Set up My Own VPN for Backups

Skramit on 14/01/2020 - 14:09
Last edited 14/01/2020 - 14:54

So my brother and I both have 100/40 NBN connections which means plenty of upload bandwidth for backing up our PC files (e.g. photos) to each other via our fast internet connections

Is there a simple and free method to set up some sort of VPN from my PC to his PC with the click of a button to connect, dump my backup on his HDD via a mapped drive, then disconnect it? Is there something simple I can set up to do this? Any ideas what software should I be looking at? Does it need a bunch of port opening and tweaking in both our routers - or can we connect up our routers permanently via built in VPN protocols?

Any suggestions appreciated!

Thanks!

Computing

Comments

  • ProlapsedHeinous on 14/01/2020 - 14:21
    +1

    Something like Bittorrent Sync may be a solution for you. https://www.techspot.com/downloads/5920-bittorrent-sync.html

  • CC123 on 14/01/2020 - 14:26
    +1

    You could try teamviewer's VPN - only downside is you need the other PC to be on in order to connect.
    Safer than port forwarding in my opinion.

  • Diji1 on 14/01/2020 - 14:35
    +1

    The above methods may be better (definitely easier) but if you both of you have a reasonable router eg Asus RT-86U you can setup VPN servers on the router and connect that way.

    • Skramit on 14/01/2020 - 14:44

      We both have fairly new TPLink routers eg Archer 3150

      I like the idea that it's done at the Router level. Is this a permanent connection that i can then just access a file share on his PC via an ip address? i.e. map it as a network drive?

      • Diji1 on 14/01/2020 - 17:18

        Yes it's at the router level but I'm not sure if you can do it using TP-Link but I might be wrong.

  • surethang on 14/01/2020 - 14:42

    I've just started looking into this sort of thing too. WireGuard (https://www.wireguard.com/) keeps getting mentioned as a secure, free VPN. It's supposed to be simple to install and manage, but I think that might be relative to other offerings (e.g. OpenVPN). This is all relatively new to me, so I'd also be interested in insights from anyone with more experience. Thanks.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 14/01/2020 - 14:44

    How much data are we talking about?

    • Skramit on 14/01/2020 - 14:46

      Mostly just to back up each others photos and documents. Initial data swap would be done via external HDD of approx 500GB each. But after that we would then just keep the photos folders we both have in sync. Couple of GB per month max.

  • forkus on 14/01/2020 - 14:59
    +4

    As others have mentioned, there is solutions available for this exact purpose of mirroring data between computers.

    If you want to do the VPN idea as a bit of a challenge and project, fantastic.
    If you just want to mirror your files, I think the VPN solution is a bit like redesigning the wheel and making it more difficult.

    Personally used Resilio (BitTorrent Sync) before and found it easy to use.

  • Palamedes on 02/02/2020 - 19:45

    I thing I have yet to investigate fully but if you have a Synology or QNAP NAS (and no doubt others) I think you can easily set up VPN's between them on your home network and your remote PC (I have read). Considering one QNAP NAS I once got was $119 (plus HDD) and can VPN using a number of apps it may be a path to look into. Is anyone using this solution here yet? I am going OS in a few months and having let my PIA VPN lapse may need to get off my bum and play. When traveling a VPN has been good for me as some Australian sites block (or lock) you when you connect from OS. Bigpond mail was one a year or two back and I think some bank sites did it as well.

    Luckily I have 3 NAS with VPN functions so have some scope to play with I guess. With my latest QNAP you can remote browse, network connect, vpn and some other tricks.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join