication that it's refusing the attempted connection from the transferee computer. I've just installed the OS on the transferee computer and haven't yet added a firewall. Opera and wget both work otherwise than when I try to connect to the transferor computer. What other reasons might there be for the transferee computer not to connect to the transferor one?