Small network setup
-
@layentara:
I guess the term "routing" is posing an issue here
it's not the term, it is this function.
@layentara:
pfSense should do the main work, routing, encrypting, and so on.
Is your "HDD" supposed to be available from public internet or just local?
@layentara:
My only question was if I can "find" the shared external hard drive connected to my modem "behind" my pfSense firewall
The answer didn't change:
You will not be able to "discover" your HDD as it resides in a different broadcast domain. You will be able to reach it via routing. -
Is your "HDD" supposed to be available from public internet or just local?
Just local. I wanted to connect my hdd to pfSense, but I read that pfSense doesn't support sharing it on the network as a network drive. I also don't want connect it to my computer because it should run as a network attached storage. It's not a dedicated NAS, it's just a plain external hard drive with usb 3.0, but my Fritzbox has the ability to share it as a network drive.
You will not be able to "discover" your HDD as it resides in a different broadcast domain. You will be able to reach it via routing.
.. and this sounds good =) How would I route to it?
-
So what network is on pfsense wan? What network is on its lan?
So your HDD your sharing off your edge router. What protocol are you want to use to access this HDD, windows file sharing? (SMB). Some web gui? Just hit the disk via its IP, or most likely your edge routers IP that is sharing the HDD content..
-
So what network is on pfsense wan? What network is on its lan?
So your HDD your sharing off your edge router. What protocol are you want to use to access this HDD, windows file sharing? (SMB). Some web gui? Just hit the disk via its IP, or most likely your edge routers IP that is sharing the HDD content..
Actually, I haven't built anything up yet, so I don't know yet. Will do it next weekend when I have all my parts. I can only tell you that the LAN port (of the mainboard) of the pfSense box will be connected to the LAN port of my edge modem and the LAN port of the NIC of the pfSense box will be connected to the switch.
I want to access the HDD via the Explorer, so no ftp client or other tools. Just a folder / shortcut to the HDD on my desktop. So this means, I have to tell pfSense the IP of my edge router? Is this a new routing rule?
-
layentara, may I propose that for your HDD you just buy something like:
- QNAP TS-128 or TS-131P or HS-251+
- Synology DS-115j or DS-116
- Pogoplug …
- ...
and connect it to your switch where your computer(s), printer, AP, ... hang off as well. Nothing else makes sense in your case. Just forget about the USB port on those Fritz!Dings and be fine. Honestly, really!
-
and connect it to your switch where your computer(s), printer, AP, … hang off as well. Nothing else makes sense in your case. Just forget about the USB port on those Fritz!Dings and be fine. Honestly, really!
Thanks for your suggestion, jahonix. Indeed, I was also thinking about that. The only problem is that I had to invest more money if I would go this way. By selling the 2nd router and some other things, I would have made enough money to buy the switch and LAN cables, so 0 investment for me.
By going the NAS way, I had to buy the NAS itself and a hdd that would cost me around 200€.
I was thinking about getting a rp3, but that thing doesn't support usb 3.0.
So yeah.. I have to think about it again and try to find my own solution. Thank you anyways, guys! -
@layentara:
…getting a rp3, but that thing doesn't support usb 3.0.
So you think that routing packets to another subnet makes accessing your data on the HDD faster?
If you are somewhat serious about speed then go for a NAS placed within your PC's broadcast domain.BTW: the Fritz!things aren't exactly known for speed when accessing file shares…
-
Yeah I second jahonix here - there is Zero reason that it makes sense to share a disk your network needs on the wan side.. Share it on the lan side so your on the same L2..
-
So you think that routing packets to another subnet makes accessing your data on the HDD faster?
That wasn't my intention. I wanted to get that rp3, use it as a NAS in the same network domain as my computer and connect my HHD to it. But it doesn't support usb 3.0, therefore it's not an option. I will go for a dedicated NAS device now.
-
if you were thinking rp3, then you can perhaps consider ODROID XU4, linux supported, usb 3.0 supported
I personally have Synology DS415+ (4 bay, 2 lan) and I think it's an overkill for a home network of few people and perhaps 2-3 simultaneous streams… It takes too much space, consumed easily between 15-30watts and the memory/cpu rarely goes high. I should have went with a 2 bay and just put bigger drives in mirror mode and save space under my TV cabinet...
With a Synology NAS, you can access the data via SMB, NFS, Plex, DLNA/UPnP, FTP.
