Remote backup onto NAS - connection issues

CIFS backup is not suitable on internet,I would suggest you to change backup way to Rsync backup,all you need to do is as follows
-- install a Rsync client on your computer
--enable Rsync service on a share of NAS
--open port 873 to internet on your router
Please note that all data transferring over port 873 on internet will be unencrypted and NV V2 doesn't provide Rsync over SSH function,so you must set a password on Rsync share to refuse anonymous access.

Is your work computer in a different location, or do you work from home?

de niro wrote:

CIFS backup is not suitable on internet,I would suggest you to change backup way to Rsync backup,all you need to do is as follows -- install a Rsync client on your computer --enable Rsync service on a share of NAS --open port 873 to internet on your router Please note that all data transferring over port 873 on internet will be unencrypted and NV V2 doesn't provide Rsync over SSH function,so you must set a password on Rsync share to refuse anonymous access.

Okay thanks I will give this a go.

StephenB wrote:
Is your work computer in a different location, or do you work from home?

Yes it is in a different location so I want to back up via the internet

Well, you won't be able to use the NV+ v2 backup features unless you can convince your IT folks at work to open ports in the office firewall to your work PC. That doesn't mean you can't do backups - just that you need to initiate them from the office PC, connecting from there to your NAS. To some degree this depends on exactly what your office firewall allows.

The simplest thing is to enable FTP on the NAS (opening suitable firewall ports). You will also need to get a ddns address so you can find your home network over the internet. Then you can manually copy the folder from your work machine using an FTP client like filezilla. If you use ftps, the connection would be encrypted. Note FTPS is not the same as SFTP. The v2 supports FTPS but not SFTP.

FileZilla is not a backup program, so it would require you do manually do the upload to the NAS. It can be set to ignore files that match the file date and size (so it can work incrementally).

There are some PC backup programs that also support FTP and can run on a schedule. You might search the internet for them. AceBackup is a free one (though I have never used it, so I am not recommending it - just pointing out that these programs exist).

Rsync is also possible, though you will need to get an rsync package for the work PC. Your office firewall is more likely to block the rsync port than the standard FTP.

StephenB wrote:

Well, you won't be able to use the NV+ v2 backup features unless you can convince your IT folks at work to open ports in the office firewall to your work PC. That doesn't mean you can't do backups - just that you need to initiate them from the office PC, connecting from there to your NAS. To some degree this depends on exactly what your office firewall allows. The simplest thing is to enable FTP on the NAS (opening suitable firewall ports). You will also need to get a ddns address so you can find your home network over the internet. Then you can manually copy the folder from your work machine using an FTP client like filezilla. If you use ftps, the connection would be encrypted. Note FTPS is not the same as SFTP. The v2 supports FTPS but not SFTP. FileZilla is not a backup program, so it would require you do manually do the upload to the NAS. It can be set to ignore files that match the file date and size (so it can work incrementally). There are some PC backup programs that also support FTP and can run on a schedule. You might search the internet for them. AceBackup is a free one (though I have never used it, so I am not recommending it - just pointing out that these programs exist). Rsync is also possible, though you will need to get an rsync package for the work PC. Your office firewall is more likely to block the rsync port than the standard FTP.

Thanks Stephen, I can open up ports in our firewall no problem, its our own business.

If I am going to connect manually from my work PC to my home NAS, would it be easier to just connect through ReadyNAS Remote and then schedule a backup on my work computer to my NAS through the remote client? Not sure if it can work this way. Problem I can see is making sure my ReadyNAS Remote client stays logged in and connected?

ReadyNAS Remote is an option I guess. I stopped using it a long time ago due to inadequate performance, though it may perform better now. One benefit is that would be no firewall issues, and you could the run backup jobs from either the PC or the NAS. You could also look into setting up a VPN between your home and the office. This would give you secure access to the full office network from home (and vice versa). Small business routers often have that feature.

Are you just wanting an inexpensive disaster recovery? Or are you wanting to make your office files available for use at home?

StephenB wrote:

ReadyNAS Remote is an option I guess. I stopped using it a long time ago due to inadequate performance, though it may perform better now. One benefit is that would be no firewall issues, and you could the run backup jobs from either the PC or the NAS. You could also look into setting up a VPN between your home and the office. This would give you secure access to the full office network from home (and vice versa). Small business routers often have that feature. Are you just wanting an inexpensive disaster recovery? Or are you wanting to make your office files available for use at home?

Ideally what we are trying to do with our NAS is to store office files we use on a consistent basis in a central location that we can access from home, work, and while on the road.

In regards to the backup, there are some files that are part of our sales system that must be on site at the office, which already has back up procedures in place. Reason I want an extra back up to the NAS is because I want an off site back up of a few key files just in case we lose everything in the office (the most unlikely case).

For remote file access, you can use readynas remote or ftp fairly easily. If you go with ftp, use the encrypted ftps variant in the client, as that is secure (and the data sounds sensitive).

Backup can also be done with remote, though you might also look into crashplan (or similar) cloud backup for disaster recovery. Crashplan is just for backup though, it is not suitable for simply consolidating storage.