Create your own NAS Server at Your Home using a Wi-Fi Router

Requirements:

1. A Wi-Fi router.

2. A spare hard drive (for this experiment, I’ll be using a 250 GB SATA hard drive).

3. Your router’s IP address and login credentials (usually found on the back of the router).

Let’s get started!

Step 1:

Begin by connecting your hard disk or external flash drive to the USB port on your Wi-Fi router. In my case, I'm using a Airtel and router and connecting my external hard drive to its USB slot.

Step 2:

Once you’ve connected your flash drive or hard disk, open Chrome or any other web browser, and enter your router’s IP address into the browser’s URL bar (found on the back of the router). For my Airtel router, the IP address is https://192.168.1.1/. Log in to the home gateway and navigate to the advanced settings, then select "Storage Devices" and click "Refresh." You should see the connected pen drive or hard disk listed.

Use your admin default user name and password to login to the gateway

Step 3:

Depending on your ISP and router, you may need to enable FTP. For instance, on my ZTE router provided by Airtel, follow these steps:

1. Go to "Local Network."

2. Click on "FTP."

3. If the server is turned off, switch it on. You can also enable additional security for the FTP server if desired.

Step 4:

Once you’ve applied the changes, navigate to "Home" and then "USB Devices." You will find the FTP server URL displayed there, as shown below.

Now your FTP server is ready
there are many ways you can access this server
1. Copy the URL then to to this PC and past the URL in the search bar
You will get access to your NSA storage

How to Access FTP on Android:

Many file managers now include FTP access features. To use this:

1. Open your file manager app.

2. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon).

3. Select "Remote"

4. and select add remove and select FTP

Now then add the FTP IP address port : 21 , user name and password if you have set one and click on Ok

And now you are connected to your FTP from your android device

Now you know how to set up your own private NAS (Network-Attached Storage) or personal cloud storage.

This NAS (Network-Attached Storage) is only accessible via your own Wi-Fi network, it means that the NAS device is configured for local network access only, without remote access over the internet. Here's a breakdown of what this entails:

Local Network Access Only:

1. Internal Network Use: The NAS can be accessed by devices connected to the same local network (e.g., your home Wi-Fi network) but not from external locations outside this network.

2. Improved Security: With local-only access, the risk of unauthorized remote access is minimized, enhancing security by limiting exposure to potential external threats.

3. File Sharing Within Home Network: You can share files and folders with other devices connected to your Wi-Fi network, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets.

4. Media Streaming Locally: Stream media content, such as music and videos, to devices within your home network.

5. Data Backup: Perform backups from devices on your local network to the NAS, ensuring your data is stored centrally within your home environment.

6. Access Speed: Since all data transfers occur within your local network, access speeds can be faster compared to remote access scenarios, assuming a stable and fast Wi-Fi connection.

7. Ease of Setup: Typically simpler to set up since it doesn’t require configuring remote access or dealing with external network settings.

Limitations:

1. No Remote Access: You cannot access the NAS from outside your home network, which limits its use for remote work or accessing files while traveling.

2. Network Dependency: All devices must be connected to the same local network, which might limit the flexibility of accessing your data.