Configure Bluetooth PAN between keyboard-less/GUI-less Ubuntu server and Kubuntu laptop

Question

I want to configure a Bluetooth PAN between an Ubuntu server and my laptop (Kubuntu). Does anyone have any pointers on how to accomplish this?

I've plugged in a USB Bluetooth dongle and I'm not sure where to go from here. The output of lsusb shows the device:

Bus 003 Device 003: ID 0a12:0001 Cambridge Silicon Radio, Ltd Bluetooth Dongle (HCI mode)

---

The reason:

I have set up an HTPC based on Ubuntu Server. It only has WiFi connectivity because getting CAT5 to it is not worth the effort.

I want to mess around with various WiFi settings, but still have an alternate method of SSH'ing to the box when I inevitably break the WiFi, hence I figured Bluetooth PAN should do the trick.

Answer 1

Have you already read this? Here's a paste from the relevant section (I think):

Here's an example:

To connect a PANU node (00:37:5C:67:D3:01) with a GN (00:37:5C:67:D3:02), BlueZ must be operational on both sides. The GN must be able to run as Bluetooth master (see above).

Enter # modprobe bnep

on both nodes. Then enter # pand --listen --role GN

on the GN side.

After that, you you can connect from the PANU side: # pand --connect 00:37:5C:67:D3:02

In case of problems, the system log files under /var/log/ (i.e. 'messages' and 'warn') may give you further information about the cause of failure.

Note that it is a good idea to start 'pand' as server on the GN (or NAP, respectively) rather than the PANU, since then you have a consistent access scheme from any possible PANU. When you do so, 'pand' permanently listens for connection attempts from other nodes, thus becomes resident. In case you have only one PANU, however, you may also swap roles and start 'pand' as server (i.e. using the '--listen' parameter) on the PANU side, and connect from the GN (or NAP) side.

EDIT: Just found Blueman, a graphical bluetooth manager for dialup networking, bluetooth audio, pairing and so on.