Access Freenas from anywhere?

[Epicness35]

hi,

I am a real noob and I want to know if it is possible to access files from your Freenas ever from anywhere in the world with Internet. I looked into the make of use webpage on it, but it uses DynDNS, which I saw is not free. I would like a free option, and I would like the most secure option. Could you guys help me out?

 

[nightshade00013]

I use FreeDNS.affraid.org

Works perfect for me, the only thing that didn't want to work was the automatic refresh feature in FreeNAS but what I found is it was easy to just run a simple command in cron to make it update.

Basically it's:

Code:

wget http://[USERNAME]:[PASSWORD]@freedns.afraid.org/nic/update?hostname=[DOMAIN]&myip=[IP]

Once you setup an account and create a Dynamic DNS entry there is a link that says "Direct URL" right click on it then copy, put "wget" in front of it as the "Command" then have it run at regular intervals. I have mine at 3 hours just in case there is an update though it's not that likely for my stuff and it really won't matter a ton.

As far as exposing your FreeNAS to the internet so you can access files, it's not the greatest idea. Setup OpenVPN in a jail and access it that way. The client will connect and you can browse the files the same as if you were in the same room using CIFS or whatever you have it set to. I do this with my tablet and was running tests on my new drives from 150 miles away over some motel WiFi connection.

 

[pirateghost]

hi,

I am a real noob and I want to know if it is possible to access files from your Freenas ever from anywhere in the world with Internet.

With these 2 statements, you should rethink this.

 

[Epicness35]

Hi,
Where do I find Direct URL?

 

[Mirfster]

With these 2 statements, you should rethink this.

Agreed, I have the feeling this is not going to end well.

I am a real noob and I want to know if it is possible to access files from your Freenas ever from anywhere in the world with Internet.

Perhaps consider OwnCloud? I have not used it personally, but it may fit the bill? Are you wanting just you to access files or others? Your statement is a bit vague....

 

[Epicness35]

Ok, so I am not a real noob, I am just unfamiliar with the security of using an SSH or other type of file accessing, like FTP, and I am not sure which program to use, as I was expecting that DYNDNS would have been free.

I do have knowledge on computers and FreeNas

 

[Epicness35]

And, I want a way to access my files on my FreeNAS server anywhere in the world so I can download the files and upload them. I also would like the most secure option, as I have heard that your files can become accessible to people.

 

[Spearfoot]

If you just want to transfer files and administer the FreeNAS system with a remote shell, you can use WinSCP and PuTTY respectively. You'll have to configure SSH (port 22) securely on your gateway/router/firewall, which can be bit of a trick, as port 22 is well known, and hackers will hack on it. But if you set it up to only allow connections using public key cryptography, you should be okay.

If you want to stream video or use shares, that's another kettle of fish and you'll need to consider a VPN or something similar.

 

[Epicness35]

And I will be able to download and upload files, right?

And how would I access files from another computer, would I need a FTP on that computer as well?

 

[Epicness35]

Another computer that is not on my local network, that is.

 

[Spearfoot]

WinSCP and PuTTY are programs you will install on your laptop (assuming it runs Windows). WinSCP takes the place of an FTP client and PuTTY provides a shell for executing commands. Both use software subsystems that are installed on every FreeNAS server: particularly the SSH (secure shell) subsystem.

To access your FreeNAS server from outside your local network, you will need to know the public/WAN IP address of your home network's gateway. And you will need to configure your gateway/router/firewall to allow access to port 22 (for SSH access). You will need to forward port 22 traffic to your FreeNAS system, probably via NAT. And you will need to configure FreeNAS to accept public key encrypted sessions from your laptop. Once all that's in place, you can connect to your FreeNAS server from anywhere in the world using your laptop.

This network setup stuff is a little beyond the scope of our humble FreeNAS support forum, but you will probably find useful posts here dealing with it, and the web is full of examples as well. The manual for your gateway/router/firewall will be indispensable, and your favorite search engine will provide scads of examples if you have add'l questions.

 

[Robert Smith]

With these 2 statements, you should rethink this.

Why did you have to go and say this? I was looking forward towards flipping through OP's vacation pictures; I heard his girlfriend was hot.

And you will need to configure your gateway/router/firewall to allow access to port 22 (for SSH access).

That seems like a dangerous way to go. I would recommend at least creating a Virtual Private Network (VPN), and not exposing FreeNAS to the Internet directly.

 

[Spearfoot]

Why did you have to go and say this? I was looking forward towards flipping through OP's vacation pictures; I heard his girlfriend was hot.

That seems like a dangerous way to go. I would recommend at least creating a Virtual Private Network (VPN), and not exposing FreeNAS to the Internet directly.

Agreed! :)

But configuring SSH to prevent password-based logins, only allowing sessions via public key crytography, seemed like a good place to start for someone without a lot of network experience.