Access home server over internet?

Cyber-Mav · 14 Sep 2023 at 20:44

Currently i use windows server setup as a vpn server and shared drives and folders. Phone can connect to vpn and then use file browser app to access the shares.

Got a win11 machine and was wondering if there is a better way to do this or is my current vpn solution the best?

Shares contain all sorts of docs, photos, pdf, vids etc so something like plex wont work.

Cyber-Mav · 15 Sep 2023 at 07:22

is there some sort of nas software that can run in windows which will do this?

Armageus · 15 Sep 2023 at 07:39

I'd stick with a VPN if only so that it's a bit if software doing one thing (securing whatever traffic you send over it), rather than anything else.

Media sharing apps like Plex/emby and the like have suffered a number of security issues over the years.

Bluecube · 15 Sep 2023 at 07:50

I‘d stick with the VPN even more so if it’s working well for you. A good VPN is nice and secure whilst other methods open up a can of security worms

andy_mk3 · 15 Sep 2023 at 08:30

Twingate is something that I use as well as vpn. It’s worth looking into.

Cyber-Mav · 15 Sep 2023 at 08:51

Was looking up truenas. Seems it can work inside a vm does it handle connection over internet itself?

Cyber-Mav · 15 Sep 2023 at 10:18

looks like it may be possible to have truenas setup as an openvpn server too. will need to investigate

Cyber-Mav · 15 Sep 2023 at 14:16

Truenas seems pointless for this setup im doing. Looking to now just run a windows 11 pc and some sort of virtual vpn server maybe running wireguard?

Bluecube · 15 Sep 2023 at 14:26

Check your router as it may be able to run a VPN server. If you've any Raspberry Pis lying around then they're good for a Wireguard server too.

Armageus · 15 Sep 2023 at 14:27

Cyber-Mav said:
Currently i use windows server setup as a vpn server and shared drives and folders. Phone can connect to vpn and then use file browser app to access the shares.

What's wrong with your existing Windows Server?

Cyber-Mav said:
Shares contain all sorts of docs, photos, pdf, vids etc so something like plex wont work.

Cyber-Mav said:
Truenas seems pointless for this setup im doing.

Whether Truenas or another solution - it sounds absolutely like the job of a NAS to store all sorts of documents, photos, pdfs, vids - certainly better than trusting a Windows 11 PC to host important data!

Most NASes (e.g. Synology/QNAP) can either have a Wireguard or other remote access/VPN option, or if not can run a VM or Docker

Cyber-Mav · 15 Sep 2023 at 15:56

My setup works good for me since i have a windows server licence.
This other computer im setting up is for someone else and has windows 11 on it.

Wireshark seems interesting with promises of being faster.
Nothing wrong with windows shares since these days cant trust anything and even Synology has had security issues

Tom B · 15 Sep 2023 at 15:58

Keep in mind that a VPN while security focussed is one huge hole if it is breached. If someone accesses your VPN they basically have unfiltered access to your entire network. That's a lot less secure than a single service being breached.

edit: Personally for this use-case I'd sync my files to a cloud service and have nothing internet facing on my network.

Cyber-Mav · 15 Sep 2023 at 16:10

Problem is the guy has too much data for free cloud use.

Cyber-Mav · 16 Sep 2023 at 07:37

ok used this in the end:

GitHub - micahmo/WgServerforWindows: Wg Server for Windows (WS4W) is a desktop application that allows running and managing a WireGuard server endpoint on Windows

Wg Server for Windows (WS4W) is a desktop application that allows running and managing a WireGuard server endpoint on Windows - GitHub - micahmo/WgServerforWindows: Wg Server for Windows (WS4W) is ...

github.com

made it so simple, under 5 mins and iv got phone connected to wireguard server on win11 machine. very quick and easy. the qr code system makes things just way to easy lol.

spile · 16 Sep 2023 at 11:45

I can recommend Wireguard running on a Raspberry Pi 4. I’ve been using it for a number of years to remotely access my NAS and cctv system.

Cyber-Mav · 17 Sep 2023 at 11:22

spile said:
I can recommend Wireguard running on a Raspberry Pi 4. I’ve been using it for a number of years to remotely access my NAS and cctv system.

What sort of speed can pi4 do with wireguard?

hdpcgamer · 17 Sep 2023 at 11:37

spile said:
I can recommend Wireguard running on a Raspberry Pi 4. I’ve been using it for a number of years to remotely access my NAS and cctv system.

I second running Wireguard on a Pi4 as it is very easy to set up or you could use Tailscale instead which also uses Wireguard but easier to use on all your devices.

spile · 18 Sep 2023 at 07:26

Cyber-Mav said:
What sort of speed can pi4 do with wireguard?

I can’t answer that other than to say that it’s capable of running in the default os configuration and I didn’t need to use a non graphic os. Limiting factor is my broadband but with FTTP 500 I have no issues.