Using Time Capsule as an SMB file server over the internet

[Raryn]

I use my time capsule to transfer files between various computers, including ones that aren't on my same home network. For mac's, setting up filesharing over the internet works great, and I don't have any issues connecting to the time capsule remotely using afp://my.ip.add.ress

The issue comes if I try to connect a windows XP PC to my time capsule as a file server. I can connect one just fine if its on the local network, but I have been unable to do so for one remotely. Every indication I've seen online says that it should be possible to connect to via SMB, but I haven't been able to get it to work. Are there any specific settings that should be chosen either on the time capsule or on the PC to get it to work? Perhaps I'm not connecting to it via the PC correctly. Is connecting to it as a network drive at smb://my.ip.add.ress not correct?

I've come across a few guides related to similar topics, but they all assume that the time capsule is just connected to your local network, and mine is also acting as my router.

Thanks!

 

[vladzaharia]

That would be correct through OSX. Remember that Windows uses the \\<location> syntax for connecting to shares, so if you're connecting to IP 8.8.8.8, you'd connect as \\8.8.8.8

Edit: Also, remember to check the "Share disks over WAN" option in your configuration.
Edit 2: I was able to connect through AFP, but not SMB from my mac. Could be that only AFP is transmitted over WAN.
Edit 3: Yeah, I did a port scan. The only file sharing-related port open is afpovertcp (548). There's also netbios (139) and AP Configuration (5009)

 

[Raryn]

That would be correct through OSX. Remember that Windows uses the \\<location> syntax for connecting to shares, so if you're connecting to IP 8.8.8.8, you'd connect as \\8.8.8.8

Edit: Also, remember to check the "Share disks over WAN" option in your configuration.
Edit 2: I was able to connect through AFP, but not SMB from my mac. Could be that only AFP is transmitted over WAN.
Edit 3: Yeah, I did a port scan. The only file sharing-related port open is afpovertcp (548). There's also netbios (139) and AP Configuration (5009)

I've tried connecting to \\ip and have had no luck. The share disks over WAN option is checked.

I've come across posts in a variety of places saying that they could connect to a time capsule through SMB, though I don't know if they were talking about just through LAN or WAN.

I'm not sure about the ports, but if you have file sharing turned on it doesn't let you forward 445, same as it doesn't let you forward 548. I'm assuming the router is using it for file sharing then, but I don't know *how*. (turning off file sharing over WAN does let you forward 445, which is where I'm getting this assumption for)

 

[vladzaharia]

Probably LAN, unless it explicitly stated WAN.

It can't be using it for file sharing. If it's not open to the world, then the world can't see it. If the world can't see it, the world can't use it. It's as simple as that. The samba service may be running on the TC, but computers can only see it when it's in LAN since that's the only time it's open.

Here's the port scans I did:
LAN: http://gist.github.com/542004
WAN: http://gist.github.com/542003

See? 445 is open on LAN, but not on WAN.

 

[Raryn]

Probably LAN, unless it explicitly stated WAN.

It can't be using it for file sharing. If it's not open to the world, then the world can't see it. If the world can't see it, the world can't use it. It's as simple as that. The samba service may be running on the TC, but computers can only see it when it's in LAN since that's the only time it's open.

Here's the port scans I did:
LAN: http://gist.github.com/542004
WAN: http://gist.github.com/542003

See? 445 is open on LAN, but not on WAN.

I wonder why it doesn't let you forward external/public TCP port 445 when sharing over WAN is on because it says it "a public TCP port number conflicts with a file sharing port on the base station." Maybe it has something to do with the workgroup or WINS server settings? I've just been leaving them blank. Ah well, if it can't be done, it can't be done.

There isn't any way to finangle an XP box to connect to it via AFP is there? I couldn't see any.