ZeroTier as a ReadyCloud replacement.

---

JohnNulty wrote:

How about Tailscale as an alternative to ReadyCloud as well?  Do you (or any other posters) have any experience with this?

---

It is similar to ZeroTier as far as architecture and features.  One challenge would be installing it on the ReadyNAS (since it uses an older version of linux and a small OS partition). 

It wouldn't be ideal for Sandshark, since he is using ZeroTier for remote backup - connecting to a backup NAS at a friend/relative's house.  Definitely simpler for him to have ZeroTier running natively on the backup NAS.

Personally, I currently use cloud backup for disaster recovery - so I don't have a backup NAS in another location.  I use OpenVPN in my router for my own remote access.  I do have a PC application server for Plex and other applications (including the cloud backup software), and just use the NAS for storage.  I believe that is more future-proof than trying to install software on the ReadyNAS.

My guess would be no.  The oldest Debian version they list for it is Buster (10), and ReadyNAS is on Jessie (8).  Even if you tried to compile it yourself, you would probably not be able to meet all the dependencies.

Thanks StephenB, all good points 👍.  What about those who may just want to have a 'private cloud' (like 'Google Drive' on a NAS), rather than 'fully fledged' remote access to a NAS, for sharing files with family/friends?  I would have thought ZT would be a bit over the top for such use cases.....

Thanks for the clarification Sandshark 👍

---

JohnNulty wrote:

Thanks StephenB, all good points 👍.  What about those who may just want to have a 'private cloud' (like 'Google Drive' on a NAS), 

---

One of the applications I run on the PC is Resilio Sync, which is convenient for remote access from phones and tablets.  Though now that iOS lets me access the NAS through the files app, I use OpenVPN more, and Resilio Sync less.

Controlled sharing with friends/family is more challenging than simple remote access. Honestly If I needed that I'd be looking first at cloud storage (iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive, etc), and then looking for a way to back up that cloud storage to a NAS share.

NextCloud and OwnCloud are excellent for Google drive like file sharing.  Unfortunately, the RNXTRAS site which used to have ReadyNAS-specific versions of those available for a small price is no more.  The remnants of the site point to his repository of the final versions he created, but I don't really see anything there on how to use it.  I find no .deb files that can be downloaded.

Honestly, I think you'd be better off running one of those on an always-on PC (which needn't be very powerful), Raspberry Pi, etc. and then using the NAS for it's storage.  At some point, I'll likely convert to this myself instead of OwnCloud on a NAS I currently use for this purpose.

If you were to compile one yourself, you'd have to deal with the back-ports of dependencies (which is one of the reason he stopped development) as well as insuring it is configured so as not to fill the OS partition.

Sandshark StephenB Thanks for the info and suggestions - it's much appreciated 👍

So, as I understand we couldn't use any app. for browse the NAS shares upon remotely except ReadyCloud (that will be tetminating) especially on smart phone?

Still investigating, how can I do that without an app. running on ReadyNAS...

This thread is all about using ZeroTier to do just that.  If you have no interest in that, you can search the forum for other potential solutions discussed elsewhere, or start a new post.  I recommend using Google, not the built-in forum search which is, frankly, useless.  Tacking on additional subjects to an existing post just makes for a confusing thread where one cannot be sure which subject is being discussed.

Sandshark sorry for inconvenience but I'm just finding a way to using my NAS device remotely, I already Googled but can not find anything about that, this is just because why I  wrote previous post. Again, sorry for if it makes confusing. 

I also try to install ZT to ReadyNAS via Web UI and SSH but installing failed on RN214 Arm V7, firmware: 6.10.8

---

Leventh wrote:

 

Still investigating, how can I do that without an app. running on ReadyNAS...

---

The other VPN-type solution is to get a router that has OpenVPN.  Netgear Nighthawk and Orbi models for example.  Then you can install the free OpenVPN app on your phone (or an PCs), and use that to connect to your home network.  Once you do that, you access the NAS the same way you do when you are home.

ZT is similar, but rather than giving you full access to your home network, you only have access to the NAS.

StephenB yes, this was the last chance for me so I set up VPN server on my UniFi USG router which it has own server,

I can now access the NAS at least via web UI.

Thank you to pointed out.

Seems the curl script no longer works in Debian Jessie.   But manual install does.

I have an OS6.10.8 Intel-based NAS and successfully manually installed V1.6.6.  Anything later fails.  I will try an ARM machine when I get a chance to re-initialize one, or somebody else can try and report results.

Below is how to do the manual installation.  In this example, I'm assuming a volume name of data and that share Temp exists.  Use whatever is appropriate to you.

Go here: https://download.zerotier.com/RELEASES/1.6.6/dist/debian/jessie/ and download the amd64 version to the Temp share.

From SSH:

  cd /data/Temp

  apt install ./zerotier-one_1.6.6_amd64.deb

Note that the leading ./ is required, or it will try to install from a network source.

You will have to answer Y to a couple of prompts, and the default for at least one may be N.

Now just join your network and enable the member in ZeroTierOne.

OK, got to testing with an ARM version faster than I thought I would.  I successfully installed the armel version of V1.4 from here: https://download.zerotier.com/RELEASES/1.4.0/dist/debian/jessie/pool/main/z/zerotier-one/ on a newly-initialized RN212 on OS6.10.8.  Given the limited memory of the 100 series, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to use it on those.  I have no 100 series NAS on which to test.

Sandshark

Well, It seems curl script no longer works in Debian Jessie as you mentioned.

Web UI always fails to install both 1.1.14-nt3 and 1.4.0

Local/manual install V1.4.0 (as you did with V1.6.6) worked for my armel RN214 OS6.10.8 (with kernel plus installed).

I tested it via my iPhone with ZeroTier app. installed and connected my ZT network to NAS upon it's managed IP. 

Now I can use the Resilio sync for ReadyNAS and on my IOS, macOS devices.

Btw. Thank you to your effort here to help and hope this community live long enough although Netgear quits from NAS market.

Just FYI:

I managed to install on (upgrade from 1.4.0) my x64 ReadyNAS simply by uploading the 1.6.6 version via the UI.

YMMV.

I believe you cannot do an initial install via the GUI any more because you have to answer "Y" to a prompt where the default is "N".  But if you are upgrading and that upgrade doesn't need an update of a dependency where you had to make that choice, then it would work.  That includes if you installed the older version before the status of the dependencies changed, you could answer "Y" to all.

Note that you should not update a ReadyNAS-specific version with a non-ReadyNAS version this way, as they install in different places.

Just for the information,

Additionallly I've been able to install ZT 1.1.14-nt3.deb locally via SSH, now it's working on RN214 (v6.10.8) with GUI 👍

(Btw. Tested it from scratch after factory reset).

I am able to install Version 1.8.7 through the web-interface. unable to install any version via command line. 

root@RN628X:~# zerotier-cli status
200 info xxxxxxx 1.8.7 ONLINE

I successfully downloaded, installed and configured ZeroTier on a RN314 running 6.10.8. (Intel). Using the 1.6.6. Joined the network. Added 2 Win 11 clients. Enabled all in the ZeroTier web portal. 

But I am unclear how I access the shared folders on the NAS? I do not see anything in my File Explorer under Network - Computers, except for other local computers. Thoughts?

Did you also install ZeroTier on the PC and add it to the same network?

I'm not sure how Windows decides how to show things in "My Network", but it doesn't show two devices with the same name at two different IP addresses, so you won't see it there, at least when it's also on the local network.  But you can map a drive to it or just go there directly by typing the IP address and share name into a Windows Explorer window's address field.

In my case \\192.168.0.42\Documents gets me to the Documents share via the local network and \\192.168.192.42\Documents gets me there via ZeroTier.  I've assigned reserved IP addresses in ZeroTier that just change the third field from 0 to 192 compared to the IP addresses reserved in my router to make things easier.

.

@Sandshark @StephenB Thanks for all help so far:  As stated elsewhere, I am 80 years of age and don't find setting up systems very easy - that's why readycloud was so good in that respect. it did all that was necessary.

anyway:   I have installed Zero-Tier (ZT) on my NAS RN204 and on 2 ~PCs and an Android phone.

they seem to have installed correctly and the ZT management site has recognised them ( almost ).

the netgear NAS entry on the ZT management site is reporting "unknown" and on the NAS there is an account for ZT which is showing disabled.  I don't know how to progress that problem.

the PC and android connections look good.  I can Ping between them successfully . BUT - how do I set up a GUI to connect to that VPN ( what GUI do I use ?)  so that I can see what files are on the system and be able to move them between systems? 

Sorry to be so negative, but I do need a system that is easy to use, and more importantly, one that my daughter in America can also set up herself with help from me. which at the moment I cannot even help myself.

Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

---

rodcrit wrote:

 

the netgear NAS entry on the ZT management site is reporting "unknown" and on the NAS there is an account for ZT which is showing disabled.  I don't know how to progress that problem.

 

---

I haven't used ZeroTier for a while now, so Sandshark is better able to help you on this.

---

rodcrit wrote:

 

the PC and android connections look good.  I can Ping between them successfully . BUT - how do I set up a GUI to connect to that VPN ( what GUI do I use ?)  so that I can see what files are on the system and be able to move them between systems? 

 

---

With Android/iPhone, you simply connect to the ZeroTier VPN.  Once that is done, you access the NAS using the same methods you use at home.  So in the case of iPhone, you could use the built-in Files app to copy files.  The NAS server would need to use the ZeroTier IP address (so you'd need to check for that).  There are similar tools for Android (though it's been a few years since I've had an Android phone).

Similarly on a PC - you connect to the VPN using the ZeroTier software, and then you can just use Window File Explorer or Finder (Mac).  If you have a laptop, you can test this by taking it to a place with a hotspot, and then connect to your home network with the ZeroTier VPN.

One thing - if you or family members are using the NAS home folders, then you will need to copy them.  ReadyCloud uses different usernames from the normal local NAS accounts, and so those home folder contents won't be accessible when you disable it. 

I suspect you folks can simply use public shares (no need to keep the files "private").  If that's the case, you can simply migrate the home files to public shares now, and disable SMB and other file sharing protocols for Home in the NAS admin ui.

Yes, ZeroTier doesn't recognize the NAS OS, so it reports it as "unknown".  You can change it manually.  As long as it's reporting as being from your IP address, then that's sure to be your NAS.  Once you enable in ZT Central, it should show as connected on the NAS.

Buenas he seguido lo mismo que ha realizado usted pero me da error y no me instala el zerotier adjunto pantallazo de errorr.

la instalación la estoy ejecutando sobre un ready nas 212 con el firmeware 6.10.8 no se si hay que instalar algo previo al paquete