Access external drive over ssh on MacOS

2 min read 05-10-2024

Accessing Your External Drive over SSH on macOS: A Comprehensive Guide

Sharing files over a network can be a tedious task, especially when dealing with large files or multiple devices. Luckily, SSH (Secure Shell) provides a secure and efficient way to access remote files, including those on external drives, directly from your macOS machine. This article will guide you through the process, providing clear steps and valuable insights.

The Problem: Sharing Your External Drive Securely

Imagine this scenario: you have a large external drive filled with important files you need to access from your laptop while at a coffee shop. Instead of physically carrying the drive with you, wouldn't it be easier to access it remotely over a secure connection? That's where SSH comes in.

Setting Up SSH on Your Mac and the Remote Machine

Before we delve into accessing your external drive, let's ensure both your Mac and the remote machine have SSH enabled.

1. Enable SSH on your macOS machine:

Open Terminal by searching for it in Spotlight.
Run the following command to install the necessary packages:
```
sudo apt update && sudo apt install openssh-server
```

Start the SSH service:

sudo systemctl enable ssh
sudo systemctl start ssh

You can verify the service is running by checking the output of sudo systemctl status ssh.

2. Enable SSH on the remote machine:

Follow the same steps as above, ensuring the remote machine has SSH installed and running.

Connecting to the Remote Machine Using SSH

Now that both machines are set up, you can connect to the remote machine from your macOS terminal using the following command:

ssh user@remote_ip_address

Replace user with the username on the remote machine and remote_ip_address with the remote machine's IP address.

Mounting the External Drive on your macOS Machine

Once connected to the remote machine, you can mount the external drive using the mount command.

1. Identify the drive's path on the remote machine:

From the remote machine's terminal, use the df -h command to list all mounted drives and their paths.
Identify the external drive you want to access.

2. Mount the drive on your macOS machine:

Use the following command to mount the external drive on your macOS machine:
```
sshfs user@remote_ip_address:/path/to/external/drive/ /local/mount/point
```
- Replace user, remote_ip_address, and /path/to/external/drive/ with the relevant information.
- Choose a /local/mount/point that's easily accessible on your macOS machine.

3. Access the external drive:

You can now access the external drive from your macOS machine's file system at the /local/mount/point you specified.

Additional Tips and Considerations

Automatic mounting: You can automate the mounting process by creating an Automator workflow or using a third-party application like Mountain Duck.
File transfer: Use tools like scp or rsync to transfer files between your Mac and the external drive.
Permissions: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access the external drive on both the remote machine and your Mac.
Security: Always use a strong password for your SSH accounts and consider enabling two-factor authentication for extra security.

Conclusion

Accessing an external drive over SSH on macOS is a powerful and secure way to share and manage your files remotely. By following these steps, you can easily access your important files from anywhere with a reliable internet connection. Remember to prioritize security and follow best practices to ensure your data remains protected.

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