TrueNas and Private Internet Access for a semi-nube

Hello everyone:

I will try to write as comprehensive a first post as possible on this topic so that I don’t waste anybody’s time.

I am running a TrueNas server in my house to serve media files to PCs/screens in my house and all is going well. I built the system myself - as in ran the installer, configured the drives etc. However, whilst I am fairly technically savvy, I followed YouTube guides and didn’t deviate from defaults.

I live in Oman and have a fiber internet connection and associated ISP provided router. I have previously, when living in the UK, created a proof-of-concept port forward samba server. I know it is not safe to do this, it probably wasn’t safe to do it years ago when I did it and it certainly isn’t safe now

My issue is this, the technical understanding of the sales assistants/helpdesk people for my ISP specifically (in Oman) is not great. A vast majority do not know what port forwarding is. The stock router I have been supplied with doesn’t have the port forwarding option, this has probably been disabled in software. I have, however, been told that I can buy x router from them which will have port forwarding. However, given their aforementioned lack of understanding, I cannot guarantee this and nor can I guarantee that they will give me my money back if it doesn’t have this feature.

Right, now all the background is out of the way:

I want to access my media files from outside my house, when abroad etc. I have been told that by connecting to a specific VPN, Private Internet Access being one of them, I can do this, it is securer than port-forwarding etc.

Here are my questions:

  1. Does having a compatible VPN mean I do not need to port forward at all? I don’t think so as surely the router still needs to allow some-sort of inbound traffic.
  2. If I don’t need to port forward, could someone explain how I get this working?
  3. If I need a new router, could someone tell me if there are any routers I can just buy? It doesn’t seem that you can just buy fiber modems from the supermarkets/shops here…this might be because there is no such thing and this is not an evolution of ADSL/cable as per the UK - again my knowledge here is weak.
  4. If I cannot buy one here, could I get one in the UK, or can ISPs lock down which routers will work etc, thus forcing me to buy one from them?

Many thanks for your time.

Graham

Hi and welcome!
For what Is my experience:

Unlucky not. I setup a VPN, and i needed to forward traffic from the UDP designed port.
I don’t know alternative, Hope someone can help you