Filter
Top Products
NETGEAR ReadyNAS User Guide
1-18 Configuring Your ReadyNAS
v1.0, October 2007
Standard File Protocols
The standard file protocols are common file-sharing services that allow your workstation clients to
transfer files to and from the ReadyNAS using built-in file manager-over-network file protocols
supported by the client operating system. The available services are:
• CIFS (Common Internet File Service). Sometimes referred to as SMB. This protocol is used
mainly by Microsoft Windows clients, and sometimes by Mac OS X clients. Under Windows,
when you click on My Network Places Network Neighborhood, you are going across CIFS.
This service is enabled by default and cannot be disabled.
• NFS (Network File Service). NFS is used by Linux and Unix clients. Mac OS 9/X users can
access NFS shares as well through console shell access. The ReadyNAS supports NFS v3 over
UDP and TCP.
• AFP (Apple File Protocol). Mac OS 9 and OS X works best using this protocol as it handles
an extensive character set. However, in mixed PC and Mac environments, it is advisable to use
CIFS/SMB, unless enhanced character set support is necessary on the Mac.The ReadyNAS
supports AFP 3.1.
• FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Widely used in public file upload and download sites.
ReadyNAS supports anonymous or user access for FTP clients, regardless of the security
mode selected. If you wish, you can elect to set up port forwarding to nonstandard ports for
better security when accessing files over the Internet.
• HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). Used by Web browsers. ReadyNAS supports HTTP file
manager, allowing Web browsers to read and write to shares using the Web browser. This
service can be disabled in lieu of HTTPS to allow for a more secure transmission of passwords
and data. With the option to redirect default Web access to a specified share, you can
transparently force access to http://readynas_ip to http://readynas_ip/share. This is useful
if you do not want to expose your default share listing page to outsiders. All you need in the
target share is an index file such as index.htm or index.html. You have the option of enabling
or disabling login authentication to this share.
• HTTPS (HTTP with SSL encryption). This service is enabled by default and cannot be
disabled. Access to FrontView is strictly through HTTPS for this reason. If you want remote
Web access to FrontView or your HTTPS shares, you can specify a nonstandard port (default
is 443) that you can forward on your router for better security. You can also regenerate the SSL
key based on the hostname or IP address that users will use to address the ReadyNAS. This
allows you to bypass the default dummy certificate warnings whenever users access the
ReadyNAS over HTTPS.
• Rsync. An extremely popular and efficient form of incremental backup made popular in the
Linux platform but now available for various other Unix systems as well as Windows and