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Accessing storage (NAS) over the internet via FTP

When using the storage function (NAS), you can allow FTP clients such as Cyberduck, FileZilla, or WinSCP to access certain contents of storage connected to the FRITZ!Box. This way you can give friends and relatives access to your pictures and videos from your last vacation over the internet, for example.

Requirements / Restrictions

  • For IPv4 internet access, the FRITZ!Box must obtain a public IPv4 address from the internet service provider.
  • For IPv6 internet access, the FRITZ!Box must obtain an IPv6 address from the internet service provider.

Note:All instructions on configuration and settings given in this guide refer to the latest FRITZ!OS for the FRITZ!Box.

1 Preparations

Configuring a USB storage device for use as storage (NAS)

Setting up dynamic DNS

With dynamic DNS you can always access the FRITZ!Box over the internet at the same domain name, even though the public IP address of the FRITZ!Box changes on a regular basis.

  1. Set up dynamic DNS in the FRITZ!Box.

Maintaining a permanent internet connection

  1. Click "Internet" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "Account Information" in the "Internet" menu.
  3. Click "Change connection settings".
  4. Enable the option "Maintain permanently (recommended for flat rates)". If the option is not shown, the FRITZ!Box is already permanently connected to the internet.
  5. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

2 Setting up FRITZ!Box users

To access the FRITZ!Box over the internet, you must set up users in the FRITZ!Box and allow them to access storage (NAS) contents from the internet:

  1. Click "System" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "FRITZ!Box Users" in the "System" menu.
  3. Click the (Edit) button for the user who should be allowed to access the storage (NAS) over the internet or set up a new user for internet access:
    1. Click the "Add User" button.
    2. Enter a name and password for the user in the corresponding fields.
  4. Enable the option "Access from the internet allowed".
  5. Enable the option "Access to NAS contents".
  6. Click the "Add Directory" button.
  7. If the user should be allowed to access all storage available on the FRITZ!Box, enable the option "All storage available on the FRITZ!Box".
    • If the user should only be allowed to access a particular storage or folder, enable the option "Select folder".
      • ATTENTION!If you are using an IP telephone with the FRITZ!Box, the user will also have access to all of the messages recorded by the FRITZ!Box answering machine if you grant access to all folders.

  8. In the section "Directory", assign the user read and write permission to the storage.
  9. Click "OK".
  10. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

3 Setting up internet access to storage (NAS)

  1. Click "Internet" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "Permit Access" in the "Internet" menu.
  3. Click on the "FRITZ!Box Services" tab.
  4. Enable the option "Internet access to your storage media via FTP/FTPS enabled".
  5. If access from the internet should be encrypted, enable the option "Allow only secure FTP connections (FTPS)".

    Important:The software used to access the storage (for example a web browser, FTP client) must also support FTPS.

  6. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

4 Accessing storage (NAS) over the internet

  1. Call up the address ftp://[Dynamic DNS domain name of the FRITZ!Box] in the FTP client.

    Example:
    ftp://fritzbox.dyndns.org

  2. If you are asked to enter a username and password, enter the name and password of a FRITZ!Box user who is authorized to access NAS contents from the internet.