I'm using WinSSHD for my computers to connect to my file server. The file server is running Windows Storage Server 2008 and the machines that connect to it are a mix of OS X, Xubuntu, and Windows 7 machines. I can connect to the server via SSH just fine from all of my computer on the internal network (i.e. using the local IP address) but when I try to connect to the server via SSH from an external network it doesn't work - I get a 'connection refused error'. I know that it shouldn't connect to the external IP address from inside my network...this happens when I try to connect to it from my parents' house (I don't know the settings of that router but I can make changes to it if need be).
I have a dyndns updater attached to a URL that they provided for me that I thought would alleviate the problem, but it doesn't. I've noticed that all of my computers have the same external IP address so I'm thinking that that has something to do with it. To this effect I put my file server in the DMZ (i.e. outside of the firewall) of my router and tried connecting again but this had no effect and the IP address of the file server is still listed as the same IP address that all of the other machines on my network have. I'm not very experienced with networking issues as I'm mainly a hardware guy and I don't come across too many advanced networking issues in my line of work (I work at a computer repair shop).
I would really like to use SSH as I'm more comfortable with the command line and find it faster to do things that I want to do as opposed to setting up a VPN via Hamachi (plus the Hamachi client for Linux really sucks). I would like to be able to access my files from a remote location so that if I happen to be at a client's site and need files I can get them with as little trouble as possible. I'm well aware of things like VNC being able to support file transfers, and I was able to get it to work at one point but unfortunately TightVNC interferes with my backup software so I can't use that..I'm also aware that TeamViewer supports file transfers, but I can't use that as TeamViewer is only free for non-commercial use and this would be for commercial use. A solution that uses something like FileZilla for SCP transfers would be acceptable. I'm also perfectly fine with using OpenSSH or switching my file server over to a Linux flavor if that works better; I just haven't been able to find good guides on how to configure OpenSSH.
I have two questions:
1. What's the best method for testing the external connection to my file server? I have two routers and originally thought that if I put them on a different subnet that it would serve as somewhat of an external test - this has failed and made the environment more complex, so I scratched that idea. I can have someone else test my SSH connection but the only two people I trust with my authentication are my dad, who works late, and a friend in Australia who has an opposite work schedule from mine. I would prefer to be able to do the testing myself so that I don't take up their time trying to get it sorted out. I've also tried looking for settings for a proxy on my Cisco router but the only thing I could find related to proxy settings was a checkbox to enable DNS proxy...which doesn't seem to be what I want.
and more importantly...
2. How do I configure my router/file server/SSH to accept an incoming connection from a computer outside my network? I already have rules on the firewall of my file server set to accept incoming signals from port 22, and I believe that I should have the proper authentication set in place to connect to the server as I can access the computer from the LAN. I found a guide online about setting up WinSSHD and followed that, but it still doesn't work
Any help would be appreciated as I haven't been able to find information that's too useful online. I'm quite comfortable with the Linux/Unix Terminal as well as the Command Line of Windows (if that's even relevant) - I just don't know a whole lot about networking in this fashion as I've never been exposed to this kind of stuff before. Hopefully I've been clear enough but if y'all need further information I'd be happy to provide it.
My Internet connection comes from Comcast and my router is a D-Link DIR-615 running the 3.00 firmware (I haven't checked for updates in quite a while). I also have access to a Cisco RV 120W, I don't remember what firmware it's running.
Thanks.
I have a dyndns updater attached to a URL that they provided for me that I thought would alleviate the problem, but it doesn't. I've noticed that all of my computers have the same external IP address so I'm thinking that that has something to do with it. To this effect I put my file server in the DMZ (i.e. outside of the firewall) of my router and tried connecting again but this had no effect and the IP address of the file server is still listed as the same IP address that all of the other machines on my network have. I'm not very experienced with networking issues as I'm mainly a hardware guy and I don't come across too many advanced networking issues in my line of work (I work at a computer repair shop).
I would really like to use SSH as I'm more comfortable with the command line and find it faster to do things that I want to do as opposed to setting up a VPN via Hamachi (plus the Hamachi client for Linux really sucks). I would like to be able to access my files from a remote location so that if I happen to be at a client's site and need files I can get them with as little trouble as possible. I'm well aware of things like VNC being able to support file transfers, and I was able to get it to work at one point but unfortunately TightVNC interferes with my backup software so I can't use that..I'm also aware that TeamViewer supports file transfers, but I can't use that as TeamViewer is only free for non-commercial use and this would be for commercial use. A solution that uses something like FileZilla for SCP transfers would be acceptable. I'm also perfectly fine with using OpenSSH or switching my file server over to a Linux flavor if that works better; I just haven't been able to find good guides on how to configure OpenSSH.
I have two questions:
1. What's the best method for testing the external connection to my file server? I have two routers and originally thought that if I put them on a different subnet that it would serve as somewhat of an external test - this has failed and made the environment more complex, so I scratched that idea. I can have someone else test my SSH connection but the only two people I trust with my authentication are my dad, who works late, and a friend in Australia who has an opposite work schedule from mine. I would prefer to be able to do the testing myself so that I don't take up their time trying to get it sorted out. I've also tried looking for settings for a proxy on my Cisco router but the only thing I could find related to proxy settings was a checkbox to enable DNS proxy...which doesn't seem to be what I want.
and more importantly...
2. How do I configure my router/file server/SSH to accept an incoming connection from a computer outside my network? I already have rules on the firewall of my file server set to accept incoming signals from port 22, and I believe that I should have the proper authentication set in place to connect to the server as I can access the computer from the LAN. I found a guide online about setting up WinSSHD and followed that, but it still doesn't work
Any help would be appreciated as I haven't been able to find information that's too useful online. I'm quite comfortable with the Linux/Unix Terminal as well as the Command Line of Windows (if that's even relevant) - I just don't know a whole lot about networking in this fashion as I've never been exposed to this kind of stuff before. Hopefully I've been clear enough but if y'all need further information I'd be happy to provide it.
My Internet connection comes from Comcast and my router is a D-Link DIR-615 running the 3.00 firmware (I haven't checked for updates in quite a while). I also have access to a Cisco RV 120W, I don't remember what firmware it's running.
Thanks.