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.
@Sandshark I followed your and @XtheUnknown instructions but ZeroTier installation always fails on my RN214 I try both 1.1.14-nt3_armel and 1.4.0
Web UI and SSH rejected the installation which gives architecture error, do I have to have x64 Arm or am I missing something, could you help, any idea?
There is another post regarding that error on other installs, apparently due to a recent change in status of the Debian Jessie distros. I'm currently checking out a new-to-me RN3220 and had no similar problem, but it is an Intel-based unit, not ARM. But I do now have that problem on my main NAS, which is on OS 6.9.6. I guess I got in "just under the wire" in my test install. I don't know if that change is also responsible for users having trouble with the standard curl script attempting to install a newer version than 1.4.0 on Intel systems that's apparently incompatible with the current status of ReadyNAS OS.
I actually didn't try the ReadyNAS-specific versions in my test install, as I really think users should be moving past it. But I suspect it has the same issue as installing with the curl script.
While the ARM-based ReadyNAS are 64-bit, the standard ARM64 distros apparently require a V8 or above ARM, and the ReadyNAS ARM is V7. That means you have to use the armel version, which is 32-bit. But the problem with not being able to download the dependencies is still going to be a problem.
@StephenB has already requested a hot fix be distributed that fixes it, and we can only hope Netgear will come through. If they don't, then we can at least hope a user posts instructions "for dummies" to fix it. I'm afraid I'm not that guy, though I have some "sandbox" NAS I can try it on once there is a solution.. My Linux skills are actually pretty basic.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
BTW, there is an armhf version of ZeroTier available that will also work on an ARM based OS6 ReadyNAS. armel is 32-bit and armhf is 64-bit. Probably doesn't much.
After installing the ZeroTier on client device, simply "Add Network Location" from Windows file manager then you can use managed IPs getting from ZeroTier network eg. 172.22.xx.xx (even on iPhone iOS > Files > Connect Server > ZT IP)
I do not believe that will work any longer due to the changes in the Debian repositories, as outlined above. Whether it will work after updating the repositories list or if you should independently download it and install, I don't know. But it won't hurt to try, and please let us know your results. It has nothing to do with it being a 100 series NAS, though. While the 100 series NAS do have limited RAM, as long as you are not already running a lot of apps, I believe ZeroTier will work. But I own no 100 series to try it on.
