Amahi Forums

I've got Amahi installed now but I'm a bit stuck. Basically, I'd like to turn my HDA into (as much as possible) the equivalent of Google, but running on hardware I own so that my information is more private. The home networking stuff seems pretty straight forward...at least as much of it as I've experimented with so far. Connecting to Amahi from outside the home network, however, is less straight forward.

There seems to be enough information available for people who already know what they're doing. It's all stuff like "if you want to do X" and "if you want to do Y" but there's no explanation of what that means or how to choose between them.

It appears that connecting to my home network, over the internet, from a computer I own is simple. I just use VPN or SSH. But how do I connect from a computer I DON'T own? I'd like to, for example, connect to my HDA from my work computer and check a personal email account, or edit/store documents, or manage a calendar.

From what I've been able to find so far it seems like I would have to configure my HDA to serve up a webpage, is that accurate?
How can I configure my HDA to provide services like Google to me when I am connecting across the internet from a computer I don't own?

Thanks for your help

From what I've been able to find so far it seems like I would have to configure my HDA to serve up a webpage, is that accurate?[/quote]

If you want to access files from work, use OpenVPN ALS, a clientless VPN. Then expose it outside your network by following the wiki guidance on how to serve up a web page. It details how to expose an app outside the network.

You can also install the HDAConnect (Windows) on your work computer and VPN into your HDA.

How can I configure my HDA to provide services like Google to me when I am connecting across the internet from a computer I don't own?

You will need to provide more details on this one as I don't understand your intent.

According to this clientless VPNs have a big security hole. http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/261869
Is this only a problem if someone targets your system, or is it a generic thing that you could stumble across accidentally?

So...this? https://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/openvpn-als/
If they talk about Adito a lot are they talking about OpenVPN ALS too? Are the names interchangeable?
From what little I can understand of the sparse documentation, it seems like you still have to install something and/or alter the security settings of the computer you're using to connect through the internet to the home server. Is that accurate? If not, where do you go to get the java applet and how do you use it?

I assume this https://sourceforge.net/projects/openvpn-als/ is where you get the server-side program. Correct?

Is this a good overview? http://www.amahi.org/apps/openvpn-als You just configure the home server and then when you navigate to your dynamic DNS you can connect to your HDA?

Okay, so, assuming this browser-based thing works without a client (agent?) there are two ways to connect to an HDA from the internet. The most secure way is by using a client installed on your own portable computer. A flexible way is to use a java applet agent(?) because it can do the same thing but on a computer you can't install or change things on. The way you get the java applet onto someone else's computer is to visit Amahi's dynamic DNS page and get connected to your HDA, which will then load the applet into your cookies or something?

As for email, it looks like that isn't fully supported yet http://www.amahi.org/apps/amahi-mail-system and http://wiki.amahi.org/index.php/Amahi_Mail_System
...but it does look possible.

Please correct me if I'm going astray

Once a VPN is created between the two computers, you can move files around and change settings just like you were physically connected to the home network, right? So, if you wanted to edit a document and save it on the home server, you'd have to transfer it to your portable computer, edit and save it, then transfer it back to the home server. Once you're into the home network the HDA apps would look the same as they do when you're in your house, right? Like, you don't need to do anything special to use the calendar because it runs on the server.

If they talk about Adito a lot are they talking about OpenVPN ALS too? Are the names interchangeable?

Yes, they are the same application. It was renamed during project development.

From what little I can understand of the sparse documentation, it seems like you still have to install something and/or alter the security settings of the computer you're using to connect through the internet to the home server. Is that accurate? If not, where do you go to get the java applet and how do you use it?

All you do is install the Amahi app and login. There is no java applet to install. To expose this to outside your local network, you forward port 4443 to 443 on your router. Then use username.yourhda.com to access it.

As for email, it looks like that isn't fully supported yet http://www.amahi.org/apps/amahi-mail-system and http://wiki.amahi.org/index.php/Amahi_Mail_System
...but it does look possible.

This app is still in testing. I am the one who put it together and have used it extensively. Works great for what I need.

Once a VPN is created between the two computers, you can move files around and change settings just like you were physically connected to the home network, right? So, if you wanted to edit a document and save it on the home server, you'd have to transfer it to your portable computer, edit and save it, then transfer it back to the home server. Once you're into the home network the HDA apps would look the same as they do when you're in your house, right? Like, you don't need to do anything special to use the calendar because it runs on the server.

For a true VPN, you can access the files and modify them directly on the server if you choose. For clientless, you have to download, modify, then upload as you indicated.

Hope this helps clarify your questions.

Thanks for getting back to me so fast

All this won't go to waste, I promise. I'm trying to figure out how to setup my HDA, but I'm also building this beginner guide http://wiki.amahi.org/index.php/Amahi_for_dummies
So, if I ask a bunch of stupid questions, it's for a good cause.

Process as I understand it:
1) install the VPN app on your Amahi home server
2) configure it(?)
3) set up port forwarding on your router
4) go somewhere else
5) use a computer to navigate to your dynamic DNS address
6) if you're using your own computer, with a VPN client installed and properly configured, you will connect and you can do anything on your home server you could have done if you were actually at home
6a) if you're using someone else's computer, then the Amahi home server will let you in using just a password, but you won't be able to run any programs on the server

You got it pretty much.

6a) if you're using someone else's computer, then the Amahi home server will let you in using just a password, but you won't be able to run any programs on the server

For this one, you will be able to access files and some apps if using OpenVPN ALS. I managed to get to some apps using the web forward option (http://wiki.amahi.org/index.php/Adito).

You can also expose apps outside the network using Amahi Web-Apps Proxy (http://www.amahi.org/apps/amahi-web-apps-proxy) or for a single app, follow the wiki guidance (http://wiki.amahi.org/index.php/Hosting ... e%20Webapp

I don't mind questions. Thanks for building the guide. We have needed one for quite some time.