iMac NAS Cloud Access

[James Jonathim]

I recently built a custom PC a few months ago. Previously, I was using an old 2015/2017 iMac. I have now set it up to be a home NAS. I am able to access my shared folder on my iMac from my PC on the network. However, I want my NAS to almost be like a Google Drive where I can access it from anywhere at anytime without having to be on the same network. Is there a way I can do this? Does TrusNAS do this? I don't understand what that's for as I was able to set it up without additional software.

[Needfuldoer]

39 minutes ago, James Jonathim said:

However, I want my NAS to almost be like a Google Drive where I can access it from anywhere at anytime without having to be on the same network. Is there a way I can do this?

You would have to set up a VPN like Wireguard to do that.

 

39 minutes ago, James Jonathim said:

Does TrusNAS do this? I don't understand what that's for as I was able to set it up without additional software.

TrueNAS does a lot more than just host network shares, but most of its features won't do you any good on a machine with very limited expandability like an iMac. 

 

You can run Wireguard, Plex, Docker, etc on MacOS.

[James Jonathim]

6 minutes ago, Needfuldoer said:

You would have to set up a VPN like Wireguard to do that.

 

TrueNAS does a lot more than just host network shares, but most of its features won't do you any good on a machine with very limited expandability like an iMac. 

 

You can run Wireguard, Plex, Docker, etc on MacOS.

And what will that do @Needfuldoer

[Needfuldoer]

4 minutes ago, James Jonathim said:

And what will that do @Needfuldoer

A VPN will allow you to connect to your iMac-as-a-NAS from anywhere, as long as you have your laptop/phone/etc set up to do so.

 

https://www.wireguard.com/

[James Jonathim]

33 minutes ago, Needfuldoer said:

A VPN will allow you to connect to your iMac-as-a-NAS from anywhere, as long as you have your laptop/phone/etc set up to do so.

 

https://www.wireguard.com/

Is there a more all in one service that will allow me to easily access the NAS from mobile devices anywhere like what Synology or UGreen?

[Needfuldoer]

1 minute ago, James Jonathim said:

Is there a more all in one service that will allow me to easily access the NAS from mobile devices anywhere?

You install Wireguard on the iMac and on your devices, then those devices can connect to the iMac from anywhere.

 

I highly encourage you to do some more research and look up some YouTube tutorials. They'll explain it better than I can.

 

[James Jonathim]

8 minutes ago, Needfuldoer said:

You install Wireguard on the iMac and on your devices, then those devices can connect to the iMac from anywhere.

 

I highly encourage you to do some more research and look up some YouTube tutorials. They'll explain it better than I can.

 

My NAS doesn't show up under network in Windows file explorer. I had to enter the smb ip as a new network location

[LIGISTX]

17 hours ago, James Jonathim said:

Is there a more all in one service that will allow me to easily access the NAS from mobile devices anywhere like what Synology or UGreen?

Nextcloud would be the closest thing to what you want. But I would also set up a VPN so you can use the SMB shares while not at home on your LAN. I have both set up for the "cloud like storage and sharing" options nextcloud provides, but 99% of the time I just use the VPN to connect to my SMB shares while away.