i am using a WD Mycloud device for backup and using FFS for my backups. i am in the process of trying to setup remote access to the device for when i am away. i know that WD offers a sync program to use between my device and the cloud and it works ok but i prefer not to use the cloud and just have direct access to my device. i am having trouble trying to figure out how to accomplish this. is this possible and if so how?
thank you
sync to mycloud.com
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 13 Jun 2019
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 26 Jan 2017
I know it's 6 years ago, but I'm trying to do exactly that and wondered if you ever found a solution?
Regards, Bob.
Regards, Bob.
- Posts: 162
- Joined: 5 Jan 2024
Hi @bob306
For remote access I would recommend the free plan of tailscale. It will give you an IP address for your machine inside your home and another IP address for your remote computer and you can use this over a secure encrypted connection.
This will let you use Services running on your PC but may not necessarily let you get to the Western Digital.
What if you were to install remote control software such as rustdesk. It's free and can get around your router and let you control your PC and you can transfer files if you need to.
Any chance your router supports tunneling.?
From Chat gpt. I cannot verify but it looks correct.
Yes, you can access your Western Digital (WD) My Cloud EX2 Ultra from the internet, but there are security and performance considerations. Here are the main ways:
---
✅ 1. WD My Cloud Web Access (via Cloud Account)
WD provides a cloud access service through:
MyCloud.com (or the My Cloud mobile app)
Allows access to your files from anywhere
Uses relay servers and direct connections when possible
How to enable:
1. Log into your WD My Cloud dashboard
2. Go to Settings > General > Cloud Access
3. Enable Remote Access
4. Create or link a WD My Cloud account
5. Use that account to log in at https://www.mycloud.com
✅ Pros:
Simple setup, minimal port forwarding
WD handles authentication and tunneling
❌ Cons:
Limited flexibility (not full file system access)
Relies on WD's services (which have had outages/shutdowns in the past)
---
✅ 2. FTP / FTPS Access
You can enable FTP (and optionally FTPS) and open ports on your router for internet access.
How:
1. Go to Settings > Network > FTP Access in the dashboard
2. Enable FTP or FTPS
3. On your router, forward port 21 (FTP) or port 990 (FTPS)
4. Connect via FTP client (e.g., FileZilla) using your external IP or DDNS
❗ Security Note: Use FTPS, not plain FTP, to protect passwords and data.
---
✅ 3. WebDAV (Over HTTPS)
This lets you mount the NAS as a secure remote drive using HTTPS.
Setup:
1. Enable WebDAV in the dashboard
2. Forward port 443 (HTTPS) on your router
3. Use a WebDAV client (like Cyberduck, WinSCP, or built-in OS support)
🛡️ More secure than FTP, and supports modern encryption.
---
⚠️ 4. SSH + Port Forwarding (Advanced)
If you enable SSH access, you can tunnel into the device and set up remote forwarding or use rsync, SCP, etc.
Enable SSH in Settings > Network > SSH
Use your router to forward port 22
Log in with an SSH client (like PuTTY or OpenSSH)
Warning: The WD firmware is locked down — use SSH with care to avoid corrupting the device. Also, expose only if you understand SSH hardening.
---
🔒 Important Security Recommendations:
Change default admin credentials
Use strong passwords
Disable unused remote access options
Consider using a VPN into your home network instead of exposing ports directly
---
✅ Best Practice (For Security-Conscious Users):
Instead of opening ports:
Set up a VPN (e.g., WireGuard, OpenVPN) on your router or a small home server
Access the NAS securely through your internal network
---
For remote access I would recommend the free plan of tailscale. It will give you an IP address for your machine inside your home and another IP address for your remote computer and you can use this over a secure encrypted connection.
This will let you use Services running on your PC but may not necessarily let you get to the Western Digital.
What if you were to install remote control software such as rustdesk. It's free and can get around your router and let you control your PC and you can transfer files if you need to.
Any chance your router supports tunneling.?
From Chat gpt. I cannot verify but it looks correct.
Yes, you can access your Western Digital (WD) My Cloud EX2 Ultra from the internet, but there are security and performance considerations. Here are the main ways:
---
✅ 1. WD My Cloud Web Access (via Cloud Account)
WD provides a cloud access service through:
MyCloud.com (or the My Cloud mobile app)
Allows access to your files from anywhere
Uses relay servers and direct connections when possible
How to enable:
1. Log into your WD My Cloud dashboard
2. Go to Settings > General > Cloud Access
3. Enable Remote Access
4. Create or link a WD My Cloud account
5. Use that account to log in at https://www.mycloud.com
✅ Pros:
Simple setup, minimal port forwarding
WD handles authentication and tunneling
❌ Cons:
Limited flexibility (not full file system access)
Relies on WD's services (which have had outages/shutdowns in the past)
---
✅ 2. FTP / FTPS Access
You can enable FTP (and optionally FTPS) and open ports on your router for internet access.
How:
1. Go to Settings > Network > FTP Access in the dashboard
2. Enable FTP or FTPS
3. On your router, forward port 21 (FTP) or port 990 (FTPS)
4. Connect via FTP client (e.g., FileZilla) using your external IP or DDNS
❗ Security Note: Use FTPS, not plain FTP, to protect passwords and data.
---
✅ 3. WebDAV (Over HTTPS)
This lets you mount the NAS as a secure remote drive using HTTPS.
Setup:
1. Enable WebDAV in the dashboard
2. Forward port 443 (HTTPS) on your router
3. Use a WebDAV client (like Cyberduck, WinSCP, or built-in OS support)
🛡️ More secure than FTP, and supports modern encryption.
---
⚠️ 4. SSH + Port Forwarding (Advanced)
If you enable SSH access, you can tunnel into the device and set up remote forwarding or use rsync, SCP, etc.
Enable SSH in Settings > Network > SSH
Use your router to forward port 22
Log in with an SSH client (like PuTTY or OpenSSH)
Warning: The WD firmware is locked down — use SSH with care to avoid corrupting the device. Also, expose only if you understand SSH hardening.
---
🔒 Important Security Recommendations:
Change default admin credentials
Use strong passwords
Disable unused remote access options
Consider using a VPN into your home network instead of exposing ports directly
---
✅ Best Practice (For Security-Conscious Users):
Instead of opening ports:
Set up a VPN (e.g., WireGuard, OpenVPN) on your router or a small home server
Access the NAS securely through your internal network
---
