Thread: Networking Question

What brand of router that allows you to plug a USB drive into it and browse files from the network? For most modem routers you have to log into the management interface and enable remote access to it. You should change the default password for the admin as well. Download speed to your work will be pretty slow because you will be limited by the upload speed of your home connection.
Normally this type of thing is done by port forwarding a VPN through the modem to a computer inside the network. That's the easiest solution. Mike

Logmein is easier and costs nothing install the client on the home computer and then control it via the web browser on your work computer.
I use this with my IPhone to maintain computers and its been quite secure and easy to use

https://secure.logmein.com/

I realise it may not meet your criterion!

You don't really need open ports on your router creating a security risk although a properly secured VPN is OK the practicalities of moving files around if you are using windows will be challenging.

The Thompson TG782T Bigpond modem has a USB port on the side of it
When you stick a usb drive in you also have to enable the built in FTP server so anyone can see it
I would imagine it can be seen from anywhere not just the internal wifi network as its part of the router not a PC service

So there is no need to setup any network access to PC's as i only want to share the info on the USB stick not my PC or Laptop

My next challenge will be finding a good piece of software to decode the T-box videos

Hi steve,

Sounds like a good bit of kit, didnt know that existed just yet.

I would assume there would be a security setting in it, so that its available externally, not likely it would be anabled by default.

make sure u use the external IP of the router, and not an internal 192.168.0.x range.

Their are plenty of codec utilities around that can analyse your video file, and tell u what codec it is using. that should be easy to find what they are using.

Don't forget that unless you pay for a fixed IP address you will most likely get a different IP address from your ISP if you reboot your modem. You would then need to recheck the IP address before leaving home so you can log in from work.

Originally Posted by warren9981

Don't forget that unless you pay for a fixed IP address you will most likely get a different IP address from your ISP if you reboot your modem. You would then need to recheck the IP address before leaving home so you can log in from work.

dyndns can help here. (dynamic DNS)

you create an account with them, and most modern routers have a section to add your account details.

You then get a webaddress like myaddress.dyndns.org which will automatically update.

If you have the manual for your router, have a quick read to see how it manages incoming firewall exceptions.

It may be that adding the USB drive automatically shares to your internal network, but not your external network (this would be the default action for most routers).

If you do open up the router for file sharing try to define your work machine or network as tightly as you can. Otherwise the router will accept connections from anywhere. If your work machine has a public IP (ie. not 10.xxx or 192.xxx) then use this. Otherwise your tech guys should be able to give you the IP range to use.

As mjm295 said above you might need to use a service like dyndns to update your IP information. I use this service and most routers should be able to use. You basically sign up for a free account, then enter the username/password into the router and you're away.