WD Sync "Cannot connect to remote server"

Legacy Products My Cloud OS 3
1

When attempting to set up a new sync folder pair.  I already have one syncing successfully but a few days later trying to add a folder and I select the local folder on my PC ok then the circles go around for a long time apparently looking for folders on the MyCloud, and eventually an error popup says “Unable to connect to the remote server”.

I have the MyCloud mounted as a network disk and can interact with that ok, I can use the dashboard, the tooltray menu says existing synced folder synced ok etc.

I have rebooted the MyCloud, tried testing on other PC folders, and from my laptop and get the same results.

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2

I installed my WD MyCloud and WD Sync and successfully set up for it to sync one folder from my PC.  This it has been doing for several days without problem and still is.   Yesterday and today I have attempted to sync another folder (in fact I have now tried with several) and each time I get as far as the Device Folder Browser popup that offers you the folders on the MyCloud, and after a few seconds of dotted circles going round I get an error popup saying “unable to connect to the remote server”.   Which server does it mean at this stage?  My MyCloud, or one of the WD authentication servers?

NB the MyCloud device is fully visible and browsable as a netword connected drive from my PC, it’s syncing my already-set up sync folder,  and I can use the dashboard from my web browser without problems, so it is definitely up and accessible

3

Kind of solved - but not as I wanted it.   When I first started the My Cloud it was allocated an IP by DHCP, and affter a couple of days I decided to give it a fixed IP.  The folder browser in Sync settings was apparently the one single bit of the system that was unable to cope with the IP having been changed. So I “fixed” it by keeping the My Cloud on static IP but changing it to the one that had originally been allocated by DHCP and once more I could choose folders on the MyCloud to sync to.

Does anyone know which config file or Registry key might hold the IP address that therefore needs updating next time I want to change it?  Because it’s obvious something in the sync software is looking it up from something like that.

4

Hello,

Have you tried setting a static Ip con the router and leaving the My Cloud on DHCP?

5

I haven’t tried that with this particular device - normally for anything that is to act as a server ( we have a web server too) we set the IP on the device itself, while using router-allocated “fixed” IPs for non-server PCs, leaving a small range of dynamic IPs for visitors’ mobile devices.  But it’s probably worth a try, just out of interest if nothing else.  However I am pretty sure someething had its originally allocated (192.168.1.133) IP stuck “hardcoded” in  it, because at one point something actually popped up telling me it couldn’t connect to that IP, and it had to have been some process trying to connect to the MyCloud under its old IP.  So something wants editing…

I see a moderator moved my post from WD Sync section to here, but once I got the idea there was an IP address stored in a config file I actually felt it was probably more related to the WD Sync software itself, since all other functions and services of the MyCloud were working perfectly well with the new address, so that’s why after getting no reply here for a couple of days I then posted there.

6

Here is what I found with a similar problem…

the wdsync configuration file is stored
C:\ProgramData\Western Digital\WD Sync\WD Sync.config.

this is an xml file… on my computer it is opened by borland which makes it easy to interpert… but notepad should do ok.

It has an IP address stored for the mybook and apparently it is not dynamic…and
screws the pooch if the mybook is not at that address.

So I went to my router and assigned that IP to the mybook MAC…
I did it this way vs doing static ip to save some hassle. only messing with the router and not the mybook… a reboot of the pc and mybook got everything working better again… pretty weak software to have basic problems like this…

robert

7

Nice find on fixing that particular issue.

Which is why people are using third party sync software like FreeFileSync which typically has more features/options than the WD Sync software.

1 Like
8

Hi,
I face the same issue and true it’s really annoying.

I think the issue is WD sync accept one login at time.

What’s work for me since I have two laptops ( personal / Work ) I logged in with the admin account in the personal laptop, and the email in the work laptop.

and it’s working fine tell now :smile:

9

Does anyone know if WD is interested in this issue? I have the same problem and have no idea where to turn. I just purchased the My Cloud 3 TB hardware, and am unable to get the basic functionality to work. Synchronizes some of the files, then stops, claiming that it is “Up to Date”. I deleted the sync pair, deleted the folder, re-created the local folder and attempted to drag it into the settings. Swirl…Unable to connect to the remote server. Tried this on several computers with the same result. Now, I am unable to sync all my files and unable to add any new sync pair. And this, right out of the box?

It sure would be helpful to have a human being to talk to in the early stages of set up. I really want it to work, but will probably take it back to the store for refund if basic functionality like this fails. Any suggestions?

Kent

10

I never did solve it. In the end I got rid of the device and bought a different brand.

11

Your guess is as good as the rest ours since most of us (including myself) are end user customers such as yourself.

For what ever reason(s) the WD Sync program is hit or miss on working for some people. Some have no problems, others the software simply doesn’t work. If you don’t need remote syncing to a My Cloud located somewhere else on another network, use a third party sync program like Free File Sync (https://www.freefilesync.org/) or Microsoft Sync Toy (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15155). Downside to third party programs is the general inability to sync remotely to a My Cloud in some other remote location.

12

Remote syncing is the whole point. I am trying to use this like Dropbox, with a lot more space and control of the physical device.
This is how WD sells the product, so why don’t they support it?

| | Bennor
August 28 |

KentKeller:
Does anyone know if WD is interested in this issue?

Your guess is as good as the rest ours since most of us (including myself) are end user customers such as yourself.

For what ever reason(s) the WD Sync program is hit or miss on working for some people. Some have no problems, others the software simply doesn’t work. If you don’t need remote syncing to a My Cloud located somewhere else on another network, use a third party sync program like Free File Sync (https://www.freefilesync.org/) or Microsoft Sync Toy (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15155). Downside to third party programs is the general inability to sync remotely to a My Cloud in some other remote location.

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In Reply To

| | KentKeller
August 28 |

Does anyone know if WD is interested in this issue? I have the same problem and have no idea where to turn. I just purchased the My Cloud 3 TB hardware, and am unable to get the basic functionality to work. Synchronizes some of the files, then stops, claiming that it is “Up to Date”. I deleted t…
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13

Remote Syncing is just one feature of the My Cloud, as is local backup, remote file access, local media streaming, etc. The My Cloud is a network attached storage device. It is NOT like DropBox or similar online cloud storage services. The My Cloud serves a slightly different function than online storage services like DropBox.

One troubleshooting suggestion. Try enabling manual remote access through the My Cloud Dashboard > Settings (if not enabled) and then configure port forwarding to the My Cloud of the two remote ports used on the manual remote access setting to see if that improves or helps WD Sync work when connecting remotely. Sometimes local broadband providers may block inbound ports and or UPnP used by the My Cloud and using the manual setting, using alternate ports, and using port forwarding can sometimes work around that issue/problem.

The WD Sync program is what it is. I don’t use it. Preferring instead to use other methods and software for syncing. Currently I don’t do remote syncing precisely because of how WD has limited the remote access to the device. If you have a third party sync program that supports FTP (not SFTP) you could enable FTP through the My Cloud Dashboard and have the third party program sync through FTP. Downside however is that FTP is not a secure protocol.

If one is willing to SSH into their My Cloud they have other options including possibly hacking the My single bay Cloud firmware to allow for SFTP which third party software like Free File Sync supports. Use the forum search feature (magnifying glass icon upper right) to find past discussions on using SFTP.

Another option is to setup a VPN connection between the computer and the remote network where the My Cloud resides. A VPN tunnel may allow WD Sync to treat the My Cloud as if it were local rather than remote. Do an internet search to learn more about how to setup a VPN client/server connection for your network/PC.

If using an older first gen single bay My Cloud running firmware 4.x one may be able to remote map their My Cloud using the unofficial CloudMODApp (http://community.wd.com/t/app-clouddavmod-various-versions-for-firmware-v4-12-2016/161543) for first gen 4.x firmware. And no one cannot flash the first gen v4.x firmware to a second gen v2.x version My Cloud.

There is also the unofficial GoodSync option that may work, but I’ve never used it. See the following links for more information on GoodSync and the My Cloud.

http://community.wd.com/t/app-goodsync-for-wd-my-cloud-backup-and-file-synchronization/173984

http://community.wd.com/t/wd-my-cloud-goodsync/96731

Your asking the wrong people. We are just end users not WD employees. There are a number of things WD does that has long mystified we end users when it comes to the My Cloud and the WD My Cloud software/apps. Best you can do, other than returning the My Cloud and using something else, is find workarounds when you run into issues like you are experiencing with the WD Sync program.

14

Try removing the device from the WD Sync menu. Then, close and restart WD Sync. Also, from the Dashboard (at home) remove all mentions of WD Sync from the Cloud Access for each share.

You might also try going to (from the dashboard) Settings, Cloud Access, Configure, Rebuild database.

Then add the device and try again.

It’s sometimes a pain to set up, but it works great once it’s up and running. The only time I ever have an issue is when I have a power outage at home. It seems to break the link then and I have to start over.

I sync my work files on my work laptop while at work (over 600MB and 6,000+ files) and it’s great to have them at home. I don’t sync to the WD Sync folder but instead to a folder on my share and then just access via Windows Explorer at home.

15

WD Sync cannot connect to server hit me the first time I set it up earlier this year and found that if I uninstall it and then re-install WDSync.exe the problem goes away. Then my laptop died and I reloaded everything on another laptop and tried to setup WDSync again and the same problem came back. I uninstalled WDSync and re-installed like before and everything works as advertised. Hope this helps somebody…

16

i have the same problem and do not have clue how to solve it. I have had this problem since I acquired the system a few years ago. Still have no clue how to solve it, Fortunately I have OneDrive to fall back on - I have left a few files on WD Cloud with the hope one day it will resolve itself

17

I have this issue for years now off and on. Recently I wanted to ADD a new folder pair and got the message “Cant connect to remote Server” and came across this forum in search of an answer.
I saw the post from Robert_Bible and it made me think a little.

I looked at the WD Sync.config in C:\ProgramData\Western Digital\WD Sync and found the IP address was way wrong. I changed this IP Address in WD Sync.config to the one I found in the MyCloudEx2Ultra - settings - Network. (Make a copy of WD Sync.config first!) Alas this did not work!

But then I looked further in the directory C:\ProgramData\Western Digital\WD Sync\S15211575935684214927316836537902531001 and found the same Config file there. I made changes to this config file and after a reboot (maybe even before) it started to work OK.

Also… I found that I could manually add Syncing Pairs to Config file, providing some are already there and you can copy the same format disk codes.

I hope this will help someone out there.
Chris