Grab NZB Laptop -> Desktop

[raphnguyen]

Hi all, I'm wondering if there is a way to configure SABnzbd so that while I at school or work, I can grab an NZB file from my laptop and have it download onto my desktop at home. If this is possible, can someone please walk me through the steps to do so? Thanks!

[sander]

Yes, that's possible, but it is probably not so easy if you have to ask. Steps:

Make SABnzbd accessible from other systems on your LAN/WLAN by filling out 0.0.0.0 as listening host. If it does not work, also check your firewall.
If that works, make sure the SAB-machine is on a fixed IP address. This can be done in your router/modem, or in the machine itself (dangerous!)
Setup forwarding in your router/modem/NAT-device: outside port 8080 to the SAB machine.
Then register your modem with a dyndns-service so that you don't have to find out your public IP address

From now on, you can access your SABnzbd from anywhere on the Internet. So it's probably a good idea to set a password on you SABnzbd webinterface.

[raphnguyen]

Yes, that's possible, but it is probably not so easy if you have to ask. Steps:

Make SABnzbd accessible from other systems on your LAN/WLAN by filling out 0.0.0.0 as listening host. If it does not work, also check your firewall.
If that works, make sure the SAB-machine is on a fixed IP address. This can be done in your router/modem, or in the machine itself (dangerous!)
Setup forwarding in your router/modem/NAT-device: outside port 8080 to the SAB machine.
Then register your modem with a dyndns-service so that you don't have to find out your public IP address

From now on, you can access your SABnzbd from anywhere on the Internet. So it's probably a good idea to set a password on you SABnzbd webinterface.

I'm fairly competent with tech stuff and might be able to figure it out if you could help me along the way. I've set up my SAB-machine on a fixed IP address through my router. Can you explain how to make SABnzbd accessible from my other systems by filling out 0.0.0.0 as the listening host?

[sander]

Well, that's the easy part. You should try to find that out yourself (Hint: http://wiki.sabnzbd.org/configure-general), as the port forwarding and dyndns is a much more challenging ...

[raphnguyen]

The hostname that will be used to access sabnzbd. The default of localhost will only allow access from the computer running sabnzbd. Change to 0.0.0.0 (unless using vista) or leave it empty (auto-finds local ip address) to be able to access from other pcs in your network. For more information see command-line-parameters.

Does this mean that it won't work if my laptop and desktop are on different networks? Ideally I'd like to be able to start an NZB from work or school and have it download onto my desktop at home, so both machines would be on different networks.

[sander]

The hostname that will be used to access sabnzbd. The default of localhost will only allow access from the computer running sabnzbd. Change to 0.0.0.0 (unless using vista) or leave it empty (auto-finds local ip address) to be able to access from other pcs in your network. For more information see command-line-parameters.

Does this mean that it won't work if my laptop and desktop are on different networks? Ideally I'd like to be able to start an NZB from work or school and have it download onto my desktop at home, so both machines would be on different networks.

If you do it correctly, you can access your running SABnzbd from anywhere in the world: from a laptop/desktop at school/work, from an Internet cafe, and from your mobile phone.

[raphnguyen]

I've set up the listening host as 0.0.0.0 on my desktop (host). Taking a look through my router settings, I see Port Mapping. Is this the setting that I want?

It asks for these fields:
Service (drop-down list): Personal File Sharing, Windows Sharing, Personal Web Sharing, Remote Login - SSH, FTP Access, etc. Would this be considered Personal File Sharing?
Public TCP Port:
Public UDP Port:
Private IP Address: automatically filled in
Private TCP Port:
Private UDP Port:

Where can I find the appropriate values to enter into these fields?

[sander]

It looks good. Public & Private TCP port: 8080 (assuming that SAB is running on that port)

[Eejit]

A much simpler method would be to get a DropBox Account, set it up as SABnzbd's watch folder and then just save your nzb's, from any machine in your DropBox folder.
This way you don't have to open SAB up to the internet.
If you slao create the subfolders in your DropBox folder that match your categories, Sab will sort them also.

[raphnguyen]

A much simpler method would be to get a DropBox Account, set it up as SABnzbd's watch folder and then just save your nzb's, from any machine in your DropBox folder.
This way you don't have to open SAB up to the internet.
If you slao create the subfolders in your DropBox folder that match your categories, Sab will sort them also.

That's a good idea and I may try that if this doesn't work out. The only thing I don't like about that is anything I download from my browser (Chrome) is automatically saved to a Downloads folder. Doing what you suggest would mean that I would have to manually move the NZB files to the Dropbox folder. Not too much of a hassle, but I'd still like to eliminate the extra step if possible.

sander, porting is set up on the router now. Is there any way to test that my configuration is working thus far or will it have to wait until the last step?

[Eejit]

Depends where you get your nzb's from. If you use NZBMatrix as a VIP, all you need to do is Bookmark the nzb.
Then using SAB's RSS feed reader (?), SAB will periodically Poll your NZBMatrix bookmarks and download anything you've set, with categories.
If set up correctly, SAB will also delete the bookmark on successful download.
Works with www.newzbin.com also I believe.

[raphnguyen]

Depends where you get your nzb's from. If you use NZBMatrix as a VIP, all you need to do is Bookmark the nzb.
Then using SAB's RSS feed reader (?), SAB will periodically Poll your NZBMatrix bookmarks and download anything you've set, with categories.

This is extremely helpful information. Trying this now!

Edit: the bookmark option works great, but NZBMatrix has a 15 minute interval for the RSS feed. My temporary solution for the moment is what you had suggested earlier with the Dropbox folder. I've created an NZB folder within my Dropbox folder and have created a shortcut to the NZB folder within my Downloads folder. After clicking on an NZB to download, I simply move the file to the shortcut folder. Great fix until I can figure out sander's suggestion. Thanks for the help!

[sander]

You can check your port forwarding via http://www.whatsmyip.org/port-scanner/ : fill out 8080 as custom port, and let it check.

If it says Open, you can proceed. Ask someone else on another LAN (so friend on his own Internet connection) to access your URL.
Or, if you have smart phone: disable wifi so that your on the UMTS/3G data network. Then type in the URL in your smaprthone's webbrowser and test it ...

[Eejit]

the bookmark option works great, but NZBMatrix has a 15 minute interval for the RSS feed.

Your OP stated

while I at school or work, I can grab an NZB file from my laptop and have it download onto my desktop at home

So it shouldn't matter if the interval is 15 minutes or 1 hour. I have my RSS Checking Interval set to 60 minutes so I don't hammer the RSS server.

[raphnguyen]

If it says Open, you can proceed.

I set up everything according to your suggestions, but testing the port keeps generating a "Port 8080 Timed-out" error. I've turned off Windows Firewall in order to make sure it wasn't blocking any connections. I don't have any other firewall or anti-virus software to block ports. Can you offer suggestions on how to fix this?