NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Readycloud Replacement....again.... ReadyNAS212
I was another user who didn't receive any notification that the Readycloud facility was going. I see advice on setting up a VPN using OpenVPN - but I don't see that app on my list of available apps....
steveTu wrote:
I see advice on setting up a VPN using OpenVPN - but I don't see that app on my list of available apps.
That's because it's installed on your router. Not all routers include the feature - Netgear Nighthawk and Orbi routers have it, as do many similarly priced routers from other manufacturers.
What router brand and model do you own?
steveTu wrote:
All I want is a simple way of sharing some files/directories with remote users - how can I now do this?
OpenVPN isn't the best service for that. It gives the remote users full access to your home network.
The simplest way is to use a cloud service, and copy files and folders you want to share to that. Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud, Dropbox, etc.
While I generally recommend using a VPN, it is also possible to set up a secure FTP service on the NAS, and forward the needed ports in your router to the NAS.
I bought the ReadyNas so I didn't have to use the cloud to share!
I know this is not your fault, but it's so frustrating when companies treat software/firmware as something they can just 'remove'. It's part of what people buy, and potentially why they decide to buy a specific brand or model - a bit like a company coming along and removing your air conditioning from a car and telling you you can always open the windows or use a fan. No.
steveTu wrote:but it's so frustrating when companies treat software/firmware as something they can just 'remove'.
Agreed.
Though it is pretty clear that Netgear has been quiet-quitting their storage business for some years now.
- The newest ReadyNAS platforms were introduced in 2017
- All current ReadyNAS platforms are identified as end-of-life on the Netgear support pages
- Users are finding it impossible to get paid Netgear support
So dropping ReadyCloud is part of the overall process (though it also affects routers).
As I said above, you can set up secure FTP on the NAS, and then use something like FileZilla to access files remotely. You would need to forward some ports in the router to the NAS (and I'd recommend using non-standard ports for that). And set up NAS user account(s) for the sharing instead of ReadyCloud accounts.
It is also possible to share folders/shares using https - accessing them in the browser. However, that can also be used to access the admin web ui, so that would only be protected by the admin password if you do that. So I don't recommend that approach.
ZeroTier can also be used - it is in some ways similar to OpenVPN, but you can set it up to limit remote access to just the NAS. But harder to deploy than secure FTP.
Again, it's not your issue, but I'm not sure I like the 'but we're quitting that market' argument. If a company wants to leave a market - openly publish that fact and as soon as it's known. I don't think that this 'research all available products' bit works - maybe it worked when people shopped in shops and the shop expert would say '...I've heard that company will stop support of that in five years..' but people buy more online. The 'compare the market' type option is just becoming insane - as how do you know what questions to ask?
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to let me vent a little. I'll look at a secure FTP connection option.
Thanks Steve.
steveTu wrote:Again, it's not your issue, but I'm not sure I like the 'but we're quitting that market' argument.
To be clear, I don't work for Netgear and don't represent them in any way.
Overall, there's been a long pattern of Netgear launching and then abandoning ReadyNAS services over many years. ReadyRemote, Photos, Photos II, Surveillance, Milestone Arcus, ...
ReadyCloud is just the latest (and last one) to fall. I tried it for a little while, but decided it wasn't something I could depend on. The service went down unexpectedly (sometimes for days) and speeds were inconsistent even when it was working. Also, I didn't think they were transparent enough on security. So I gave up on it.
NETGEAR Academy
Boost your skills with the Netgear Academy - Get trained, certified and stay ahead with the latest Netgear technology!
Join Us!
