Sunday, August 7, 2011

Add Transmission to Western Digital MyBook Live NAS

So, you need to download some torrents but don’t want to leave your PC on all the time? If you have a Western Digital MyBook Live NAS device, here is a great solution that works even when all your machines are sleeping: add Transmission to your little NAS box.

Enable SSH

First, log into the web UI of your box the normal way by going to this address: http://[NAS-name].local/UI/

This will get you to the login screen. Login, then go to this address: http://[NAS-name].local/UI/ssh

This will give you the SSH enabling screen. Enable it, and note the username/password.

Enter the server through SSH

Now we’ll enter the server’s command line. If you’re on a Mac or a Linux box, open Terminal and type this in:

ssh root@[NAS-name].local

On Windows, you’ll have to download PuTTY. Set up a new profile with the server address and username/password above and you can proceed to the next step.

Change Username/Password (optional)

This is a home server so I’m not too personally concerned about security, but it’s at least a good idea to make the root password to your NAS box something other than “welc0me”. Type this in:

passwd

… and type in your new password.

Install Transmission

Time to install Transmission. Enter these lines:

apt-get update
apt-get install transmission-daemon

Stop Transmission

After installing Transmission, it automatically starts running. We want to stop it for a minute:

/etc/init.d/transmission-daemon stop

Edit Transmission Settings

Now we have to edit the settings so you can remotely manage the client. Run this line:

nano /etc/transmission-daemon/settings.json

Now we’re in the settings file. Here are some things you will definitely want to change:

  • Edit “Download-dir” to /shares/[DESIRED SHARE]/[DESIRED FINISHED FILE FOLDER]
  • Enable the incomplete folder (if desired) using same method as above
  • Disable the rpc-whitelist, or add the specific IP that you’re accessing it from
  • Change the rpc username and password that you want to access it at.

Some other things to consider changing:

  • Change encryption to 2 to force encrypted peers (if desired)
  • Change port (if required)
  • Change other settings as you see fit

Hit Control-X, Y and Return to save and exit the config file.

Start Transmission

Turn Transmission back on:

/etc/init.d/transmission-daemon start

Access Web UI

Outside of Terminal, point your browser to http://[NAS-name].local:9091 and enter your username & password.

Now you have a NAS box that can download Linux distributions, game mods and other legal torrents while you sleep, without running a full-fledged PC to do the work!