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    Cloud LAN (Smart Remote Access) use cases
    • 4 Minutes to read
      Contents

      Cloud LAN (Smart Remote Access) use cases

      • 4 Minutes to read
        Article summary

        This article demonstrates examples how to use Cloud LAN (Smart Remote Access) network connector for different purposes. Each section presents a different use case:

        Note: Before starting, we highly reccomend to set up a Dynamic DNS address for your devices.

        Connect remote devices with Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)

        In this section, we'll walk you through the steps to use RDP with Cloud LAN (Smart Remote Access) feature.

        1.Connect to a Virtual Private Gateway in your NordLayer application.
        2. Enter the Dynamic DNS address into the RDP prompt before connecting.
        4. Check if the initialization process goes through.
        5. Confirm that you can now reach the remote device for remote desktop.

        Share Files on Windows

        Learn how to share files on your Windows machine using Cloud LAN (Smart Remote Access).

        Step 1: Creating share

        You will need to enable file sharing in Windows, as other operating systems cannot access Windows home groups.

        To do this, open Control Panel and navigate to Network and Sharing > Advanced sharing settings.

        Then, enable Network Discovery and File and printer sharing.

        You can also change the following options if you would like to share public folders over the network - without requiring a password.

        Screenshot 2021-07-22 at 13.33.04.png

        Locate the folder you would like to share in Windows Explorer or File Explorer, right-click on it and select Properties. Open up the Sharing tab and use the options there to share a folder and configure its permissions.

        Screenshot 2021-07-22 at 13.33.11.png

        Step 2: Accessing share

        You can connect directly to a computer using its full Dynamic DNS name.
        Just type \\FULL-DDNS-ADDRESS (the name of a machine that has configured shares) into Windows Explorer or File Explorer’s location bar and press Enter.

        Alternatively, to only reach a specific share, right-click somewhere on your Desktop and select New -> Shortcut.

        Share files on macOS

        Learn how to to share files on your macOS device with Cloud LAN (Smart Remote Access).

        Step 1: Create a Share

        You will need to enable network file sharing to share folders on your macOS device.
        Open System Preferences and select Sharing.
        Enable File Sharing and click the Options... button to ensure Share files and folders using SMB is enabled.

        Use the Shared Folders column to choose additional folders to share. Use the Users column to choose which users and groups can access and write to them.

        Screenshot 2021-07-22 at 13.38.32.png

        Step 2: Access share

        Open the Finder, click Go on the menu at the top of the screen, and select Connect to Server.
        Enter the following address, replacing 10.6.x.x with the other device’s full Dynamic DNS address name from the NordLayer application:

        Screenshot 2021-07-22 at 13.59.08.png

        You will be prompted to authenticate with the appropriate credentials or log in as a guest.
        After connecting, the computer will appear under the Shared column in the Finder sidebar.

        To automatically connect to the shared folder each time you log in, open the System Preferences window and navigate to Users and Groups > Login Items.

        Drag and drop the network share from under the Shared column in Finder to the list of Login Items.

        Share Files on Linux

        Learn how to share file options for Linux systems using Cloud LAN (Smart Remote Access)

        Step 1: Enable Share

        Use your desktop’s file manager to share a folder on Linux. Open the file manager, right-click a folder you would like to share, and select Properties.
        Click the Local Network Share tab and enable Share this folder.
        If this is the first time you have enabled sharing, you will be prompted to download and install the Samba software — this happens automatically when you provide your password.
        Configure your sharing settings after installing the Samba software — be sure to click the Create Share button to start sharing the folder.

        Screenshot 2021-07-22 at 13.41.56.png

        Step 2: Access Share on Linux

        To connect directly to another machine, navigate to Other Locations and locate the Connect to Server field.
        Enter the path to a computer with a configured network share: smb://DDNS-ADDRESS replacing DDNS-ADDRESS with the other device’s full name from the NordLayer application.

        Screenshot 2021-07-22 at 14.03.09.png

        Note: However you connect, you may need to authenticate with a user account name and password that has access to the files on the remote machine. This depends on whether you have enabled guest access and how you have set up your folder sharing permissions.

        Connect via Secure Shell (SSH)

        Learn how to connect your remote system with Secure Shell using Cloud LAN (Smart Remote Access):

        1. Ensure you have an SSH client installed on your local machine.
        2. Open your terminal or command prompt. Use the following command to connect to the remote device:
          css:
        ssh username@DDNS-ADDRESS
        1. Replace "username" with your remote device's username and Dynamic DNS address with the device's DDNS address.
        2. You may be prompted to enter your password for authentication. If you have SSH keys set up, you won't need to enter a password.
        3. Once authenticated, you'll have secure access to the remote device's command-line interface.
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