HKR Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 I am trying to see what would be the best possible way to access the unRaid server from outside of my home network, say through VPN, or remote browser access etc? I would like to be able to achieve this with the minimalistic software installation possible( dont want to install softwares of every PC i want to access the server from). Quote Link to comment
NAS Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 VPN on your router is the best way IMO 1 Quote Link to comment
archedraft Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 OpenVPN on your router. Yes you have to install the openVPN program on the laptop(s)/tablet(s) that will be connecting to the VPN but you only have to do that once. Worst case you need to access a file on your server but don't have a computer with openvpn installed, so connect with your smartphone and Remote Desktop from your phone into a local computer and move the file you need into a program like dropbox and access the file from there (I've done that more than a few times). Quote Link to comment
ars92 Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 You could also install the openvpn app on your phone,and then use a file manager app to access the files,which is easier than using the remote desktop method. But yeah an openvpn server on the router is the best way to access the files remotely. Asus routers are the best for this Quote Link to comment
archedraft Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 use a file manager app to access the files,which is easier than using the remote desktop method. But much less cool when showing friends. With RDP it's like "yeah that's right, I'm logged into my home computer, bet you wish you could do the same on this tiny smartphone screen." Quote Link to comment
HKR Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 I understand the risk involved in this, however i would like to have it atleast to be able to add torrents to transmission remotely and at times when i need to grab imp files off server. Quote Link to comment
trurl Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I understand the risk involved in this, however i would like to have it atleast to be able to add torrents to transmission remotely and at times when i need to grab imp files off server. Practically no risk if you do OpenVPN on your router as suggested. Only those with the certificate and password can get in. Is that not an option for you? Quote Link to comment
HKR Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 I have a netgear WNDR4500 router, however my internet line is connected to a cheapo modem as the netgear is a wifi only router. So the connection goes like this: tel line>> modem >> netgear router> router to all other devices. Now my question: 1) Do i need to forward ports on modem and router as well? 2) My router has a built in Dynamic DNS option, but i can use dyndns only (i dont mind paying for it if it works) 3) My router has VPN/PPTP option as well. I enabled the dynamicDNS option and put in my username and pass for dyndns account however if i try to go to the hostname i created on their site it prompts me with a login prompt, the logins to which i dont know and i also dont know as to what the login promt is for? Quote Link to comment
skyhawk Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Can anyone recommend a good router to get for this? Well, preferably something $25-75. I know there are some decent ddwrt options out there, but some cant handle openvpn. I will be out of town for work for 4 months straight, and need to be able to log into unraid to handle downloads for the wife. I currently have ATT uverse and the crappy 2wire gateway with built in wireless. Quote Link to comment
archedraft Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I have a netgear WNDR4500 router, however my internet line is connected to a cheapo modem as the netgear is a wifi only router. So the connection goes like this: tel line>> modem >> netgear router> router to all other devices. Now my question: 1) Do i need to forward ports on modem and router as well? 2) My router has a built in Dynamic DNS option, but i can use dyndns only (i dont mind paying for it if it works) 3) My router has VPN/PPTP option as well. I enabled the dynamicDNS option and put in my username and pass for dyndns account however if i try to go to the hostname i created on their site it prompts me with a login prompt, the logins to which i dont know and i also dont know as to what the login promt is for? 1. If you setup an openVPN server, I don't believe you need to open a port. 2. A dynamic DNS would be great if your ISP does not give you a static IP (most ISP's don't give static IP's) 3. If you can I would strongly recommend using openVPN. It is very secure. If you use PPTP your encrypted data can be easily broken into if the person trying to access your data knows what they are doing. That said, if your choice is to use PPTP or open a port, I would use PPTP (well actually if it was me I would setup a spare computer with pfsense and then use my spare wifi router to broadcast the wifi throughout my house and then use openVPN). Quote Link to comment
archedraft Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Can anyone recommend a good router to get for this? Well, preferably something $25-75. I know there are some decent ddwrt options out there, but some cant handle openvpn. I will be out of town for work for 4 months straight, and need to be able to log into unraid to handle downloads for the wife. I currently have ATT uverse and the crappy 2wire gateway with built in wireless. Well the ATT uverse complicates things. You have to setup the Uverse box to pass through the network to another router (which can be done but has its down sides). I setup an old Dell tower with pfsense to handle my openVPN traffic. It was a pentium 4 and could handle sending my openVPN traffic at 80 Mbps. That is your best option if you have a spare machine lying around and know enough about home routing to get the pfsense machine setup. Quote Link to comment
switchman Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 can you put the 2-wire into a mode where it is a modem only? I recently retired my Asus RT-N16 solution where I used OpenVPN built into tomato. It worked fine. If I was buying now, I would go with the ASUS RT-N66U. Only reason I changed is my line speed exceeds the capabilities of the RT-N16. It was a very stable solution. Either solution would work fine with speeds of xDSL. One issue, I had to store the certificates on a USB thumb drive as there was not enough NVRAM. Quote Link to comment
archedraft Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 can you put the 2-wire into a mode where it is a modem only? Short Answer: Yes Semi-Longer Answer: It depends on which 2-wire router ATT supplied you with (some have the option to go to modem only but I think most newer versions do not have this feature). I helped a friend get around this and it worked for the most part (although getting his Plex port open was a PITA). Personally, I would drop AT&T like it's hott and get anything else. Preferably a provider that just supplies a modem. Long Answer: Google is your friend Quote Link to comment
skyhawk Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 can you put the 2-wire into a mode where it is a modem only? Personally, I would drop AT&T like it's hott and get anything else. Preferably a provider that just supplies a modem. Potentially moving after my 4 months away (govt job and 80% chance of relocation after training) so not looking to complicate things and get another ISP at the moment. Plus my only other option is comcast, and they have an enforced 250GB monthly cap, which I would flirt with. Quote Link to comment
archedraft Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Potentially moving after my 4 months away (govt job and 80% chance of relocation after training) so not looking to complicate things and get another ISP at the moment. Plus my only other option is comcast, and they have an enforced 250GB monthly cap, which I would flirt with. Hmm, well then I don't blame you for sticking with AT&T. I wouldn't pick a service with a monthly cap out of principle (it's ridiculous IMHO). Quote Link to comment
DoeBoye Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Any thoughts on TeamViewer? I've used it to remotely administer an unRaid server on another PC as well as on my phone, and it works flawlessly... Only downside is you need a pc on the same network to be on... unless there is a plugin for unRaid?... Quote Link to comment
skyhawk Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Any thoughts on TeamViewer? I've used it to remotely administer an unRaid server on another PC as well as on my phone, and it works flawlessly... Only downside is you need a pc on the same network to be on... unless there is a plugin for unRaid?... this is my other option. I already use it extensively. i have a few old laptops lying around. i might just throw one in the closet and leave it on. cheaper then buying a router. I tried installing openvpn server on my unraid machine, but hit some snags. (wouldnt this work just the same?) Quote Link to comment
HKR Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 I was able to do this by setting up my modem to be a dumb switch and my Netgear router to do the PPOE dialing and then port forwarding gets easy as well, since you have to forward the port on your router only. Now only need to figure out on how i can add some security to the server to prevent intrusion. Although i just needed to access the server from outside for FTP transfers and transmission. Quote Link to comment
JonathanM Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I was able to do this by setting up my modem to be a dumb switch and my Netgear router to do the PPOE dialing and then port forwarding gets easy as well, since you have to forward the port on your router only. Now only need to figure out on how i can add some security to the server to prevent intrusion. You have the cart before the horse. Opening up unraid and then trying to secure it after the fact pretty much guarantees a hacked network. Quote Link to comment
archedraft Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I was able to do this by setting up my modem to be a dumb switch and my Netgear router to do the PPOE dialing and then port forwarding gets easy as well, since you have to forward the port on your router only. Now only need to figure out on how i can add some security to the server to prevent intrusion. You have the cart before the horse. Opening up unraid and then trying to secure it after the fact pretty much guarantees a hacked network. +1, I would really reconsider opening up a port to unRAID. It might be the easiest solution but is it worth someone hacking into your machine and causing havoc? When that happens the amount of time it would have taken to setup a VPN will seem like a no brainier. Quote Link to comment
HKR Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 I was just looking into possiblities on how to do this, since i was not able to forward ports sucessfully, the method i used to do it seemed to work that is why i posted here I am looking into setting up VPN and doing this, however would a VPN work over the phone/tablet if i want to access the server? Quote Link to comment
trurl Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I was just looking into possiblities on how to do this, since i was not able to forward ports sucessfully, the method i used to do it seemed to work that is why i posted here I am looking into setting up VPN and doing this, however would a VPN work over the phone/tablet if i want to access the server? I have OpenVPN on my ASUS router and OpenVPN on my android tablet and phone. Works great. ASUS also provides free DDNS. Quote Link to comment
HKR Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 My Netgear WNDR4500 does have PPTP/VPN forwarding, however i dont know how to use it? Is it the same as openvpn? Quote Link to comment
archedraft Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 My Netgear WNDR4500 does have PPTP/VPN forwarding, however i dont know how to use it? Is it the same as openvpn? No, PPTP and openVPN are not the same. PPTP is less secure as it uses older protocols which can be decrypted if that someone knows what they are doing. I would advise using openVPN if at all possible; however, if your choices are only PPTP or open a port, use PPTP. You will find on some websites that only PPTP is the only VPN that works on mobile devices but that is outdated. I have used openVPN on my apple devices for well over a year now and it works great. Here is a comparison: https://www.finchvpn.com/compare Quote Link to comment
HKR Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 I just want to clear one thing, if i setup VPN on my router or setup a OpenVPN server on the unRaid server, i would need to use a OpenVPN client on another PC before i can login to the unRaid server right? If so does your iPhone need an app as well to connect to the server? Quote Link to comment
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