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how can NAS work if it is not connected to Internet?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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I was reading the reviews for a NAS backup solution (https://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Home-Personal-Storage-WDBVXC0040HWT-NESN/dp/B076CTK55W/ - I am referring to the first review on this product) that criticized the solution on the basis that it wouldn't work without being connected to the Internet. The idea was that it should be possible to disable connectivity to prevent the backup device from being hacked remotely (and, presumably, added to a botnet).
I'm not very familiar with network hardware so this didn't make much sense to me. For the backup to work from a laptop to the NAS device, some sort of connectivity would obviously be needed. The device is presumably plugged into the router using an Ethernet cable, and the data flow presumably goes either laptop->router->NAS or laptop->router->some_server->router->NAS. Is the idea that the former should be possible but that the device is in fact doing the latter?
I realize that it might be hard to judge this device from afar without using it yourself, but your best guess as to what's going wrong with this device would be helpful.
networking wireless-networking backup nas
edited 54 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
asked 59 mins ago
Stephen
318414
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I was reading the reviews for a NAS backup solution (https://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Home-Personal-Storage-WDBVXC0040HWT-NESN/dp/B076CTK55W/ - I am referring to the first review on this product) that criticized the solution on the basis that it wouldn't work without being connected to the Internet. The idea was that it should be possible to disable connectivity to prevent the backup device from being hacked remotely (and, presumably, added to a botnet).
I'm not very familiar with network hardware so this didn't make much sense to me. For the backup to work from a laptop to the NAS device, some sort of connectivity would obviously be needed. The device is presumably plugged into the router using an Ethernet cable, and the data flow presumably goes either laptop->router->NAS or laptop->router->some_server->router->NAS. Is the idea that the former should be possible but that the device is in fact doing the latter?
I realize that it might be hard to judge this device from afar without using it yourself, but your best guess as to what's going wrong with this device would be helpful.
networking wireless-networking backup nas
edited 54 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
asked 59 mins ago
Stephen
318414
From your link - "Question: Can this be connected to a local network without an internet gateway? Does this require an internet connection to function locally? Answer: You can use it locally once it's set up. To set it up initially you need the internet and to manage it you need the internet as well, for example to determine the drive space available and firmware updates. Once you set up the shares, they'll work locally by themselves." - What's the problem?
– AFH
46 mins ago
I guess the problem is that it's sort of a he said she said, since the other person is saying you cannot turn off Internet access and have it still work. I don't really understand enough about NAS to know which of these people to believe, so I had been hoping for background knowledge that would let me do that. Which makes my question pretty vague and broad, I admit. I do find the answers here so far to be helpful.
– Stephen
32 mins ago
Possibly one way to resolve the conflicting reports is that the shares might work locally, but there still might not be a switch you can use to remove the device from the Internet (so it might still be available to hackers even if you're not using the Internet features). Just guessing.
– Stephen
10 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I was reading the reviews for a NAS backup solution (https://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Home-Personal-Storage-WDBVXC0040HWT-NESN/dp/B076CTK55W/ - I am referring to the first review on this product) that criticized the solution on the basis that it wouldn't work without being connected to the Internet. The idea was that it should be possible to disable connectivity to prevent the backup device from being hacked remotely (and, presumably, added to a botnet).
I'm not very familiar with network hardware so this didn't make much sense to me. For the backup to work from a laptop to the NAS device, some sort of connectivity would obviously be needed. The device is presumably plugged into the router using an Ethernet cable, and the data flow presumably goes either laptop->router->NAS or laptop->router->some_server->router->NAS. Is the idea that the former should be possible but that the device is in fact doing the latter?
I realize that it might be hard to judge this device from afar without using it yourself, but your best guess as to what's going wrong with this device would be helpful.
networking wireless-networking backup nas
edited 54 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
asked 59 mins ago
Stephen
318414
I was reading the reviews for a NAS backup solution (https://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Home-Personal-Storage-WDBVXC0040HWT-NESN/dp/B076CTK55W/ - I am referring to the first review on this product) that criticized the solution on the basis that it wouldn't work without being connected to the Internet. The idea was that it should be possible to disable connectivity to prevent the backup device from being hacked remotely (and, presumably, added to a botnet).
I'm not very familiar with network hardware so this didn't make much sense to me. For the backup to work from a laptop to the NAS device, some sort of connectivity would obviously be needed. The device is presumably plugged into the router using an Ethernet cable, and the data flow presumably goes either laptop->router->NAS or laptop->router->some_server->router->NAS. Is the idea that the former should be possible but that the device is in fact doing the latter?
I realize that it might be hard to judge this device from afar without using it yourself, but your best guess as to what's going wrong with this device would be helpful.
networking wireless-networking backup nas
networking wireless-networking backup nas
edited 54 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
asked 59 mins ago
Stephen
318414
edited 54 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
asked 59 mins ago
Stephen
318414
edited 54 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
edited 54 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
edited 54 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
54.4k16128148
asked 59 mins ago
Stephen
318414
asked 59 mins ago
Stephen
318414
asked 59 mins ago
Stephen
318414
318414
From your link - "Question: Can this be connected to a local network without an internet gateway? Does this require an internet connection to function locally? Answer: You can use it locally once it's set up. To set it up initially you need the internet and to manage it you need the internet as well, for example to determine the drive space available and firmware updates. Once you set up the shares, they'll work locally by themselves." - What's the problem?
– AFH
46 mins ago
I guess the problem is that it's sort of a he said she said, since the other person is saying you cannot turn off Internet access and have it still work. I don't really understand enough about NAS to know which of these people to believe, so I had been hoping for background knowledge that would let me do that. Which makes my question pretty vague and broad, I admit. I do find the answers here so far to be helpful.
– Stephen
32 mins ago
Possibly one way to resolve the conflicting reports is that the shares might work locally, but there still might not be a switch you can use to remove the device from the Internet (so it might still be available to hackers even if you're not using the Internet features). Just guessing.
– Stephen
10 mins ago
add a comment |Â
From your link - "Question: Can this be connected to a local network without an internet gateway? Does this require an internet connection to function locally? Answer: You can use it locally once it's set up. To set it up initially you need the internet and to manage it you need the internet as well, for example to determine the drive space available and firmware updates. Once you set up the shares, they'll work locally by themselves." - What's the problem?
– AFH
46 mins ago
I guess the problem is that it's sort of a he said she said, since the other person is saying you cannot turn off Internet access and have it still work. I don't really understand enough about NAS to know which of these people to believe, so I had been hoping for background knowledge that would let me do that. Which makes my question pretty vague and broad, I admit. I do find the answers here so far to be helpful.
– Stephen
32 mins ago
Possibly one way to resolve the conflicting reports is that the shares might work locally, but there still might not be a switch you can use to remove the device from the Internet (so it might still be available to hackers even if you're not using the Internet features). Just guessing.
– Stephen
10 mins ago
From your link - "Question: Can this be connected to a local network without an internet gateway? Does this require an internet connection to function locally? Answer: You can use it locally once it's set up. To set it up initially you need the internet and to manage it you need the internet as well, for example to determine the drive space available and firmware updates. Once you set up the shares, they'll work locally by themselves." - What's the problem?
– AFH
46 mins ago
From your link - "Question: Can this be connected to a local network without an internet gateway? Does this require an internet connection to function locally? Answer: You can use it locally once it's set up. To set it up initially you need the internet and to manage it you need the internet as well, for example to determine the drive space available and firmware updates. Once you set up the shares, they'll work locally by themselves." - What's the problem?
– AFH
46 mins ago
I guess the problem is that it's sort of a he said she said, since the other person is saying you cannot turn off Internet access and have it still work. I don't really understand enough about NAS to know which of these people to believe, so I had been hoping for background knowledge that would let me do that. Which makes my question pretty vague and broad, I admit. I do find the answers here so far to be helpful.
– Stephen
32 mins ago
I guess the problem is that it's sort of a he said she said, since the other person is saying you cannot turn off Internet access and have it still work. I don't really understand enough about NAS to know which of these people to believe, so I had been hoping for background knowledge that would let me do that. Which makes my question pretty vague and broad, I admit. I do find the answers here so far to be helpful.
– Stephen
32 mins ago
Possibly one way to resolve the conflicting reports is that the shares might work locally, but there still might not be a switch you can use to remove the device from the Internet (so it might still be available to hackers even if you're not using the Internet features). Just guessing.
– Stephen
10 mins ago
Possibly one way to resolve the conflicting reports is that the shares might work locally, but there still might not be a switch you can use to remove the device from the Internet (so it might still be available to hackers even if you're not using the Internet features). Just guessing.
– Stephen
10 mins ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
The Ethernet ports in your router are just a switch, basically. The home network does not need internet to work internally. The router will still assign IP addresses, if the option is enabled and the network will still work. You just cannot connect to the internet or to your router from the internet. This is why a NAS like this will still work, but only on your internal network, which means only via WiFi provided by said router and from devices connected via Ethernet (LAN) cable. No access from the internet will be possible. This includes phones not connected to the internal WiFi.
NAS means Network Attached Storage, which means, that the device is, in it's essence, a small computer with a connected hard drive. So all the storage remains locally and is, normally, not uploaded to the Internet, unless configured otherwise. The NAS is sharing access to the device via network folders and, most commonly, uses the SMB Protocol. Most NAS also provide other means of access, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and various others.
If this NAS is not allowing usage without Internet Access, then it is a serious flaw that should not exist and flat out a bad product. It is essentially doing what is commonly called "phoning home".
answered 53 mins ago
BadSnowflake
193118
I personally use a Synology NAS.But there are also other recommended brands, such as e.g. QNap. I don't mean to shill, just giving pointers to better products.
– BadSnowflake
48 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
I would expect it to depend on what software you use to do your backups.
Having a NAS of a different type I have at least 3 different ways to access and send data to the NAS.
- I can go to the web-server on the NAS, log in and upload files that way
- I can connect via SAMBA/SMB and browse the filesystem like any networked computer using the
\MyNASafolderontheNASnotation. This is also how the Windows backup and File History features access the NAS to back up your data. - Media server software - dependant on how that software works
- Particularly for mobile - The supplier provided discovery and backup tools.
I would expect that the users problem was with item 4 on that list. In particular I found that Western Digital software automatically tries to make you create an account to link your NAS "through the cloud" so that you can access it anywhere. Some of us don't want that and disabling that level of featuritis can be non-trivial in some cases. They don't tend to make it impossible though and you should be able to use their tools only within your own network.
By no means do you have to use their software to do things, but it may just make things smoother.
answered 46 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
The Ethernet ports in your router are just a switch, basically. The home network does not need internet to work internally. The router will still assign IP addresses, if the option is enabled and the network will still work. You just cannot connect to the internet or to your router from the internet. This is why a NAS like this will still work, but only on your internal network, which means only via WiFi provided by said router and from devices connected via Ethernet (LAN) cable. No access from the internet will be possible. This includes phones not connected to the internal WiFi.
NAS means Network Attached Storage, which means, that the device is, in it's essence, a small computer with a connected hard drive. So all the storage remains locally and is, normally, not uploaded to the Internet, unless configured otherwise. The NAS is sharing access to the device via network folders and, most commonly, uses the SMB Protocol. Most NAS also provide other means of access, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and various others.
If this NAS is not allowing usage without Internet Access, then it is a serious flaw that should not exist and flat out a bad product. It is essentially doing what is commonly called "phoning home".
answered 53 mins ago
BadSnowflake
193118
I personally use a Synology NAS.But there are also other recommended brands, such as e.g. QNap. I don't mean to shill, just giving pointers to better products.
– BadSnowflake
48 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
The Ethernet ports in your router are just a switch, basically. The home network does not need internet to work internally. The router will still assign IP addresses, if the option is enabled and the network will still work. You just cannot connect to the internet or to your router from the internet. This is why a NAS like this will still work, but only on your internal network, which means only via WiFi provided by said router and from devices connected via Ethernet (LAN) cable. No access from the internet will be possible. This includes phones not connected to the internal WiFi.
NAS means Network Attached Storage, which means, that the device is, in it's essence, a small computer with a connected hard drive. So all the storage remains locally and is, normally, not uploaded to the Internet, unless configured otherwise. The NAS is sharing access to the device via network folders and, most commonly, uses the SMB Protocol. Most NAS also provide other means of access, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and various others.
If this NAS is not allowing usage without Internet Access, then it is a serious flaw that should not exist and flat out a bad product. It is essentially doing what is commonly called "phoning home".
answered 53 mins ago
BadSnowflake
193118
I personally use a Synology NAS.But there are also other recommended brands, such as e.g. QNap. I don't mean to shill, just giving pointers to better products.
– BadSnowflake
48 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
The Ethernet ports in your router are just a switch, basically. The home network does not need internet to work internally. The router will still assign IP addresses, if the option is enabled and the network will still work. You just cannot connect to the internet or to your router from the internet. This is why a NAS like this will still work, but only on your internal network, which means only via WiFi provided by said router and from devices connected via Ethernet (LAN) cable. No access from the internet will be possible. This includes phones not connected to the internal WiFi.
NAS means Network Attached Storage, which means, that the device is, in it's essence, a small computer with a connected hard drive. So all the storage remains locally and is, normally, not uploaded to the Internet, unless configured otherwise. The NAS is sharing access to the device via network folders and, most commonly, uses the SMB Protocol. Most NAS also provide other means of access, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and various others.
If this NAS is not allowing usage without Internet Access, then it is a serious flaw that should not exist and flat out a bad product. It is essentially doing what is commonly called "phoning home".
answered 53 mins ago
BadSnowflake
193118
The Ethernet ports in your router are just a switch, basically. The home network does not need internet to work internally. The router will still assign IP addresses, if the option is enabled and the network will still work. You just cannot connect to the internet or to your router from the internet. This is why a NAS like this will still work, but only on your internal network, which means only via WiFi provided by said router and from devices connected via Ethernet (LAN) cable. No access from the internet will be possible. This includes phones not connected to the internal WiFi.
NAS means Network Attached Storage, which means, that the device is, in it's essence, a small computer with a connected hard drive. So all the storage remains locally and is, normally, not uploaded to the Internet, unless configured otherwise. The NAS is sharing access to the device via network folders and, most commonly, uses the SMB Protocol. Most NAS also provide other means of access, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and various others.
If this NAS is not allowing usage without Internet Access, then it is a serious flaw that should not exist and flat out a bad product. It is essentially doing what is commonly called "phoning home".
answered 53 mins ago
BadSnowflake
193118
answered 53 mins ago
BadSnowflake
193118
answered 53 mins ago
BadSnowflake
193118
answered 53 mins ago
BadSnowflake
193118
193118
I personally use a Synology NAS.But there are also other recommended brands, such as e.g. QNap. I don't mean to shill, just giving pointers to better products.
– BadSnowflake
48 mins ago
add a comment |Â
I personally use a Synology NAS.But there are also other recommended brands, such as e.g. QNap. I don't mean to shill, just giving pointers to better products.
– BadSnowflake
48 mins ago
I personally use a Synology NAS.But there are also other recommended brands, such as e.g. QNap. I don't mean to shill, just giving pointers to better products.
– BadSnowflake
48 mins ago
I personally use a Synology NAS.But there are also other recommended brands, such as e.g. QNap. I don't mean to shill, just giving pointers to better products.
– BadSnowflake
48 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
I would expect it to depend on what software you use to do your backups.
Having a NAS of a different type I have at least 3 different ways to access and send data to the NAS.
- I can go to the web-server on the NAS, log in and upload files that way
- I can connect via SAMBA/SMB and browse the filesystem like any networked computer using the
\MyNASafolderontheNASnotation. This is also how the Windows backup and File History features access the NAS to back up your data. - Media server software - dependant on how that software works
- Particularly for mobile - The supplier provided discovery and backup tools.
I would expect that the users problem was with item 4 on that list. In particular I found that Western Digital software automatically tries to make you create an account to link your NAS "through the cloud" so that you can access it anywhere. Some of us don't want that and disabling that level of featuritis can be non-trivial in some cases. They don't tend to make it impossible though and you should be able to use their tools only within your own network.
By no means do you have to use their software to do things, but it may just make things smoother.
answered 46 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
I would expect it to depend on what software you use to do your backups.
Having a NAS of a different type I have at least 3 different ways to access and send data to the NAS.
- I can go to the web-server on the NAS, log in and upload files that way
- I can connect via SAMBA/SMB and browse the filesystem like any networked computer using the
\MyNASafolderontheNASnotation. This is also how the Windows backup and File History features access the NAS to back up your data. - Media server software - dependant on how that software works
- Particularly for mobile - The supplier provided discovery and backup tools.
I would expect that the users problem was with item 4 on that list. In particular I found that Western Digital software automatically tries to make you create an account to link your NAS "through the cloud" so that you can access it anywhere. Some of us don't want that and disabling that level of featuritis can be non-trivial in some cases. They don't tend to make it impossible though and you should be able to use their tools only within your own network.
By no means do you have to use their software to do things, but it may just make things smoother.
answered 46 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
I would expect it to depend on what software you use to do your backups.
Having a NAS of a different type I have at least 3 different ways to access and send data to the NAS.
- I can go to the web-server on the NAS, log in and upload files that way
- I can connect via SAMBA/SMB and browse the filesystem like any networked computer using the
\MyNASafolderontheNASnotation. This is also how the Windows backup and File History features access the NAS to back up your data. - Media server software - dependant on how that software works
- Particularly for mobile - The supplier provided discovery and backup tools.
I would expect that the users problem was with item 4 on that list. In particular I found that Western Digital software automatically tries to make you create an account to link your NAS "through the cloud" so that you can access it anywhere. Some of us don't want that and disabling that level of featuritis can be non-trivial in some cases. They don't tend to make it impossible though and you should be able to use their tools only within your own network.
By no means do you have to use their software to do things, but it may just make things smoother.
answered 46 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
I would expect it to depend on what software you use to do your backups.
Having a NAS of a different type I have at least 3 different ways to access and send data to the NAS.
- I can go to the web-server on the NAS, log in and upload files that way
- I can connect via SAMBA/SMB and browse the filesystem like any networked computer using the
\MyNASafolderontheNASnotation. This is also how the Windows backup and File History features access the NAS to back up your data. - Media server software - dependant on how that software works
- Particularly for mobile - The supplier provided discovery and backup tools.
I would expect that the users problem was with item 4 on that list. In particular I found that Western Digital software automatically tries to make you create an account to link your NAS "through the cloud" so that you can access it anywhere. Some of us don't want that and disabling that level of featuritis can be non-trivial in some cases. They don't tend to make it impossible though and you should be able to use their tools only within your own network.
By no means do you have to use their software to do things, but it may just make things smoother.
answered 46 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
answered 46 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
answered 46 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
answered 46 mins ago
Mokubai♦
54.4k16128148
54.4k16128148
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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From your link - "Question: Can this be connected to a local network without an internet gateway? Does this require an internet connection to function locally? Answer: You can use it locally once it's set up. To set it up initially you need the internet and to manage it you need the internet as well, for example to determine the drive space available and firmware updates. Once you set up the shares, they'll work locally by themselves." - What's the problem?
– AFH
46 mins ago
I guess the problem is that it's sort of a he said she said, since the other person is saying you cannot turn off Internet access and have it still work. I don't really understand enough about NAS to know which of these people to believe, so I had been hoping for background knowledge that would let me do that. Which makes my question pretty vague and broad, I admit. I do find the answers here so far to be helpful.
– Stephen
32 mins ago
Possibly one way to resolve the conflicting reports is that the shares might work locally, but there still might not be a switch you can use to remove the device from the Internet (so it might still be available to hackers even if you're not using the Internet features). Just guessing.
– Stephen
10 mins ago