Connecting to a NAS remotely

vandal31593

New Member
Hello everyone,

This is my first time here and this is one problem thats been on my nerves for the past couple of days. I just recently bought a NAS Enclosure. It's a Vantec Nexstar LX Enclosure with FTP and SMB server. With this enclosure, i bought a 500GB WD Hard drive.

I installed the HD, connected it to my router (d-link DIR-625) and powered it up. This is a great little device and the setup and configuration is all online so no software. I got the ip address of the NAS, which was, in this case 192.168.0.125. I could connect to it locally via FTP with Firefox, Internet explorer, and cyberduck ftp. Everything works great locally. So then i researched on getting this drive up on the internet. And before anyone asks, No, i am not using this drive as a game server or anything else. I want to set it up to the internet so my dad can access his design files from his work, and when i need files for emergency. So i researched and i found out that my isp (Bell Canada) blocks port 21. And then i searched more and heard about DynDns.com. I registered, and setup a Dynamic DNS. The problem that happened there was, I put in the local ip of the NAS in the ip address field. So, thinking it worked, i could access all files via ftp client and everything and a day later, i asked my friend to test it out. It didnt work. And then i knew what the problem was. DynDns was taking the local address and just redirecting to a domain. So only the computers on my network could go to the domain and see the NAS. I need to know how to give this NAS access to the internet. When i try making a Dynamic Dns with my internet ip, assigned by my ISP, it just leads me to the Bell Modem set up page. and when i try to access a lower directory from that ip address, it redirects me to my modems local address (192.168.2.1)

Here is how my network looks like:

isp--->modem--->router--->NAS Device
--->My Pc
--->my mac(wireless)
--->dad's pc(wireless)
--->brother's pc(wireless)

So, my simple question is, how in the world can i access that NAS device remotely(FTP) from any computer connected to the internet. You don't know how long I've been searching for this simple question.


Thanks a LOT,
Hadi Mirza
 
You need to put your external IP into the dyndns setting, and use an auto updater (usually built into your router) to update this record when the IP changes from time to time.

You then need to port forward port 21 in your router to the NAS's IP 192.168.0.125.

Then, assuming your ISP IS NOT blocking port 21, you can then type ftp://your_dyndns to access your shares.

I am not familiar with your router so can't advise how to do the port forwarding - ir may be under NAT, Firewall Rules etc etc.
 
I have the auto updater for the DDNS in my router. and when you say external ip, you mean the ip the ISP assigns my modem? I tried putting the ip the ISP assigns me into the DynDns, and when i went to the domain i chose, it only showed me my modem configuration, like login and connection information. When i replace the http with ftp, i get 503 invalid user.
 
ok, so i set up the dyndns for my external ip and i set up port forwarding for 192.168.0.125 on TCP 21 and UDP 21. and i set up the DDNS for it to automatically update. But it still isnt working when i go to ftp://my_dyndns. I get a "503 invalid user" error.
 
I'm also trying the D-link Dynamic Dns. it says:

Hostname myhostname.dlinkddns.com
Browser IP Address **.**.***.***
New IP Address "?"

The browser address is unchangable and that is the ip assigned by my ISP. For the new IP address field, what do i put. This is where i get stuck. Im trying to navigate to the NAS which is in a lower directory from the modem. So i dont know what the "Internet" IP address for the NAS device is.
 
have you tryed my computer. in ie go to your ftp and then hit page and hit like open in my computer. or something like that
 
if your router supports DD-WRT firmware you can mount SMB shares directly into the router, and run apache on your router.

For more info check out

www.dd-wrt.com

How do i find out if my router is supported or not?

EDIT:
Nevermind i found it. But it doesnt support my router.

Isn't there ANY other way to make this NAS appear on the internet?
 
Last edited:
Back
Top