Set up remote access to your own network - this is how it works

Remote access to the home network is not only useful for network hard drives, but you can also access other devices. For example, from your smartphone, take a look at the live video of your IP camera that you have installed at home in the nursery. In the mini-workshop, you’ll learn how comfortable such a remote access is to a network camera.


Step 1: Install software for remote access


For remote access to a data store in the home network, some prerequisites must be fulfilled


Step 2: Select a name and enter access data for remote access


In the workshop, the FreeAgent GoFlex Home from Seagate is used. Similarly, Netbook's My Book Live from Western Digital or Stora from Netgear can be accessed via the web.


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The Seagate NAS takes just a minute to get started. Then the green signal light on the front panel lights constantly and the device is connected to the home network. For all other settings, you will need the installation CD that each manufacturer attaches to their devices.


Step 3: Remote access from any computer via online connection


Insert the included installation CD into a PC, which is connected to your home network via the router as is the NAS. After a few confirmations, the Seagate Dashboard installation will start.


After clicking Next, select a German-speaking country from the list and then read the End User License Agreement. Set the check mark "I accept the license agreement" and click the Next button.


The Seagate Dashboard application and the Memeo Instant Backup data backup tool are then installed on your computer. Finish to complete the setup process. Shortly afterwards, a window with a Windows security notice appears. Be sure to click the Allow Access button, otherwise Seagate will not be able to access the home network connection on the NAS.


The GoFlex Home Setup Wizard will open a new window, which will search your home network for the Seagate (connected and powered) hard drive. When connected to the Seagate NAS, the wizard reads its product key and displays it.


In the input field under * GoFlex Home-Name you assign a unique name for your network hard disk. You will need this name for remote access later. The name can only be composed of letters, numbers, and hyphens, and must start with a letter. It may also be a maximum of 15 characters long.


The selected name must not be assigned to other Seagate users. Therefore, click the Verify availability link next to the names you have chosen. If you have found an available name, write it down on a note and then go to the Next button.


In the window that follows, you enter your account data, which you also need for remote access to your home network storage. The username and password are freely selectable and the availability is not checked separately. Make sure your username is at least three digits and begins with a letter. Your password must consist of at least six characters, one of which must be a number.


Also provide a valid e-mail address. This is the only way the device can send you a warning message over the Internet, for example, because someone wants to access your NAS, or in case of malfunctions.


Make a note of your username and password on the label of your GoFlex Home name and confirm by clicking on Next (r). Your new account is now created.


Step 4: Mobile access from the smartphone to the home network


To be registered with Seagate, click Next (r) one last time. In the final screen of the setup wizard, smartphone owners already receive the direct download link to the GoFlex Home app. This allows data to be viewed directly on the Seagate NAS using the iPhone or Android phone.


First, start the Seagate Dashboard with the same button and transfer some photos, MP3s or other files to your network storage. Clicking on the Load content link in the section "How to ..." tells you how: During the installation, Dashboard has already set up several network drives under the drive letters X :, Y: and Z: in Windows Explorer. You can access it in Windows Explorer with just a few mouse clicks.


To access the Seagate NAS with an online computer outside your home network, open the web browser and go to www.seagateshare.com. From there, you can access the contents of your network hard drive.


Enter the selected GoFlex Home name and log on with the username and password. Enter the data correctly and click on the Login button.


The computer then makes contact with the network hard drive at home, and a web interface will appear after a short time to control your home network storage. After clicking Seagate Share, the contents of your hard disk will appear in an Explorer-like browser window.


Go to GoFlex Home Public in the left column under Content. Then you will see in the browser the shared folder with its contents. Then click on the right of the folder SamplePhotos. You see several images stored there.


As soon as you move the mouse over a file or folder, a round icon appears in the lower right corner. Click on it, then a context menu opens with different editing functions.


Owners of a smartphone (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or Android device) can also install a free app that allows access to the home server directly from the smartphone. To do this, type seagate and goflex in the Google Play (formerly Android Market) or Apple App Store. The use of the app requires Adobe Air. This extension is also available in the App Store.


After installing and starting the tool on the smartphone, enter the GoFlex Home name, including your username and password. A little later, you can access your hard drive from your smartphone at home.


If you are mobile, keep in mind that when you transfer large amounts of data, you do not overload your mobile data flat rate. This may be very costly.