I'm having a tough time with my Internet Service Provider because they use CGNAT, which means I don't have a public IP address. This prevents me from sending a Wake-on-LAN (WoL) magic packet directly to my PC unless I'm connected to my local network. The situation gets worse because my ISP's router is locked down; I can't set up any port forwarding, bridging, or custom rules.
Currently, my solution is to run a low-power device, like a Raspberry Pi or a mini PC, inside my LAN that I can SSH into to trigger the WoL. While this works, it feels like a bit of a hack. Is there a better way to tackle this CGNAT issue, or am I stuck with this always-on helper device?
By the way, I'm using Tailscale for a static/private IP and SSH access. However, once my desktop is in S5 (powered off), Tailscale stops running, so I can't use it to wake my system up. Any guidance would be appreciated!
1 Answer
It’s a bummer that your ISP router is so locked down! If SSH access is open, that's a bit of a silver lining. You might consider setting up a service on your always-on device that listens for incoming connections and triggers the WoL when it detects a request. Another option could be using a VPN service that could help maintain the connection to your network, but that may involve some extra setup and cost.
That sounds promising! I'll look into setting up a service on my Pi to listen for commands. Thanks for the suggestion!