How to use a USB Data Transfer Cable in Trisquel

These directions are applicable for at least Trisquel 10 using our USB-A 3.0 Data Transfer Cable for GNU/Linux (TPE-3TRANCBL). If you need directions for other versions of Trisquel contact support.


Computer 1: On the new system open the Synaptic Package Manager, install openssh-sftp-server, and setup the data transfer cable network connection

1. From the Trisquel menu go to System > Administration and open the Software Updater. Run through and make sure the packages on the system are up to date. Then go to System > Administration again and open the Synaptic Package Manager, click the Reload button to update the package metadata, then search for openssh-sftp-server, click on openssh-sftp-server, then select Mark for Installation, click the Mark button to confirm the additional required changes, the Apply button, and the Apply button again to confirm the changes. Close the Synaptic Package Manager. Restart the computer.

2. Plug in one end of the Data Transfer Cable to a USB 3.0 port (preferably, usually blue) or USB 2.0 port if a 3.0 port is unavailable

3. Go to the network applet in the top right corner and under the Ethernet section (click it) select Wired Settings

4. Click the cog wheel button under where it says USB Ethernet and under the Identity tab enter Data Transfer Cable in the Name box followed by selecting the Shared to other computers option under the IPv4 tab and click Apply

5. From the network applet click the ethernet option and connect

6. While in the network applet disconnect from any other wireless or wired network connections

Computer 2: On the old/other system open Add/Remove Applications, install Filezilla, and connect

1. From the Trisquel menu go to Add/Remove Applications and search for Filezilla, check the box for Filezilla, click the Apply Changes, and the Apply button to confirm the changes, enter your login password and click the Authenticate button to install Filezilla, and finally open Filezilla by going to the Trisquel menu > Internet > FileZilla

2. Go to the network applet in the lower right corner and disconnect from any wireless connections

3. Plug in the other end of the Data Transfer Cable to a USB 3.0 port (preferably, usually blue) or USB 2.0 port if a 3.0 port is unavailable


4. When connecting the Data Transfer Cable the default behavior in Trisquel is to connect to the new network, but if nothing happens you can also create a new network connection by following steps 3-11 minus steps 8-9 as was done with in the instructions for Computer 1

5. Back in Filezilla you will need to enter the Host name or IP address of Computer 1, which should be 10.0.42.1 although you can verify this by going to the Network Applet in the lower right of Computer 1 > Connection Information > Data Transfer Cable tab and copying the IPv4 IP Address to Filezilla's Host name box

6. In Filezilla's Username box you will need to enter the login username you use on Computer 1

7. In Filezilla's Password box you will need to enter the password the login username you use on Computer 1

8. In Filezilla's port box you can enter the default sftp port of 22

9. Now click the Quickconnect button in Filezilla (accept any security or other prompts to connect)

10. You can now drag and drop files and folders from the local computer (Computer 2) to the remote computer (Computer 1)

There is one last thing that is generally a good idea to do. After transferring your files to a new computer remove openssh-sftp-server. This is mostly a security precaution as anyone can get into your machine remotely if your not utilizing a strong enough password. To remove openssh-sftp-server click on the Trisquel menu icon in the lower left of the screen and go to System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager, enter your login password, then search for openssh-sftp-server, and click on the green checkbox next to openssh-sftp-server, select Mark for Removal, click the Mark button to confirm changes, then click the Apply button, and the Apply button again to confirm the changes.