Hello,
I’m new to this forum but I’ve been recently using my cloud (not my cloud home) for quite some time and it’s been working pretty well so far. I’m just wondering if someone can help me set this up so that I can actually access my cloud when I’m out of network. I heard about port forwarding (I’m not that tech-savvy) but I don’t know if that will help me with what I want to do. So in my cloud, I have video game files (ROMs) and my hope is to be able to play those game files I have on my laptop when I’m out and about. Can anyone please help me? and before anyone asks, yes I’ve read the manual and it was no help. Yes, I went into my Verizon router and set up port forwarding to port 21 with my cloud IP address. yes I gave it a static IP address using the router. yes, I created a DDNS for my router IP address.
@latincasp3r
What did you set up in the Dashboard? Did you read Help in the Dashboard?
Configuring port forwarding on a My Cloud (single bay) device (wd.com)
Generally there are only a few official ways to access one’s My Cloud from a remote location. The general method is to enable Cloud Access/Remote Access through the MY Cloud Dashboard then use the MyCloud.com web portal or the My Cloud app for iOS or Android.
The My Cloud Dashboard includes several other methods of remote access like FTP. Note however that depending on the FTP settings the method of access is not secure. Generally when using methods of remote access like FTP one first has to enable and configure FTP in the My Cloud Dashboard > Settings > Network section. Then one would access their network router and configure port forwarding for the FTP port (generally port 21) so FTP traffic can pass through the network firewall to one’s My Cloud.
One can see the My Cloud OS5 User Manual Network page for the FTP options and setting.
https://products.wdc.com/nas0s5/nasum/en/#t=MyCloud%2FConfiguringBasicSettings%2FNetwork.htm
If one does not know how to enable port forwarding within their router they will have to consult with the router manufacturer or search the internet for directions on how to setup port forwarding within their router.
Once FTP or SFTP is enabled and configured within the My Cloud one would have to use an FTP/SFTP client program/software on the remote computer or device in order to access their My Cloud.
A more secure method of remote access would be to setup a VPN server and use a VPN client on the remote computer/device to access one’s My Cloud. However, setting up a VPN server typically will involve more work, knowledge and skill. Plenty of How-To articles on the internet for setting up various VPN server software/hardware. Some consumer routers include a VPN server option. Using a properly setup and configured VPN server would allow one to access their My Cloud as if the computer or mobile device was on the same local network as the My Cloud.
Note however that what ever method of remote access one uses they are going to be limited to by upload/download speed of both ends of the connection. This can impact certain operations like streaming media files. Note that when using FTP one generally will have to download the file in order for a program on their computer to be able to access and use that file.
so. . . . instead of trying port 21 on the device, which is meant for FTP access; try port 8446 which is the HTTPS port.
(90% sure I have that port wrong. . . - - → I am sure that someone will correct me - - -I don’t have my references handy)
SO. . . Let’s assume that the port your are forwarding TO THE NAS is 1234
SO. . . Let’s assume you the target port ON THE THE NAS is 8446
SO. . . Let’s assume your NAS is sitting on IP address 192.168.0.1
SO. . . Let’s assume your device name was changed to “NAS_NAME”
SO. . …Let’s assume your ROUTER DDNS (public WAN address) is 26.01.01.01
I think to make this work, you need to map the network drive as a local drive on your PC.
To map the network drive when you are on your home network, you would simply use address 192.168.0.1 as the target. “NAS_NAME” should also work.
To map the network drive when you are away from home, you need to use 26.01.01.01:1234
to access the drive
And for goodness sakes. . . .do NOT follow these instructions. Your only security will be the password on your NAS. (hope it isn’t “password”) EVERYTHING will be broadcast in the clear. You REALLY want to use VPN to log into your network. If you have a Fixed DDNS address (26.01.01.01), then you are halfway there.
Once you get VPN software up and running (my router itself supports OpenVPN, the server runs on the router; the client is on my laptop) - - you would connect to your home network using VPN. . .then map the drive as “normal” using address 192.168.0.1 Note: more than likely, the router will assign your laptop an IP In a different subnet than the NAS. (say, 10.0.0.1). If this is the case, the DNS resolution of “NAS_NAME” to 192.168.0.1 won’t work.
Now for the badnews. . . . .what’s your WAN bandwidth? Are you in the US? If you are in that backwater; don’t be surprised if you megafast premium “100 mbs” speed is “100 down/5 up”. . . meaning to stream multiple netflix movies, you can download using 100 mbs; but if you want to transfer files from your OWN computer… . . you only will see 5mbs. Most games won’t like that.
