Edit: Big thanks to everybody who shared their advice! :) I’m very pleasantly surprised and will definitely explore all the options you guys provided, such as getting an additional router or configuring Tailscale. Again, big thanks to everyone!
Hi all, I’ve recently moved and now my ISP doesn’t allow port forwarding for wired connections (wifi only), and my landlord does not allow changing ISPs. Now my home server is practically useless which makes me very sad.
Is there any easy way to still access device ports without port forwarding or buying a wifi card/dongle is my safest bet?
I think Tailscale can do the job, making you connect your server through a VPN.
I’m surprised how many people suggest using a Cloudflare tunnel given one of the main points of self-hosting is to avoid using centralized systems.
If it’s for your own personal use and regular internet users don’t need to be able to access it, just use a vpn Way more secure. Wireguard is great. I like Tailscale, which uses Wireguard but makes it very easy to configure a mesh network with it.
You should be able to place the Xfinity modem into bridge mode and use your own router. Alternatively you can buy your own cable modem and return the rented one to Xfinity. Just make sure the modem you buy is DOCSIS 3.1 or 4.0 since some stores are still selling older DOCSIS 3.0 modems at full price.
Cloudflare Tunnels also work really well and turnkey for CGNAT restricted networks though. I used to have and love a simple WireGuard setup but one day the ISP can just change their structure and then you need some kind of end run around those. Tailscale works but it’s also not really a pure selfhosted solution either. Eventually you need some kind of offsite relationship afaik whether it’s a VPS or cloudflare. And cloudflare Just Works.
Decent ISPs that use CGNAT should also have IPv6 available, which doesn’t use NAT at all. In the case of CGNAT, I’d really recommend using IPv6 rather than hacking around CGNAT.
You can self-host Tailscale by using the open-source Headscale project.
I’m behind CGNAT with months between IPv6 prefix changes. Having a separate publicly routable IP for each host is awesome.
Tailscale causes heavy battery drain on my phone (Pixel 4a GrapheneOS) so I’m now on always on plain Wireguard, which only needs 1% of my battery.
Sadly my mother doesn’t have IPv6, so accessing e.g. Jellyfin is not possible.
Cloudflare tunnel for anything web based
Ill hijack op now.
Can i setup cloudflare tunnel and stil access the server via Lan when I am at home with the same setup?
Like a two entry system?
Yes, since you define a service in cloudflare by giving it a local ip and port when using zero trust.
With that you shouldn’t be losing your local setup.
@denast Tailscale
Wait, they allow port forwarding for wireless connections but not wired? How does that work?
My copied answer to other user in this thread:
I’m in US. My ISP Xfinity provides their own router and has decided their users are too stupid to use router settings so they purged port forwarding settings from the router firmware altogether. Now you have to use their mobile application which doesn’t allow you to make port forwarding rules for a specific IP (because again, they think their user is an idiot that can’t figure out IP numbers), instead it just gives you a list of devices and you have to select one to create a port forwarding rule. Wired devices are not on that list.
I’m pretty sure you can make them set the modem/router to bridge mode and run your own router. If it’s cable, you can also buy your own non-router cable modem, then use whatever router you like behind it.
If you want non-crippled mid-split, you have to use their gear for now. That’s the main reason I haven’t switched. I want that 200 upload, but I refuse to put their box in my house.
An open source alternative is FRP
https://github.com/fatedier/frp
It’s a reverse proxy server that you install in both your server and a VM in the cloud, and it tunnels your server over the VM, like Cloudfare solution.
Rathole is similar but allegedly performs better.
Look into cloudflare tunnels or tailscale funnel. Both let the wider public access a private server without port forwarding. If you want it private only, normal tailscale does that too, you might have some trouble if you want to use a custom domain though, since it’s private.
Not what you’re asking but since it’s been covered well:
Buy your own cable modem and put your own firewall behind it. Not only will this save you money in the long run, you’ll also have no issues with things like port forwarding. I use Comcast/Xfinity with a docsis3.1 cable modem + a decent firewall and it’s a good way to go.
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If the ISP allows port forwarding for wireless connections (as you said in your post) you just get yourself a WiFi router that can work in bridge mode.
Then you forward your ports (in the ISP router) to your bridge router and then you log into your bridge router and forward ports to your wired devices.
Mine did this to me few weeks back.
I don’t recommend Oracle at all if you value your sanity. Paying a couple bucks a month for DigitalOcean or Vultr (or probably almost anything else) is so worth it compared to dealing with that monstrosity
Also, I’ve experienced this, and I’ve heard reports of others having the same issue; Oracle might just randomly delete/disable your VPS
DigitalOcean and Vultr are relatively expensive… You can find plenty of VPS services for $15-30/year that’d be sufficient for this use case. LowEndTalk is a good resource for that.
So far all is working fine.
Nothing could make me consider Oracle for anything, ever.
CloudFlare tunnels are dead simple, BUT their terms of service say you can’t stream video with them (so not for Plex). I hear people stream video with them anyway and they haven’t gotten in trouble yet, for what it’s worth.
If the traffic is encrypted, how would they know?
Cloudflare is a glowie honeypot, the traffic is mitm’d and decrypted by them to see.
Probably about the rate, its a free service and money matters.
Tor onion services also don’t need any port forwarding to work. They are however only accessible over the Tor network.
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I’ve seen in this thread:
Fewer Letters More Letters CGNAT Carrier-Grade NAT IP Internet Protocol NAT Network Address Translation Plex Brand of media server package VPN Virtual Private Network VPS Virtual Private Server (opposed to shared hosting)
6 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on today has 13 acronyms.
[Thread #313 for this sub, first seen 29th Nov 2023, 22:35] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]
Another option is hoppy wireguard connection to get you a static IP. Good for not having to setup a vps and multi users dobr have to connect them to a vpn since it would make the services public.
