Access/Mount Buffalo LinkStation over Internet when Away from Network

[chicago29]

   

Hi,

 

Here is my issue...I store all my media on a Buffalo LinkStation NAS drive, and I have a Macbook as my home computer.  Everything is just fine when I'm at home.  However, what I'd like to do is to be able to access my media files using things such as iPhoto and iTunes when I am on the road and connected to the internet.  Basically I'd like to pop open iTunes, have it find/access my music files, and play just like it does if I were home and connected to my network.

 

So, I basically need to find a way to mount the drive when I'm away from my network.  Is this possible to do?  I have Web Access set up and it works fine using my own URL (I'm not using the BuffaloNAS service), but I tried the "Connect to Server" and never was able to connect and mount the drive.

 

Any suggestions on how I can accomplish this?

 

Thanks

Chicago29 

[Dustrega]

The easiest way to go about this would be to setup a computer with a VPN connection at home. I would suggest https://secure.logmein.com/products/hamachi/list.asp" target=_blank>Hamachi for ease of use. Basically, have both computers running Hamachi and when you connect with your home VPN have the home computer setup with a mapped network drive of your iTunes library. That's the only thing I can come up with. Generally, there isn't a way for these units to serve files in the vein that you're looking for but I would hope this is a decent workaround.

[chicago29]

   

I tried Hamachi, but I couldn't get it working.  I have a Linux Server at home running Ubuntu 8.10, but I couldn't find any way to gain access to the LinkStation over the Hamachi VPN connection.  There could be a way to do this, but I don't know how and there is next to nothing out there about connecting a Mac to a Linux machine over Hamachi.

 

Even if I got this working, I'm not sure I could get what I'm after.  The reason is because the iTunes Library file (which is physically on my MacBook) references the audio files on the LinkStation using the connection I have between the LinkStation and the Macbook.  If I got a VPN connection to the Linux server, it would have to use the connection the Linux server has to the LinkStation.  I'm not sure iTunes will truly be able to "find" the actual media files.  It sure would be interesting to find out...   

 

What I decided to do now is just manage two iTunes Libraries, and basically copy things over to my MacBook that I want to have with me when I am off my network.  After some thought, I only want access to a small portion of my entire media library anyway, and I have plenty of drive space on the MacBook to do this.

 

The only other option I can think of is to ditch all this and invest in a TimeCapsule, which easily allows access to files over the internet with a Mobile Me account.  I'm not sure I want to go through that just to stream media, which of course will depend on the quality of internet connection that I have. 

 

Thanks for your suggestion.  I'm all ears if there are any Hamachi experts out there or if there are any other ideas... 

[Dustrega]

As far as Hamachi goes this is what I would suggest:

 

1. Mount the NAS on your home PC (i.e. go to Finder->Go->Connect to Server)
2. When remoting in and connecting to your VPN via Hamachi in the client list right click on the IP address of your home computer and choose Copy Address
3. This is where I'm uncertain but go to Finder->Go->Connect to Server
4. Type in SMB://[Copied IP address of home computer]/[Name of drive mounted] and try connecting.

I cannot guarantee this will work but you can give it a shot as this is all I can surmise for right now. Unfortunately, a client can't be run from the NAS itself otherwise I'd say "try that", but in good conscience I can't condone it. :)