How can I access my Mac hard drive files from remote location?

[stuman74]

I have a Mac Mini with an external hard drive attached. Without using a full screen share (like Chrome Remote Desktop or LogMeIn) or separate sync service (like Dropbox or Google Drive), I'd like to be able to access files on that drive when at work from time to time.

Is there a software or setting that would allow me to access the files on that home Mac? Ideally via web browser interface (an interface similar to DropBox or Google Drive would actually be ideal)? Thanks!

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.southrivertech.com/products/webdrive-mac/download/

Or use a ftp server and client, set it up as a remote access FTP server.

 

[stuman74]

http://www.southrivertech.com/products/webdrive-mac/download/

Or use a ftp server and client, set it up as a remote access FTP server.

Thanks for that link...I'll check it out.

Sounds like I first need to figure out how to grant remote FTP access to that drive too

 

[JackMDS]

Thanks for that link...I'll check it out.

Sounds like I first need to figure out how to grant remote FTP access to that drive too

When you install an App like WebDrive or ftp server you can configure it to which Drives and Folder/Directory would be working with the server, and even assign passwords, other Drives Folder/Directory would be blocked from the connection.

This is a very good ftp App. It has a client for Windows and OSX. Unfortunately its server is 0nly for Windows.

https://filezilla-project.org/

On a mac you can try this - http://osxdaily.com/2011/09/29/start-an-ftp-or-sftp-server-in-mac-os-x-lion/

http://mac-user-blog.blogspot.com/2012/08/enabling-ftp-on-with-mountain-lion.html

http://igerry.com/desktop/apple-os/enabling-ftp-server-os-x-mavericks.html

 

[stuman74]

Thank you for those links. However, I am still just not seeing how to FTP to my Mac Mini at home from a computer that is not on the local home network (i.e., when I am at work).

 

[JackMDS]

Read to the end.

http://www.howtogeek.com/192074/5-ways-to-access-your-pcs-files-over-the-internet/

-------------

This pages deals with VNC from remote toward the end there is info about connection from the Internet to home. The were written long time ago but the principles are still valid.

http://www.ezlan.net/myip.html

http://www.ezlan.net/vnc.html

 

[stuman74]

I found this too. Looks like it may do exactly what I am looking for.

https://pogoplug.com/remote

 

[JackMDS]

Why paying when this is Free.

https://www.teamviewer.com/hi/download/windows.aspx

 

[stuman74]

Why paying when this is Free.

https://www.teamviewer.com/hi/download/windows.aspx

Teamviewer and Chrome Remote Desktop are both great for controlling the screen from the other computer. But TeamViewer does not seem to allow file only access when using the web interface which is what I would have to use on our couple of Chromebooks in the house since there is no installer app available for those machines.

Also, that Pogoplug appears to be free with a 2TB Toshiba hard drive that I am eyeing at Best Buy. Never heard of it though until today.

 

[stuman74]

It's not lightning fast, but I think I'm going to continue for a couple weeks with the free trial of Pogoplug.

Attached is a diagram showing 2 different options of how I can connect my USB 3.0 media drive that will have the media files to then be accessed via the Pogoplug app that runs on my Mac Mini. Is option A or option B better than the other?

I know the bottleneck is that my Mac Mini isn't ethernet connected to the router, but it is what it is. But since I think the data has to pass through the Mac Mini in either configuration prior to being sent to the "cloud", does it matter which way I connect? Thanks!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3ts3nPxJMqdZ2J2RVVDbFNPT00/view?usp=sharing

 

[mxnerd]

SoftEther, Free. Windows, Mac OS X, Linux support.

https://www.softether.org

9 times the speed of OpenVPN according to the their own claim.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Your router may have a VPN server built in, which would allow you remote access to your entire LAN, not just your Mac's files.