Warning: Noob questions on samba and networking

[Xargon]

Hello.
I got a bubba and a home network rigged with the following:
- Laptop (Windows XP)
- Desktop (Windows XP)
- HTPC (Windows XP Media Center)
- Bubba
- Powerline ethernet + Wlan

The network is rigged by using a standard Windows workgroup in network settings and then sharing local disks on my PC´s.

Question 1: Is this an optimal network setup or should i do something else ti get a high speed LAN?

Question 2: How do I activate SAMBA?

Question 3: My 750Gb HDD included in bubba is making some noice (sounds like a fan and vibrations) is there any way to regulate this HDD so it enters standby mode when not used?

Question 4: How do I change the root password i.e "excito" used in ssh login using the su-command?

BR,
Martin

[Pressurized]

1. I don't know much about ethernet by plugs. If they give the required speed, fair enough. A better network configuration may be to have all your documents held on the bubba, which will always be on, and shared through Samba. This way any PC will be able to access them whether or not other PCs are on. Bubba may or may not, however, be fast enough to stream video to the Media Centre; it may be better to keep video on it.

2. Samba is already running on bubba. Match the bubba users set up through the bubba web interface (names and passwords) and the shares on Samba will be set up to suit. Getting a good set up takes a bit of thought and effort. I can send you details of what I do. How happy are you about learning Linux?

3. Yes, search this site but Excito's advice is to have the HDD always spinning as spin-ups and downs are considered to be more wearing than always running the device. They say that network activity would make for quite a lot of starts and stops. Maybe the drive will quieten as it runs in.

4. If you have logged in to a secure shell (Putty). Become the superuser with 'su' and enter the password 'excito'. The command line prompt will include a '#'. It's '$' when you're an ordinary user. The command 'passwd' changes the password of the current user ('root' if you did the command 'su').

[Xargon]

Thank a lot!
I have bubba to hold all my files (music, video and photos) so that setup is done. I also managed to open and portforward so i can play my music from work and access my photos wherever i am

Now, that Samba thing, I have great speed when accessing bubba from my MS workgroup so if Samba is not a faster way I´ll just leave that one.

Again,
thx for helping out.

BR, Martin