Allow external connection to hard drive

[Prew]

I am not sure if this is the right forum for this- but, my son is in a dorm at OSU- how can I set up by internet connection so that a folder on one of my home PC's can be accessed by him from his dorm room?I have Roadrunner and a linksys router, the computer is connected directly to the router.

I am thinking this is either simple or complicated.

[giorgos]

Originally Posted by Prew I am not sure if this is the right forum for this- but, my son is in a dorm at OSU- how can I set up by internet connection so that a folder on one of my home PC's can be accessed by him from his dorm room?I have Roadrunner and a linksys router, the computer is connected directly to the router. I am thinking this is either simple or complicated.

I believe the easiest way is to setup an FTP server like filezilla (open source ftp client and server), which you can find at:
http://filezilla-project.org/

Your son could use an ftp client which can be aquired from the same address to upload/download content. Please note that you must be careful with your server's security (allow only one user,use a strong password, maybe allow only access to the server from the IP addresses of the dorm).

[glc]

In order for that to work if you are behind a router, you have to assign your computer a static IP address and forward appropriate ports. He also will need to know your exact Internet IP address unless you have a dynamic DNS service.

[Prew]

Thanks for the information, I'm going to try it out tonight.

[Prew]

Well, that was easy. Question though, the transfer speed is only about 90 KB/s. I have the server set on unlimited speed. Is there a way to speed this up (I'm using RR turbo which has upload speed potential of around 800 KB/s.) That is, I do not know what the limiting factor is- would the University's server be limiting it although it is a T3 connection? How about RR (I am using port 21)

[Force Flow]

The college network could have bandwidth caps on it. Remember, the academic network is primary, dorms are secondary (in terms of priority)

[Prew]

One last question- I think I may have confused myself- (bits versus bytes)- Filezilla lists the transfer rate as around 90 KB/s; however, the broadband speedtests list the upload as around 800 kb/s- The KB is more than the kb?- so the upload is actually faster than what I first thought- or is the abbreviation not a reliable indication?

BTW- thanks for the tip on a good password- I have several anonymous attempts to log in.

[glc]

90KB = 720kb

[Prew]

Thanks- so everything is working as it should.

[toomyg]

Originally Posted by Prew One last question- I think I may have confused myself- (bits versus bytes)- Filezilla lists the transfer rate as around 90 KB/s; however, the broadband speedtests list the upload as around 800 kb/s- The KB is more than the kb?- so the upload is actually faster than what I first thought- or is the abbreviation not a reliable indication? BTW- thanks for the tip on a good password- I have several anonymous attempts to log in.

I also run filezilla server for my site and have the same problem with several 100 anonymous attempts kind of make me wonder if filezilla has some kind of PHONE HOME FEATURE when running but you can always put bans of things like this.

[heymrdj]

I find it much safer to install Hamachi (a free VPN client) on each end. I use it with 16 computers. Allows me to access my file server in my college dorm room from anywhere, VNC to my grandparents computer 300 miles away in southern Georgia, or to my gf's computer 1,000miles away in Indiana. When the computers are in the Hamachi client I can simply go in and right click on them and select browse. All of their shared hard drives and folders appear, as if I was right there in their LAN. And it works perfectly for LAN gaming between my gf (in Indiana), me and my brother (Americus, GA), my buddies back home (bainbridge, GA), and my overseas buddy in Finland.

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by toomyg I also run filezilla server for my site and have the same problem with several 100 anonymous attempts kind of make me wonder if filezilla has some kind of PHONE HOME FEATURE when running but you can always put bans of things like this.

If you're hosting on port 21, I wouldn't be surprised.

People regularly scan the internet looking for open FTP servers on the default FTP port. I'd change the port to a non default port (just make sure you forward that port in your router and remove port 21)

As far as I know, the only "phone home" feature in filezilla is for checking for updates on startup.

[toomyg]

Originally Posted by Force Flow If you're hosting on port 21, I wouldn't be surprised. People regularly scan the internet looking for open FTP servers on the default FTP port. I'd change the port to a non default port (just make sure you forward that port in your router and remove port 21) As far as I know, the only "phone home" feature in filezilla is for checking for updates on startup.

Thanks Force Flow I don't know why I didnt think of that my self but what port can I use without messing something else up? Port 22 maybe or does it matter

[heymrdj]

Originally Posted by toomyg Thanks Force Flow I don't know why I didnt think of that my self but what port can I use without messing something else up? Port 22 maybe or does it matter

Port 22 is the port SSH uses. People scan for those regularly too. To stay out of the way of common web applications, you can use any in the 10,000, 30,000s, 40,000's and up to 50,000. Stay out of 51-63,000 as those are also used alot by torrent aps. Plenty to choose from, just pick one like 42750.

[toomyg]

Hmm learen something new everyday heymrdj thanks for the reply.

Tom