Remote work changed how we think about file access. When everyone went home, the office file server stayed behind. Companies scrambled to find alternatives, and most landed on one of three options: cloud storage, traditional VPNs, or just emailing files around.
None of these are great. Here's why, and what works better.
The Office LAN Problem
In an office, shared files live on a NAS or file server. Everyone on the local network can access them. It's fast, simple, and works.
But the moment you leave the building, you're cut off. The file server isn't on the internet. You can't reach it from home, from a coffee shop, or from a client site. That's the problem remote work exposes.
Cloud Storage: The Common Fix
Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox. These solve the access problem by putting files on the internet. You can reach them from anywhere.
But they create new problems:
- Sync conflicts when multiple people edit the same file offline
- Security exposure since your files are on someone else's server
- Account compromise means everything is exposed at once
- Subscription dependency for access to your own files
- Performance issues as datasets grow beyond what sync clients handle well
Cloud storage works for documents. It's less ideal for large media files, databases, or anything you'd rather keep on hardware you control.
Traditional VPNs: The IT Solution
VPNs let you tunnel into the office network from outside. You connect to a VPN server, and it routes your traffic to the internal network. Now you can reach the file server.
The problems:
- Complexity for setup and maintenance
- Firewall conflicts with some networks blocking VPN protocols
- Reconnection hassle when connections drop
- Single point of failure if the VPN server goes down
- All traffic routed through a central point, adding latency
A Better Way: Mesh VPN
Netrinos connects your devices directly to each other. No central VPN server routing all traffic. Each device can reach the others over encrypted connections, regardless of where they physically are.
Put Netrinos on your home NAS, your laptop, and your work PC. They form a private network. Access your NAS from anywhere like you're on the same LAN. No cloud storage subscription, no VPN server to maintain.
Why It Works
- Direct connections between devices, not routed through a central server
- Outbound connections that work through firewalls and NAT
- WireGuard encryption for fast, secure tunnels
- Automatic reconnection when networks change
- No infrastructure to maintain on your end
Your files stay on your hardware. You access them directly. The connection is encrypted end-to-end.
Getting Started
Install Netrinos on the devices you want to connect. They join your private network automatically. Access files, remote desktop, SSH, or anything else that works on a LAN.
Free for personal, non-commercial use.