Accessing files on my Mac through Airport Extreme when on net

[theMouthPiece]

Hi All

I am wondering if there is a way for me to be able to access my files remotely.

I have a Mac on my home network that I'd like to access when I am not at home on my network. I use dropbox, which is fine, but sometimes I leave image files on my Mac that I would like to be able to access from another Mac when not at home on my network.

I have an Airport Extreme and I would like to be able to access the built in 2TB drive on that, as well as my own Macbook when away from home.

Is this possible please? Thanks

[acme.mail.order]

You need to do 4 things:

1. leave your home computer on 24/7.

2. Enable "File Sharing" in System Preferences.

3. Enable file sharing (AFP) on the Airport, and set up your main machine with a fixed IP address

4. Get a way to access your home internet connection. Either a service like DynDNS.com or a script that mails the IP address regularly.

If the above sounds complex, it is. Setting up a public-facing web server is not a "click to enable" process.

You could also investigate "Back to my Mac" and iCloud. Works fine for documents, not so well for media. But then, if you are thinking of pulling a movie off that external 2Tb drive while using a hotel wifi connection you're setting up for a big disappointment.

[NovaScotian]

An alternative I use is Yazsoft's ShareTool which is a secure screen sharing app that works from client to server right through a router and Dropbox. I screen share with my home machine (left running) choose the file I want, drop it in my dropbox, and then recover it on my laptop from its dropbox.