NAT loopback?

[Andy L]

I'm trying to set up an SFTP server on my new FreeNAS 8 NAS which is accessible from the outside world. When I'm trying to connect from another computer on the same LAN as the NAS, it works fine in FileZilla whether I connect to the NAS's local IP address or through the external IP address. However, when I try to connect to the NAS from an external location, I get the error messages 'connection timed out, could not connect to server'. My router is a Billion 7800N running firmware 1.06d and the only port I have set up in Virtual Server is port 22 for SSH.

I've done a bit of research and apparently I need to enable something called NAT loopback to be able to connect to the SFTP server over WAN - is this possible on the 7800N? And if so, where can I find the option? Or do I need to do something else to get this working? Thanks in advance!

[billion_fan]

All you should have to do is add a rule to the VIrtual Server.

Add the ports the NAS uses and static IP set to the NAS.

Then try from a remote connection to connect to the NAS via your WAN IP address.

If you don't know the ports, then you can try using the DMZ option, that should open all ports to the NAS.

[Andy L]

I already had a Virtual Server rule set up for port 22 going to my NAS's internal static IP, and setting DMZ to always on for the NAS's internal IP hasn't made any difference - I still can't connect from an external location. Do you (or anyone else) have any more ideas?

[billion_fan]

have you tried adding a rule in the packet filtering section?? Under Firewall??

[Andy L]

Yes I've tried adding a packet filter rule (incoming direction, external port 22 to my NAS's internal IP) but that didn't make any difference either...

[crocodil]

Same here. I have an ssh server running on my NAS, can connect from the LAN, using both internal and external IPs, but I can't connect from an external address.
VirtualServer is configured for SSH and forwards to a static internal IP. Any solution please? I'm using firmware 1.06f.dc1.

[Andy L]

The problem wasn't with the router in the end - I solved it by logging into FreeNAS through PuTTY (or your SSH console of choice) and entering route add default <default gateway's local IP address>. In my case, it was route add default 192.168.1.254.