Connect to your NAS via WebDAV using a variety of different devices

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course you should be able to:

1. Have a basic understanding of WebDAV.
2. Connect to an ASUSTOR NAS via WebDAV.

PREREQUISITES

Course Prerequisites:

None

Students are expected to have a working knowledge of:

N/A

OUTLINE

1. Introduction to WebDAV

2. Enabling WebDAV service

3. Connecting via WebDAV

3.1 Connecting using Windows 10 or Windows 11

3.2 Connecting using macOS (10.4 and above)

3.3 Connecting using Linux

3.4 Connecting using a mobile device

4. Remote HTTPS connecting via WebDAV

1. Introduction to WebDAV

WebDAV is short for "Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning". It is a set of extensions to the HTTP(S) protocol that allows a web server to appear as a standard network drive. After enabling WebDAV you will be able to remotely access your ASUSTOR NAS via HTTP or HTTPS protocol. WebDAV clients are native to Windows, macOS, Linux, etc. You can simply map/mount network drives (web folders) from one of these operating systems to one or several of the shared folders on the ASUSTOR NAS.

In the following examples we will show you how to enable WebDAV service on the NAS and how to connect to your NAS via WebDAV in a variety of different devices.

2. Enabling WebDAV service

STEP 1

• Log into your ADM using your Web browser.
• Select [Services] [WebDAV].
• Select [Enable WebDAV service] or [Enable secured WebDAV service (SSL)] and click on [Apply].

3. Connecting via WebDAV

3.1 Connecting using Windows 10 or Windows 11

Windows 10 and Windows 11 only allows HTTPS WebDAV connections by default, if you want to use HTTP connections, you must first decrease the security level for the WebClient on Windows before being able to use HTTP connections to WebDAV.

STEP 1

• In Windows 10 or Windows 11, click [Search] on the [Taskbar].
• Enter [regedit] and then you will find [Registry Editor] here.
• Click on [Open].

Windows 10:

Windows 11:

• The Registry Editor will now appear. In the left hand panel navigate to:
  
• Double-click on [BasicAuthLevel].
• In the [Value data] field, change the number to [2] and click [OK].

STEP 2

• After modifying the settings, you need to restart WebClient.
• In Windows 10 or Windows 11, click [Search] on the [Taskbar].
• Enter [cmd] and then you will find [Command Prompt] here.
• Click on [Run as administrator].

Windows 10:

Windows 11:

• Enter [net stop webclient] to stop the WebClient service.
• Enter [net start webclient] again to restart the WebClient service.

STEP 3

• Open the Windows Explorer, and then right-click on [This PC] and select [Map network drive.].

Windows 10:

Windows 11:

STEP 4

• The Map Network Drive dialog box will now appear. Enter [http://NAS_IP:WebDav_port] and then click [Finish]. (Default WebDAV HTTP Port is 9800)

If the default "admin" account of the NAS has been disabled, please be sure to enable [Connect using different credentials], and then you can proceed to next step properly and sign in with other administrator account.

STEP 5

• Enter your NAS username and password and then click [OK].

STEP 6

• Once completed, you will be able to see a new network location under [This PC]. You can access the NAS shared folders with the privilege of the login account.

3.2 Connecting using macOS (10.4 and above)

STEP 1

• Select [Finder] [Go] [Connect to Server].

• Enter the URL you wish to connect to into the [Server Address:] field in the following format: "http://NAS_IP:WebDav_port/WebDav_folder" and then click on [Connect].

  For example, if:
  NAS IP: 172.16.1.206
  WebDAV port: 9800
  Folder you wish to connect to: Download
  
  Then you would enter: http://172.16.1.206:9800/Download
  Please note that folder names will be case-sensitive.

STEP 2

• Enter your NAS username and password and then click on [Connect].

STEP 3

• Your files and folders should now be accessible.

Note: You can also find the mountpoint for the WebDAV connection under [Shared] in the left hand panel and make it one of your login items.

3.3 Connecting using Linux

Please refer to NAS 109: Using NAS with Linux to access NAS data using WebDAV on Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS Desktop version.

3.4 Connecting using a mobile device

In this example we will show you the process of connecting to your NAS via WebDAV using an iPad. We will be using a WebDAV client called "WebDAV Nav" which can be downloaded from Apple's App Store.

Note: Searching "WebDAV" on Google Play of the Android devices, and installing the app you wanted. Add a WebDAV server on the app with NAS IP, WebDAV port and sign in with the NAS administrator account, and then you should be able to access the NAS shared folders via WebDAV on the Android devices.

STEP 1

• Open WebDAV Nav and then click on the [+] icon in the top right corner.

STEP 2

• Enter your connection information and then click on [Save].

  Note: Please enter the location of the WebDAV folder into the [Server URL] field in the following format: http://NAS_IP:WebDav_port/WebDav_folder
  For example, if:
  NAS IP: 172.16.1.206
  WebDAV port: 9800
  Folder you wish to connect to: Download

  Then you would enter: http://172.16.1.250:9800/Download

STEP 3

• Click on the name for your connection to connect to it.

STEP 4

• You should now be able to access files from your NAS.

4. Remote HTTPS connecting via WebDAV

To enable WebDAV remote HTTPS connection, please make sure the following settings are completed.

• Enable HTTPS connections on ADM.
• Please refer to NAS 324: Using HTTPS to Secure NAS Communication to set a valid SSL certificate.
• Select [Services] [WebDAV], and then select [Enable secured WebDAV service (SSL)] and [Also enable EZ-Connect port forwarding].

• When connecting to NAS WebDAV, please change the connection URL to [https://ddns_of_NAS:WebDAV_https_port]. (Default WebDAV HTTPS Port is 9802)

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