Accessing files from a mobile device via VPN

[Verymanythings]

Hello.

 

I recently established a server-ish PC at home, where i store all my family photos etc.

 

I set-up an OpenVPN server using my RT-AC3200 and connected my Iphone to the VPN, to be able to access these pictures from anywhere. 

Now i need some help getting this stuff to work.

 

Things that do currently work:

 

Accessing everything when connected to the home WIFI with my Iphone

Pinging my phone from a home PC when the phone is connected to the VPN.

Pinging APPLE devices from my Iphone when connected through the VPN

 

Things that do not currently work.

 

Accessing shared LAN files when connected to the VPN with my phone.

Seeing any of the computers(except Apple devices) on the Iphone.

 

Thankful for any and all help!

 

[Verymanythings]

bump

[paddy-stone]

What app are you using to "browse" the server through the VPN?  your credentials have to match for it to allow you. Also did you set up a static IP address for your home, or are you using dynamic DNS like DDNS to update your VPN with the correct server address?

[Verymanythings]

11 minutes ago, paddy-stone said:

What app are you using to "browse" the server through the VPN?  your credentials have to match for it to allow you. Also did you set up a static IP address for your home, or are you using dynamic DNS like DDNS to update your VPN with the correct server address?

Remote file Explorer, FilebrowserGO, Fileexplorer. 

They all advertise VPN compatibility. 

What credentials do you mean? The PC username and pass?

 

And yes i'm using a DDNS built into my router.

 

Connection is not the issue, i connect fine, and can ping LAN devices from my phone using a ping app.

 

 

[paddy-stone]

3 minutes ago, Verymanythings said:

Remote file Explorer, FilebrowserGO, Fileexplorer. 

They all advertise VPN compatibility. 

What credentials do you mean? The PC username and pass?

 

And yes i'm using a DDNS built into my router.

 

Connection is not the issue, i connect fine, and can ping LAN devices from my phone using a ping app.

 

 

https://thetechjournal.com/electronics/iphone/samba-file-sharing-comes-to-ios-try-it-now.xhtml

 

I think it's most likely that you are trying to access samba shares right?  as you said PC, and that you could access apple devices fine, but not seeing any of the other computers.

Credentials basically in this case means being certified to access files from the PC you are wanting to access, so you need to "share" from the PC, and to a "user" that has an account on the PC... the credentials are for the "user".

So say I had a PC with an admin account that I want to share files from... the guy that wants to access them needs to have a username and password (credentials) to access them. So you create a username and password for him, go to the shares, and enable those files to be shared with that username...and he connects to the PC through a VPN for example to your home network, and can access those shares.

[Verymanythings]

On 2018-04-05 at 6:28 PM, paddy-stone said:

https://thetechjournal.com/electronics/iphone/samba-file-sharing-comes-to-ios-try-it-now.xhtml

 

I think it's most likely that you are trying to access samba shares right?  as you said PC, and that you could access apple devices fine, but not seeing any of the other computers.

Credentials basically in this case means being certified to access files from the PC you are wanting to access, so you need to "share" from the PC, and to a "user" that has an account on the PC... the credentials are for the "user".

So say I had a PC with an admin account that I want to share files from... the guy that wants to access them needs to have a username and password (credentials) to access them. So you create a username and password for him, go to the shares, and enable those files to be shared with that username...and he connects to the PC through a VPN for example to your home network, and can access those shares.

So i did! 

No success unfortunately, this is really getting on my nerves and i need it up and running as soon as possible

been tinkering back and forth.

basically what i have running is a windows 7 pro PC with ~10tb of HDD's in raid 0 (ye i know shoot me). 

I've shared the raid on the network, and can view it's contents fine on my phone over wifi (using username and pass for the pc).

however, when attempting the same over VPN, it's a no-go and the connection to the pc usually times out.

 

[paddy-stone]

7 minutes ago, Verymanythings said:

So i did! 

No success unfortunately, this is really getting on my nerves and i need it up and running as soon as possible

been tinkering back and forth.

basically what i have running is a windows 7 pro PC with ~10tb of HDD's in raid 0 (ye i know shoot me). 

I've shared the raid on the network, and can view it's contents fine on my phone over wifi (using username and pass for the pc).

however, when attempting the same over VPN, it's a no-go and the connection to the pc usually times out.

 

So, the device trying to connect to the shares on the home network, has a VPN connection to your home network right?  So like openvpn and copied the files to the device(s) you want to connect to the home network?

If that's all correct, then the only thing I can think of is that the credentials don't match, is the device able to connect to the shares/PC when at home OK?

[Verymanythings]

1 hour ago, paddy-stone said:

So, the device trying to connect to the shares on the home network, has a VPN connection to your home network right?  So like openvpn and copied the files to the device(s) you want to connect to the home network?

If that's all correct, then the only thing I can think of is that the credentials don't match, is the device able to connect to the shares/PC when at home OK?

Yes. 

I successfully connect my phone to the VPN, and i can access the router control page when inputting 192.168.2.1 in the browser off the VPN phone.

 

I can successfully ping most devices(probably all, but didn't try) from my phone over a VPN connection to my home network.

 

I cannot access any shared files on the network, nor connect to the "server" to view the files. And i am 100% using the right credentials.

[paddy-stone]

3 hours ago, Verymanythings said:

Yes. 

I successfully connect my phone to the VPN, and i can access the router control page when inputting 192.168.2.1 in the browser off the VPN phone.

 

I can successfully ping most devices(probably all, but didn't try) from my phone over a VPN connection to my home network.

 

I cannot access any shared files on the network, nor connect to the "server" to view the files. And i am 100% using the right credentials.

Hmm, that is weird.. I hope you don't mind my mentioning, but if you're entering names, sometimes they are case sensitive... believe me I've been there before and spent a few hours one time trying to understand why the connection wasn't completing... I could've kicked myself when I finally noticed that I had put an uppercase at the start of the name of the shares folder.

Anyway, sorry I couldn't be of help to you, it's everything I could think of without it being massively complex/complicated.

I would hazard a guess that it's likely associated with the server blocking non-local connections... but it's just a guess. Thing I would try though is to set up another network share in a freenas vm or something, even a windows share... and then trying to connect to that.

 

Oh, and just FWIW, if you're at home and trying to connect, it's best to turn off your phone's wifi, and use cellular to simulate accessing from outside the home.. that's how I do it and it works fine. If you're already doing that then it's fine, just thought I'd mention it. Hope you find the solution.

[Verymanythings]

Still have not managed to get this working.

 

If anyone has some brilliant insights, please do share!