File transfers and file sharing have become much easier these days, thanks to cloud servers. Now you needn’t really carry your laptop, external hard drives and pen drives around to access your data or information. Cloud file sharing has made working easy and gives you the freedom to work from anywhere you can get an Internet connection. Here are some of the popular platforms that allow you to set up a cloud network and facilitate remote access to your information. There are several ways to connect to cloud servers. Here’s a look at some of them:
Connecting through VPN
Virtual Private Networks offers two virtual platforms – the Gateway based and the Client based. You can initiate these platforms with Internet Explorer 7 or Fire Fox 3 or higher web browsers. By setting up a Virtual Private Network connection or VPN connection, you establish a contact between your own network and the cloud server. This kind of network is particularly useful when there are public and private pools involved. Once you establish the connection, it then requires mapping of the network drives on the server. This is done using the inside IP address. This mapping facilitates easier and faster file transfer and also enables you to make necessary changes that may be required in the file system. One of the most popular VPN systems is Cisco’s AnyConnect VPN Client. Here’s a step by step procedure how you can enable this service:
Cisco’s AnyConnect VPN can be activated with an Active-X or Java plug-in from your browser. This is a built in VPN network and can easily set up a connection with the cloud server for fast and easy data transfer. By activating the plug-in, a connection is established between your system and the cloud server. Usually, Firefox 3 or Internet Explorer 7 web browser versions work best in setting up the connection.
Connecting through FTP
In case you have a lot of data bulk to be transferred, the File Transfer Protocol or FTP is the best option for you. In this case you will have to set up the service on your virtual server and ensure that both ports 20 and 21 are visible in its external IP address. Later, all you need is run the FTP command from your server and connect to an Internet source in order to copy or transfer files. This is the best method for large data handling or loading up a database.
Connecting through Remote Desktop Connection
Another method for logging into a virtual server is by using Remote Desktop Connection. This is usually done using the Windows Virtual Server and requires the connection port 3389 to be connected to the Internet network. Once the Remote Desktop Connection has been set up, the server desktop will open in a window on your screen and you can use this as a virtual interface to manage the server remotely. The RDC for cloud networks works in a similar manner as remote connection between servers on a local area network, so it may seem familiar to those who use Windows Remote Desktop.
