contacting home network from afar...

markmarkymark · 23-10-2006, 21:14

Hi All

I am not too good with this networking lark - wonder if you could give me some advice. Most of what I want is working fine, there is just one thing left to sort.

Basically I have a windows XP system hard wired into a Belkin wireless router - this is then plugged into cable modem. I also have a wireless laptop which I take away from home often.

The home network works fine - I can see files on the main PC and can move them about - no probs.

I have now bought a SmartDISk SOHO NAS drive. I really wanted this for backup (had some scares recently!). However its also got some neat networking ability which is good too. It is currently plugged into the router and I can see it as a network device on both the main PC and the laptop.

I have also managed to 'Map Drives' so that I have access to the soho drive from both PC and laptop. The great thing about this is that I now have access to the same files which are backed up. It means I can work on either PC on the same files.

The SmartDisk also has a server function. Whilst it sits behind the router I have forwarded the ports etc so that it effectively can be accessed from outside the network (i.e. remotely). I have two safeguards in place - 1) pass word access to the networked hard drive (actually only a certain folder), and 2) Specific MAC address permissions (so the router will only allow access form a PC it knows - i.e. my laptop).

So far so good.

I have managed to access my files from afar using ftp on my laptop. Using FTP I have managed to download and upload files from the networked drive from another workplace. This is useful as I now have access to my files remotely.

Its the final piece of the jigsaw I am not sure about. What I effectively want to do is to 'Map a Drive' on my lap top which allows me access to my network drive. Whilst I can use FTP (as noted above), the mapped drive would be neater. It of course works when the laptop is on the home network (same network after all).

My hunch is that I need to VPN my networked drive somehow so the laptop thinks its on my home network. Is this something I can set up easily or not? Or is there anything else I can do? Basically if I can use FTP (by supplying an IP plus password etc) then there must be a simple way (!) of mapping the networked drive remotely - or perhaps not?

Advice would be great!

regards

Mark

DocDutch · 23-10-2006, 21:58

well you could try and setup a VPN network, but its quite alot of hassle really imho for what you want to do. just stick to FTP and when you get home again sort the folders out a bit.

Aragorn · 23-10-2006, 22:14

I'm with Doc - setting up a VPN would be a mare and trying to open up Windows file sharing (NetBios/SMB) would be like inviting the hackers in for tea.
As it stands you got a pretty good chance of making all your files available to the world and allowing perves the use of your file server - ftp is notoriously insecure - the standard FTP client transmits clear text passwords and spoofing a MAC address isn't difficult.
It may be handy having access across the net but be careful about what you're sharing!