Knowledgebase

This guide is written for complete beginners. It explains, in plain language, every way you can connect to your NG HOST VIP Storage Box: what each method is, when to use it, step-by-step how to use it, and a real example you can copy.

Step 1 — Get your 3 login details

Before you connect with anything, you need three pieces of information. You’ll find all of them on your service page in the NG HOST VIP client area:

1. Log in to the NG HOST VIP client area and open your Storage Box service.
2. Write down these three values:
   • Username — looks like u123456.
   • Hostname — the server address (for example u123456.your-storage.net).
   • Password — you can view or reset it on the same page.

Step 2 — A few words you’ll keep seeing

Don’t worry if these are new — here is all you need to know:

• Client / app — a small free program you install on your computer to talk to your box (for example FileZilla). You don’t have to build anything; you just install it and type in your 3 details.
• Protocol — the “language” used to transfer files (SFTP, FTP, WebDAV…). Your box speaks many of them; you pick whichever your app asks for.
• Port — a numbered “door” on the server for each protocol. The app has a box for it. You just type the number we give you (for example 23 for SFTP/SSH).
• Encryption — scrambling your data so nobody can read it on the way. Always prefer the encrypted options (SFTP, FTPS, HTTPS).

What is the “terminal / command line”?

A few methods below are typed as commands in a black window called the terminal (or “command line”). You only need this for the advanced tools. Here is how to open it:

• Windows: press the Start button, type powershell, and press Enter.
• macOS: press Cmd+Space, type Terminal, and press Enter.
• Linux: press Ctrl+Alt+T.

To run a command, copy it, paste it into that window, replace <USER>/<HOST>, and press Enter. The first time you connect it may ask “Are you sure you want to continue connecting?” — type yes and press Enter.

Which method should I use?

The easy way (recommended for beginners)

Option A — Move files with FileZilla (SFTP)

FileZilla is a free program with two panels: your computer on the left, your box on the right. You drag files between them.

1. Download FileZilla from filezilla-project.org and install it (choose “FileZilla Client”).
2. Open FileZilla. At the top you’ll see four small boxes: Host, Username, Password, Port.
3. Fill them in like this:
   • Host: sftp://<HOST>  (typing sftp:// in front tells it to use the secure method)
   • Username: <USER>
   • Password: your password
   • Port: 23
4. Click Quickconnect. If it asks about an “unknown host key”, tick “Always trust” and click OK.
5. Done. The right panel now shows your box. To upload, drag files from the left panel to the right. To download, drag from right to left.

Option B — Use the box as a drive (Windows)

This makes your box appear in “This PC” with its own drive letter (like a USB stick), so you can open, copy and save files normally.

1. On your service page, open the Access tab and turn on Samba/CIFS.
2. Open File Explorer (the yellow folder icon on the taskbar).
3. On the left, right-click This PC → click Map network drive…
4. In the Folder box, type: \\<HOST>\backup
5. Tick Connect using different credentials, then click Finish.
6. When asked, type your Username and Password, tick “Remember my credentials”, and click OK.
7. Your box now appears as a new drive under “This PC”. Use it like any folder.

Below is every method explained one by one. You do not need all of them — pick what fits your task from the table above.

SFTP — Secure File Transfer

What it is (plain words): the normal, secure way to move files to and from your box using a simple app window. It’s encrypted, so it’s safe.

Best for: everyday uploading and downloading. This is the one most people should use.

How to use (no terminal): follow “Option A — FileZilla” above.

How to use (terminal, optional):

sftp -P 23 <USER>@<HOST>
# after it connects, type:
put myfile.zip      # upload a file from your computer
get myfile.zip      # download a file from the box
ls                  # list files on the box
bye                 # finish

FTP / FTPS — Classic File Transfer

What it is: the old, classic way to transfer files. FTPS is the same thing but encrypted. Only use this if a program you already have specifically asks for FTP.

Best for: older tools or website editors that only speak FTP.

How to use (FileZilla):

1. In FileZilla, open File → Site Manager → New site.
2. Protocol: FTP.
3. Encryption: Require explicit FTP over TLS (this turns it into secure FTPS).
4. Host: <HOST>, Port: 21.
5. Logon Type: Normal → User: <USER>, Password: your password → Connect.

SCP — Quick Secure Copy

What it is: a single terminal command that copies one file (or folder) to or from the box and finishes — no app, no session to keep open.

Best for: grabbing or sending a single file fast when you’re comfortable with the terminal.

How to use: open the terminal (see Step 2) and run one of these:

# send a file TO the box (into its /home folder)
scp -P 23 ./backup.zip <USER>@<HOST>:/home/

# get a file FROM the box to your current folder
scp -P 23 <USER>@<HOST>:/home/backup.zip ./

# send a whole folder (note the -r)
scp -P 23 -r ./myfolder <USER>@<HOST>:/home/

Reading the command: -P 23 is the port, ./backup.zip is the file on your computer, and <USER>@<HOST>:/home/ is the destination on the box.

SSH — Command Access to Your Box

What it is: it opens a text “remote control” of your box, where you type commands to list, move, or delete files and check your space. For advanced users.

Best for: people who like the terminal and want to manage files directly.

How to use:

ssh -p 23 <USER>@<HOST>
# once you're in, useful commands:
ls          # list files
df -h       # how much space you have / used
du -sh *    # size of each folder
exit        # leave

This is a “restricted” shell — you can manage your own files but can’t change the system. Tip: never remove the “execute” permission from your home folder, or you won’t be able to log in.

Samba / CIFS — Network Drive

What it is: it makes the box show up as a drive/folder in your computer, so you use it exactly like a local disk — open, edit and save files directly.

Best for: people who just want a “folder in the cloud”, no apps or commands.

How to use (Windows): follow “Option B — Use the box as a drive” above.

How to use (macOS):

1. In Finder, click the Go menu → Connect to Server… (or press Cmd+K).
2. Type smb://<HOST>/backup and click Connect.
3. Enter your Username and Password.

How to use (Linux):

sudo mount -t cifs //<HOST>/backup /mnt/box -o user=<USER>

WebDAV — Drive Access over HTTPS

What it is: another way to use the box as a drive, but over the same secure channel as websites (HTTPS). Because of that, it works almost everywhere, even when Samba is blocked.

Best for: using the box as a drive when “Option B” (Samba) didn’t connect.

How to use (Windows):

1. On your service page → Access tab → turn on WebDAV.
2. Open File Explorer → right-click This PC → Map network drive…
3. In the Folder box, type: https://<HOST>
4. Tick Connect using different credentials → Finish → enter Username and Password.

How to use (any app): install a free client like Cyberduck, choose “WebDAV (HTTPS)”, server <HOST>, and your Username/Password.

rsync — Keep a Folder Mirrored

What it is: a terminal tool that copies a folder but, on later runs, only sends the parts that changed — so repeat copies are very fast. Great for keeping an up-to-date copy.

Best for: mirroring a folder or a website, and repeated incremental uploads.

Where you have it: already built in on macOS and Linux. On Windows, install “WSL” or a package called “cwRsync”.

How to use:

# copy a local folder TO the box and keep it an exact mirror
rsync -av --delete -e "ssh -p 23" ./data/ <USER>@<HOST>:/home/data/

# bring it back FROM the box to your computer
rsync -av -e "ssh -p 23" <USER>@<HOST>:/home/data/ ./data/

Reading it: -a keeps dates/permissions, -v shows progress, --delete makes the copy identical (also deletes files on the box that you removed locally). Leave out --delete if you don’t want that.

BorgBackup — Proper Backups with History

What it is: a real backup program. It keeps many dated “restore points”, all encrypted and squeezed so that keeping dozens of them uses very little extra space. If you delete or ruin a file, you can go back to any earlier day.

Best for: people who want true backups they can roll back, not just a copy.

Where you have it: Linux and macOS; on Windows use “WSL”.

How to use:

# 1) prepare the backup store ONE time (you set a password)
borg init --encryption=repokey ssh://<USER>@<HOST>:23/./backups

# 2) make a backup — run this whenever you want a new restore point
borg create ssh://<USER>@<HOST>:23/./backups::'{now}' ./important-data

# 3) see all your restore points
borg list ssh://<USER>@<HOST>:23/./backups

# 4) bring one back (into the current folder)
borg extract ssh://<USER>@<HOST>:23/./backups::THE-NAME-FROM-THE-LIST

Restic — Easy Backups on Any System (incl. Windows)

What it is: a modern, friendly backup tool that does the same job as Borg (encrypted, saves space) but also runs natively on Windows. It’s a single small program you download.

Best for: simple encrypted backups, especially if you’re on Windows.

How to use:

# 1) set up the backup store ONE time (it asks you to choose a password)
restic -o sftp.command="ssh <USER>@<HOST> -p 23 -s sftp" -r sftp:<USER>@<HOST>:/home/restic-repo init

# 2) back up a folder
restic -o sftp.command="ssh <USER>@<HOST> -p 23 -s sftp" -r sftp:<USER>@<HOST>:/home/restic-repo backup ./important-data

# 3) list your backups
restic ...  snapshots        # (repeat the same -o and -r part)

# 4) restore the most recent backup
restic ...  restore latest --target ./restored

The -o sftp.command=... part simply tells Restic to connect on port 23.

Rclone — Sync & Mount from Anywhere

What it is: a very flexible tool. It can copy and sync folders (like rsync) and can also mount the box as a drive. It runs on every system and has a one-time setup wizard.

Best for: flexible syncing, and mounting the box as a drive on Windows/macOS/Linux.

How to use:

1. Download Rclone, open the terminal and run rclone config. Answer the questions: new remote → name it box → type SFTP → host <HOST> → user <USER> → port 23 → set your password.
2. Copy or mirror a folder:

   rclone copy ./photos box:/home/photos     # copy once
   rclone sync ./website box:/home/site      # keep it mirrored

3. Mount it as a drive:

   # Windows (first install "WinFsp"):
   rclone mount box:/home X: --vfs-cache-mode full
   # macOS / Linux:
   rclone mount box:/home /mnt/box --vfs-cache-mode full

Signing in with a key instead of a password (optional)

For the terminal methods you can use an SSH key instead of typing your password each time. A key is a pair of files: a private one that stays on your computer, and a public one you place on the box.

1. Create a key (once): run ssh-keygen -t ed25519 and press Enter to accept the defaults.
2. Connect with SFTP (Option A) and upload your public key file into a folder named .ssh on the box, inside a file called authorized_keys (one key per line, and the file must end with a blank line).
3. From now on, SSH/SFTP/rsync/Borg connect without asking for a password.

Supported key types: RSA, ECDSA, ED25519.

Good to know

• Your password always works, and you can reset it any time on your service page.
• You can have up to 10 connections at the same time.
• Whenever there’s a choice, pick the encrypted option: SFTP, FTPS, or WebDAV (HTTPS).
• Stuck on any step? Contact NG HOST VIP support and tell us which method and step — we’ll walk you through it.