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Netgear Terminating ReadyCLOUD Service
Since Netgear will terminate ReadyCLOUD service by April 1st, how can I access to my NAS device remotely?
Is there any solutions/instructions by Netgear or anyone who can using other solutions?
Thx.
P.S.
For me, It's very annoying terminating ReadyCLOUD service by Netgear and can I ask what is the acceptable reason for this?
ReadyNAS RN214
Yes, there are alternatives, which have already been discussed in other message threads..
A VPN hosted in your router and ZeroTier are the easiest/most secure, IMHO. You can also make provisions for remotely using FTPS or SFTP via port forwarding, but that requires you to either have a fixed IP or use a Dynamic DNS provider. There are even ways to use OwnCloud or NextCloud, setting up the shares you want to access as "external" (to OwnCloud/NextCloud). They also require a fixed IP or DDNS, but are a bit more secure (IMHO) than port forwarding.
As for why, it's very clear that Netgear is leaving the NAS market, though this will also affect a lot of their routers that offer it. ReadyCloud requires that Netgear maintain a server that acts as the "operator" to connect your NAS and app. And, of course, they have to do updates of the app as other OSes change and provide user support. Since they don't charge for it, they rely on new sales to fund it, and those have gone away as far as NAS are concerned.
27 Replies
Yes, there are alternatives, which have already been discussed in other message threads..
A VPN hosted in your router and ZeroTier are the easiest/most secure, IMHO. You can also make provisions for remotely using FTPS or SFTP via port forwarding, but that requires you to either have a fixed IP or use a Dynamic DNS provider. There are even ways to use OwnCloud or NextCloud, setting up the shares you want to access as "external" (to OwnCloud/NextCloud). They also require a fixed IP or DDNS, but are a bit more secure (IMHO) than port forwarding.
As for why, it's very clear that Netgear is leaving the NAS market, though this will also affect a lot of their routers that offer it. ReadyCloud requires that Netgear maintain a server that acts as the "operator" to connect your NAS and app. And, of course, they have to do updates of the app as other OSes change and provide user support. Since they don't charge for it, they rely on new sales to fund it, and those have gone away as far as NAS are concerned.
Sandshark Thanks for clerification,
Good point to ZeroTier that I have used it before and it seems easiest way to setup, using as global network switch and I think, I can live with it.
In fact, I'm not at all surprised that Netgear quit the NAS market after some large companies cut staff and downsized.Sandshark just saw your post related with this topic and it's the info what I searching for...
Thanks again for the information.
Is DropBox a option? As of now, all my files are cloned in DropBox, because I use it generally only for security reasons. Will they stop support DropBox as well?
IvanAlteya wrote:
Will they stop support DropBox as well?
No idea if they will update the third party cloud services if something breaks in the future.
Although they haven't said, my assessment is that they are quiet-quiting the NAS business.
This is horrible! I think my 628X is still under warranty! They shouldn't have bought Infrant only to watch it die 10 years later. This is what happens to all good companies. Thankfully there's still some small community around to help with all these pain points.
I own and all are still working perfectly:
Infrant 600TL
Netgear NV+
Netgear Pro 6
Netgear 628x (purchased in 2019)
givememynamebak wrote:
They shouldn't have bought Infrant only to watch it die 10 years later.
FWIW, they bought Infrant in 2007, so about 15 years.
givememynamebak wrote:
I think my 628X is still under warranty!
Could easily be true. My own RN526x goes back to 2017, so not under warranty anymore.
StephenB- You're right, 15 years and all mine are going strong (after few capacitor replacements and power supply replacements) but with many more limitations now. Thank you and Sandshark both for all that you have done to help the ReadyNAS community!
- Have you guys done anything to move away from Netgear OS on your existing hardware? (I've seen those threads too)- Have you decided on a future brand NAS box? If so, may I ask what brand?
I'd be curious as to where you land here.
WhoCares_seems to be going down the path of OpenMediaVault and I'd be interested in seeing his journey too!
I'd really like them to just opensource the ReadyNAS OS, readynasd etc instead of just throwing it all away.. sad times.
Looks like another nail in the ReadyNAS coffin, which is a shame because I am using it at home an in business. For my home device, it's used to store documents, music and video (running a Plex server). Many of the other NAS boxes around aren't great with Plex and transcoding on the fly, has anyone got experience of moving from ReadyNAS to something else to run Plex?
There is a way to get around the remote access but it takes a little effort. Unplug the ReadyNAS BOX, throw it in the trash, make an old PC a server, and run FreeNas/TrueNas. I actually have an RN104 with 12Tb of space for business and it is sad that Netgear decided to stop support for remote access. To me, it's not the end of the world, I pay a few extra dollars for a dedicated IP and set up my equipment to tunnel into the NAS. The problem is always going to be when you are away from your own LAN since your CelPhone provider doesn't have support for dedicated IP (I think).
Many things you can do on a do-it-yourself NAS can also be done on the ReadyNAS. You can even add a do-it-yourself box, even a pretty lame one, and mount the NAS as external storage. I have a Pro2 running OS6 that serves as an OwnCloud server (but it could just as easily be on a Raspberry Pi, other Linux system, or even Windows) that has shares from my main NAS mounted as read-only. For me, it's a bit of extra security to prevent anyone who hacks my OwnCloud unit (not that anyone would have a reason to) from doing anything nasty on my main NAS, but it can just as easily be a main part of a remote access solution if they are mounted as read/write.
Yes, this also takes effort, and many of the same skills as full do-it-yourself, which many users don't have; but not as much as trashing and completely replacing the ReadyNAS. Of course, lesser capable units like the 100 series are going to be more challenging to do that with.
If Netgear doesn't update the Linux core of the ReadyNAS (and I'd be surprised if they do) or turn things over to the users so they can, the time is going to come where that solution gets too long in the tooth. But there is no need to throw away the ReadyNAS at this point. Intermediate steps can be taken to reduce the monetary impact. Now, that may not be palatable for some users, especially businesses, but it's out there.
I and StephenB don't even use ReadyCloud and have remote access, using different solutions. I've never used ReadyCloud because I don't like how it is so divorced from the local interface. Well, I did try it and didn't keep using it. When ReadyNAS Remote went away, I looked for something similar to it and decided on ZeroTier. I'm not sure about StephenB , but I believe the same is true for him except that he chose OpenVPN.
Now, if Netgear cared, I bet they could make changes to ReadyCloud that allow it to be used with just a DDNS service or with a VPN (which most of theior routers offer) and not need their server. But I would be stunned if they did given how this slow and unacknowledged death of the ReadyNAS line has unfolded.
We build our own VPN tunnels now to our systems..
and they lost us as a costumer...
I have netgear readynas rn204 4 3TB discs Firmwear 6.8.10.
Have used it for over 7 years for local storage and video and music files. Have 2 daughters , one living in USA and the other in England. They have there own folders on the NAS and we all access it remotely using readycloud. This allows them to share data files between them and me. I use readycloud to get video and music remotely from my server when away from home. Now ready cloud is being terminated so am looking for another way to do same as or similar to readycloud.
I have been following the current correspondence on the forum about this and have general idea of what is needed.
I note on the available Apps page of the Netgear system there is a VPN server which comes from Softether, which according to the blurb is better than OpenVPN. Anybody using this? I have installed the package on my NAS and downloaded the management service app on my pc from Softether web site.
Now although I have 30 plus years as communications software developer, it was over 25 years ago. I am now 80 years old and my physical and mental health is deteriorating so following the tutorials to set this system up is beyond me and I cannot get a simple direct connection to work between the NAS and my PC on my home network, let alone set up a remote connection.
Is there a simple help document that will work me through what is needed to set up a simple Adhoc system so that my daughter can log in to their folders on the system and I can remotely log into the whole server ?
Any assistance would be appreciated.
rodcrit wrote:
I note on the available Apps page of the Netgear system there is a VPN server which comes from Softether, which according to the blurb is better than OpenVPN. Anybody using this? I have installed the package on my NAS and downloaded the management service app on my pc from Softether web site.
This is not an app I use myself.
The version on the apps page is 1.5 (about 9 years old) so it is very out-dated. The current version is 4.41. The instructions on the softether web site might not match the old version you have. Updating it from ssh might not work, since the linux version in the NAS is also old.
Do you have a Nighthawk or Orbi router? Just wondering if it has OpenVPN built in.
Many thanks for responding to my plea for help. I have a BT smart hub 2. I don't know if this has OpenVPN, but have seen no mention of it in any documentation.
I confess I don't know where to go to from here.
it is annoying as I got the Netgear system because it had the readycloud facility which is relatively easy to use and now it is going to be terminated. I can understand why but means I can no longer use the system for what I designed it.
my daughter in America is the one most to be affected as she uses the system most for sharing stuff with her Sister, basically for free.
anyway thanks for response. will have to think where to go next.
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