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Fileserver: remote access while traveling

Just a quick note to explain how I access the ThinkStation fileserver when I’m traveling. I am running Tailscale on it, and also on my laptop computer.

There are alternatives to Tailscale, like ZeroTier and Nebula, but I find Tailscale easy to use and as secure as I need it to be.

Fundamentally, I use Windows Remote Desktop Connection to connect the two devices. On my laptop, I go to the taskbar and open the Tailscale app. When I click on the network device I want to connect to, the Tailscale-assigned IP address is copied to the clipboard.

Then I start RDC and paste the IP into field next to Computer. I have to authenticate to the fileserver before it will connect, but once I do, I have a very, very fast connection to the machine. I swear it is like being there in person.

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