Remote access/work

wijcc

wijcc

wijcc

Soldato
Joined
10 Aug 2003
Posts
2,695
Location
London
What is the best way to enable remote access, My friend has a small business and wants to be able to do remote access. There are about 8 users, they don't have a server but have a QNAP TS-421 NAS system. They want to give users access to file from home, mobile sites etc. But giving different people different levels of access to files, so some users having access to all files and others just a few files and some in between. What would be the best way to enable remote access. I believe that the QNAP TS-421 has some kind of system for this, but is it any good or are there better ways?
Thanks advance :)
 
Easiest way would be to use something like teamviewer to connect to their work pc's remotely, that way what ever they have on their work pc they will have remotely.

More complicated ways it to a router/firewall that supports vpn.
 
More than one user would be remotely accessing files. Would more than one machine need to be left on?
 
Yes, if you go with team viewer type solution, each user is going to have to connect to a pc in the office for the pc to be able to access files on the qnap.

You could try and enable something on the qnap that opens the qnap up to the internet with authentication but that would never be recommended for security reasons.

If you set up a vpn you could then get uses from home to access the qnap without connecting to the machines in the office.
 
Thanks i will look at VPN option.. will need to download and read up on the QNAP unit they have. Has anyone here got a QNAP system that they have configured VPN to?
 
My QNAP NAS at home uses their PPTP VPN option (rather than the OpenVPN one). Works reasonably well and uses QNAPCloud for addressing, i.e. I point to xxxxx.myqnapcloud.com and things all link together ... the documentation is reasonable in explaining how it sets up.

I just use it if I'm using a public wifi access point from my mobile or laptop (or I'm abroad and want to access something from a UK address).
 
You could use something like Opencloud using https.

Which ever route you take you will need to beef up your security if you are going to allow remote access.

VPN solution possibly is the most secure method, perhaps your router or QNAP has a built in VPN server.

DON'T USE PPTP, it has to be used with care, google for more information!

OpenVPN is much more secure and is reasonably simple to setup. It can be used to connect multitude of clients, phones, tablets and PCs whether they are Apple, Windows or Linux. There are plenty of Youtube tutorials on how to set it up.
 
anything I don't mind said:
If you know IT you could setup a vpn/firewall using pfsense which is free. Then use the built in open vpn client at people homes.

I think sophos do a product sophos XG 85/85w

It comes with built in vpn.
Click to expand...

Go for the PC Engines APU-1D4, dual core. I have pFsense running on one, very easy to setup, very configureable, great VPN support and a really excellent firewall. Cost me about £160. There is a quad core version due out very soon, but looking at the CPU usage on mine it rarely exceeds 5%.

You do have to know what you are doing though, it's not suited to IT novices.
 
Last edited:
I use Logmein to get at my work computer. It's a bit expensive (£50 for 2 computers) but there's alternatives with similar functions and cost less.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom