Comment on What can I do with an old laptop?
KeepFlying@lemmy.world 10 months ago
With most consumer wifi networks you can usually enable port forwarding. That would let you access services from anywhere.
Personally I would set up a Wireguard VPN server on the laptop and enable port forwarding only for the Wireguard port. This will let you access your laptop from anywhere, and it will protect you by limiting your attack surface (basically you only need to have a device Wireguard connection and you don’t need to worry as much about securing every other service you want to run).
Then I’d set up dynamic DNS with any DNS provider so you don’t need to keep track of a changing IP.
Then you can install whatever services you want on the laptop and you’ll be able to access them from anywhere by connecting to the Wireguard VPN. It does mean you can’t easily let a friend access a service on your laptop, but the tradeoff is you don’t have to worry as much about security while you’re learning.
logir@feddit.it 10 months ago
I think OP cannot tinker with its router. At least, that is my case.
KeepFlying@lemmy.world 10 months ago
That’s a shame. I didn’t realize it was that locked down. Ive had a lot of terrible routers but all the ones I remember allowed me at least a port forward.
I think OP can accomplish some of the same result if he can get a cheap VPS to connect through (have the laptop Wireguard to the VPS, then have a proxy on the VPS forward to the laptop over the VPN, but that’s probably not worth the hassle for a starter project unfortunately.
logir@feddit.it 10 months ago
In my case, I don’t technically own the router but it’s provided by my service provider. They don’t give you the password for the admin access
qjkxbmwvz@lemmy.sdf.org 10 months ago
I did that — free VPS w/public IP, WG to my router. Works great!
logir@feddit.it 10 months ago
Which Vps provider are you using?