lan file browsing anf folder sync

I have a homepc and a laptop. I have connected them using crossover cable. Both are dual booting with winxp and mepis. I could connect and browse folders in other machine in winxp. While both are in mepis, I could not ping other machine. With help from this site I disabled gaurddog. I could ping other machine. But I couldn't browse folders in other machine using lan:/ in Konq as I could do in mandrake.
1)What should I do so that I can browse folders in other machine.
2)I want to use unison to sync folders. How to know whether sshd is running and how to use ssh for file sync?