How do friends access my Photostation via internet?

[Cobalt19]

hi. I have read the Guide under Photostation 5 package/settings/help but there is no mention of how people other than me or listed Users for my DSM can actually access the Photostation to see my photos I have put up there, i.e. people who are outside my LAN and are on the general www internet! Surely they must be able to do this?

How can they do this - what do they type in on their computers to get to my Diskstation. I have got a Synology EZInternet hostname - should they use that?

If they can reach my Diskstation then what do they have to do to see a specific album I have set up? What do I do to help this happen?

As usual, I am sorry to say, no obvious help on the DSM Help menu for this basic instruction.

Thank for your help in advance.

[mike42dk]

Hi

To get access from outside the LAN, it's a ggod idea with either a fixed IP or a DDNS account, and you have to make sure that your ISP provide you with a IP that is accessible from outside LAN.

Then it's just a matter of typing the external IP address followed by photo like
http://IPaddress/photo
or if you get a domain name, which is easier to remember
http://yourdomain.com/photo

this will bring you to the PhotoStation login.

check out the synology tutorial

http://www.synology.com/tutorials/how_to_access_nas_with_internet.php?lang=enu

[Cobalt19]

Thanks Mike for your reply and help. I did follow those Tutorial instructions exactly to the detail when I set up my DS209 for EZInternet and went through the automatic Router configuration as in the instructions.

I have tried the http://myhostname.synology.me/photo and I have tried the http://IPnumber/photo methods and neither get a result. On Safari I just get a blank page, from Firefox I just get the 'Problem Loading Page' message... you know the one...

The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few
moments.
If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's network
connection.
If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure
that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.

I wonder if the so-called 'Automatic router configuration' set up for Firewall and Port Forwarding is just useless and failing? Maybe that's the reason? The trouble is - if its not automatic then I wont be able to do that configuration manually...I don't think so.

So thanks again for your suggestions - I have tried them and still I have no luck unfortunately. .

[Goner]

... have tried the http://IPnumber/photo ...

Which IP number were you using ?
It should be the one in your router settings titled WAN (wide area network), not your LAN (local) ip-address. Or you can find out your 'outside' IP-address by visiting whatismyip.com from home.

Can you access your router and check the firewall rules to see if port 80 is actually forwarded to your DS ??

By the way ; are you trying to connect to your Internet IP from your LAN ? I've heard that some routers have problems connecting that way ; you should try it from a different location to really test this.

EDIT: maybe I'm asking and stating the obvious, but I don't know exactly what you tried ...

[jccguays]

Hi,

It's obvious too, but, have you opened the ports of the firewall inside DSM 4.0?

[mike42dk]

Hi

Sometimes it's the obvious that we forget

I my self are not completely sure that EZinternet always works as intended, so I always suggest that you forward your ports inside your router your self.

And the thing about checking if you can see the homepage inside LAN, is always a good thing, as stated in the other post not all routers support loopback, and if the router don't, then you cant see a homepage inside your LAN

[Goner]

I my self are not completely sure that EZinternet always works as intended, so I always suggest that you forward your ports inside your router your self.

Agreed.
[off-topic]
Portforwarding is something that I want to do/control manually, not automatically by devices or applications on my LAN.
I had "allow changes to security settings thru UPnP" enabled on my router to play with EZInternet, but disabled it when I saw all kinds of ports being openened in the rules.
[/off-topic]

[Cobalt19]

@Goner - thanks here's my reply to you...

Which IP number were you using ?
It should be the one in your router settings titled WAN (wide area network), not your LAN (local) ip-address. Or you can find out your 'outside' IP-address by visiting whatismyip.com from home.

Can you access your router and check the firewall rules to see if port 80 is actually forwarded to your DS ??

By the way ; are you trying to connect to your Internet IP from your LAN ? I've heard that some routers have problems connecting that way ; you should try it from a different location to really test this.

EDIT: maybe I'm asking and stating the obvious, but I don't know exactly what you tried ...

I used the WAN IP. I also accessed it via SmartPhone outside of the LAN.
Have checked my Router firewall rules and cannot see Port 80 listed anywhere but the problem is I dont know what to look for in the Firewall set up. Because I executed the DS to auto-configure the Router for EZInternet I have not manually changed anything on the router and I dont know how to "forward Port 80 to my DS" - not a clue other than where my router has the Firewall settings for port forwarding available for entry under 'Virtual Server' where I can specify the following fields: LAN IP Address \ LAN Port \ Public Port \Protocol Type
Loads of other Port forwarding is set up there by me for online games using both UDP and TCP but I see no obvious things added or changed by the DS auto-router configuration routine. Also under the DSM Control Panel/ Router Configuration I see lots of ports listed for Local Port & router Port but Port 80 is not listed. Someone once told me that forwarding and/or opening Port 80 is a massive security hole - isn't it? Anyway - does this make any sense? Is my Port 80 forwarded? Will doing it destroy my network security? How do I actually enter it into my Router and/or DSM? ....HELP?!

@jccguays - thanks here's my reply to you...

It's obvious too, but, have you opened the ports of the firewall inside DSM 4.0?

I would not know where to make that 'open ports' happen on DSM other than in Firewall but the DS is not directly connected to Internet that is why I have the router. There are no firewall rules set up at all on the DSM therefore.
Does me having the Autoblock feature switched ON within DSM have any relevance to this problem?

@Mike42dk - thanks here's my reply to you...

I my self are not completely sure that EZinternet always works as intended, so I always suggest that you forward your ports inside your router your self.

And the thing about checking if you can see the homepage inside LAN, is always a good thing, as stated in the other post not all routers support loopback, and if the router don't, then you cant see a homepage inside your LAN

I have no idea what you mean there sorry. If you mean can I see the main DSM login page from within my LAN then 'yes' I can if I type in the local fixed IP of the DS 192.xxx.x.xx
What the blazes is 'Loopback'?! What does it do?

Everyone - thank you - can you answer my new questions and determine from what I have said here what teh actual problem is with my set-up?

[jccguays]

@jccguays - thanks here's my reply to you...

It's obvious too, but, have you opened the ports of the firewall inside DSM 4.0?

I would not know where to make that 'open ports' happen on DSM other than in Firewall but the DS is not directly connected to Internet that is why I have the router. There are no firewall rules set up at all on the DSM therefore.
Does me having the Autoblock feature switched ON within DSM have any relevance to this problem?

I doesn't like EZInternet because is automatic so I prefered to open the ports I need in my router and in DSM. If you have used the smartphone to go in the DSM, your DSM is in Internet. To look forward for open ports in your router, you must look for something about NAT or Virtual Server or similar in your router.

First, in DSM, go to Control Panel-Firewall. If it's activated, deactivate and try it. If it's activated you'll need to open the same port you have in the router.

If you open a port in the router you need to open the same in DSM if you have activated Firewall.

By the way, which router do you have (brand and model)?

Best regards

[Goner]

By the way, which router do you have (brand and model)?

Yep, was going to ask that too
Then you can look on http://portforward.com/ how it works on your router.
A screenshot of the router settings with ports that you already forwarded (for games etc) would be great too !

[Cobalt19]

@Jcguays - thanks.

I doesn't like EZInternet because is automatic so I prefered to open the ports I need in my router and in DSM. If you have used the smartphone to go in the DSM, your DSM is in Internet. To look forward for open ports in your router, you must look for something about NAT or Virtual Server or similar in your router.

First, in DSM, go to Control Panel-Firewall. If it's activated, deactivate and try it. If it's activated you'll need to open the same port you have in the router.

If you open a port in the router you need to open the same in DSM if you have activated Firewall.

By the way, which router do you have (brand and model)?

My iPhone 4S cannot connect to my DSM via EZinternet hostname. It can connect to DSM only through wifi LAN using apps like DS Finder and DS Audio.
Why would I need a firewall switched on the DS209 when the Router is first in line with its own firewall? Are two firewalls necessary?
My Router is the OZENDA AR4505GW, and the Portforward.com website has this to say about using the DS209 with the Ozenda: http://portforward.com/english/routers/ ... _DS209.htm

@Goner - thanks too. My reply to you...

A screenshot of the router settings with ports that you already forwarded (for games etc) would be great too !

I am sorry I do not know how to make a screen shot of just one active 'window' using WIndows XP. On my Apple MAc I can use 'Grab' utility but on XP I can only take a picture of teh whole screen - which is not good. Can you tell me how to make screenshot in WInXP of just active window?

Thnaks

[mike42dk]

Hi

About router forward!!

The thing is that the info you need to forward ports is here on the site.
http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/Ozenda/AR4505GW/Bridge_Commander.htm

And then you go to the Synology tutorial site to find the ports for the services you need to get opened, typically you don't need to open all ports, so just choose the ports for the services you have enabled in your DS.

If you want all services or cannot figure out the port forwarding, you can put your DS fixed IP in the DMZ setting in your router, this way is all ports toward your DS opened.

[jccguays]

Why would I need a firewall switched on the DS209 when the Router is first in line with its own firewall? Are two firewalls necessary?

No, , they aren't necessary, you can put off in DSM.

I have seen that mike42dk answered your question.

Best regards

PS In Windows, to take a shot of the active windows: Alt+PrintScreen

[Goner]

Can you tell me how to make screenshot in WInXP of just active window?

In Windows use Alt-PrtScn to copy the active window to the clipboard. You can always copy/paste the contents of the clipboard to a simple graphics editor like IranView (free) or the Windows Imageviewer (?) and crop only the interesting part. Then upload it to Picasa or PhotoBucket or whatever and link it your post here.

A picture is worth a thousand words

[Cobalt19]

Hi Thanks for your replies guys...

@Mike42dk: I looked at that Portforward link thanks: What is 'Bridge Commander' for the Ozenda Router (that link you sent)? Is it some special software I need in relation to the Synology and port-forwarding? Sorry - I don't understand. Does putting things in the "DMZ" mean others can hack into them from the www? I don't know what the DMZ is or does (apart from I know what the name is - demilitarized zone). Sorry!

@jccguaays: thanks for that alt-PrtScn function. I had WinXp for 13 yrs and never knew that.

I am fast coming to the conclusion that setting up the Synology to use internet-access services -in this case Photostation, takes a lot of time and technical know-how. In truth, despite the wonderful help you are all offering me, I think it would be simpler for me to just email the photos to my family rather than getting to risk messing up my PC or Synology or router trying to get Photostation work.

Sadly this is my conclusion for many of the services offered from the Synology - they are incredibly complex and timeconsuming to set up and beyond what a non-IT expert like me can cope with it seems. My Synology is really not much better than just an external HDD as a result.

Thank you all once again for your help nevertheless.