Remote File Access Using WHS

[dmw16]

I will be working on the road for the next 3 months and I'd like to be able to access my files remotely (crack pr0n joke now ).

So anyway, I was thinking of building a file server using WHS and I was wondering what my best options are for accessing files remotely? I'd also love to be able to setup a way to download torrents onto my file server remotely. I guess I'd need remote access for that.

What are my options and security implications?

 

[USAFdude02]

Well what you can do it a port forward for you remote desktop. If you have XP Pro or Vista Primium or Ultimate. The data is encrypted. You just setup a port forward...lets say port 15000. So on the outside you would say send any incoming transmissions on port 15000 to my computers IP address port 3389.

 

[JackMDS]

You can use Remoter Desktop (VPN)

UltraVNC (AES Encryption)

LogmeIn (Encrypted).

The all three works ther are some minor pro and con to each.

LogmeIn easy to use.

UltaVNC most flexible but takes more tim for the initial setup.

Remote Desk Top inbetween the two above.

http://www.wegotserved.co.uk/w...to_Windows_Home_Server

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

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

 

[mc866]

WHS has a built in option that allows you to log in remotely and access your files as long as you have a router that supports it.

 

[dmw16]

What kind of router do I need? I have to use the crappy ActionLink router that FiOS came with. What should I look for?

What about accessing remotely from OSX?

I assume for file transfers I could just use FTP, but remote control requires something else.

 

[alevasseur14]

It's just much easier if WHS can auto-configure the router. If it can't, you can still manually set up the router and get remote access configured.

If you haven't already, check out www.wegotserved.co.uk. They have a bunch of add-ins you can install on the server (I believe uTorrent is one) and how tos. Their forums are also a big help.

 

[Griffinhart]

Originally posted by: dmw16
What kind of router do I need? I have to use the crappy ActionLink router that FiOS came with. What should I look for?

What about accessing remotely from OSX?

I assume for file transfers I could just use FTP, but remote control requires something else.

Your Actiontech router supplied by Verizon will work fine. As long as your router has UPnP enabled you're good to go.

I use WHS myself and I connect to it all the time from work. The main caveat is that if you wish to use the remote desktop part your OS must support it. So you need XP Pro, Vista Business or Vista Ultimate on the machine you want to remote desktop to. You can access files on any system though. It works pretty well over all.

 

[JackMDS]

Windows Home Server has to way of remote

Locally (inside the LAN) there is a Connector CD.

However through the interent one of the method that I mentioned in my first posat has to be used.

Router with UPnP would configure itself automatically.

However many people consider the use of UPnP as unsafe (I keep the UPnP on all my Routers Off).

For manual configuration see here. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944993

If One uses UltraVNC, then the ports of the Remote DeskTop do not need to be forward, instead port 5800 and 5900 need to be forward.

For LogMeIn follow their instructions.

 

[tomt4535]

I ran a WHS off my actiontech FiOS router a little while ago, and it worked fine. UPnP does everything you need for you and works with WHS perfect

 

[JackMDS]

As Public service.

UPnP "advertises" what services are available on the local network (provided those services are UPnP). This can be seen as both a privacy and security problem.

It is relatively easy to gain access to a Router with UPnP on and to change the DNS Passwords and other settings of the Router.

Especially these days that almost all Router are Wireless Router if the Wireless left Open it can bne done by any one in the neighborhood

In environments where security is a priority, it is Recommend to disable UPnP.

I would suggest to at least read this before making afinal decesion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Plug_and_Play

 

[dmw16]

Thanks. FWIW my wireless is turned off on my action link router. I use a Linksys router with WEP to provide my wireless internet.