Securely Access Your Raspberry Pi From Any Device, Anywhere, Using SSH Tunneling and Dynamic DNS

A step-by-step guide on how to securely access your Raspberry Pi remotely using SSH tunneling and dynamic DNS services. This allows you to connect to your Raspberry Pi from any device with an internet …


Updated October 7, 2023

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A step-by-step guide on how to securely access your Raspberry Pi remotely using SSH tunneling and dynamic DNS services. This allows you to connect to your Raspberry Pi from any device with an internet connection, even when it’s not on the same network.

In this article, we will discuss how to remotely access your Raspberry Pi securely using SSH tunneling and dynamic DNS services. This guide is suitable for beginners as well as intermediate users who want to access their Raspberry Pi from anywhere in the world with ease. We will walk through the following steps:

  1. Set up a static IP address for your Raspberry Pi
  2. Install and configure SSH on your Raspberry Pi
  3. Set up a dynamic DNS service
  4. Configure port forwarding on your router
  5. Connect to your Raspberry Pi remotely using an SSH client

1. Setting Up a Static IP Address for Your Raspberry Pi

To avoid any potential issues with your Raspberry Pi’s IP address changing frequently, it is recommended to set up a static IP address. This ensures that your device always has the same IP address on your local network. Here are the steps:

  1. Open the terminal on your Raspberry Pi and type sudo nano /etc/dhcpcd.conf.
  2. Scroll down to the bottom of the file and add the following lines:
interface eth0
static ip_address=<your desired IP address>
static routers=<your router's IP address>
static domain_name_servers=<DNS server addresses, e.g., 8.8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4>

Replace <your desired IP address> and <your router's IP address> with appropriate values. Save the file by pressing Ctrl + X, then Y, and finally Enter. 3. Restart the networking service to apply the changes: sudo systemctl restart dhcpcd. 4. Check your Raspberry Pi’s IP address using hostname -I or ifconfig. It should now show the static IP address you assigned in step 2.

2. Installing and Configuring SSH on Your Raspberry Pi

SSH (Secure Shell) is a protocol that allows secure remote access to your Raspberry Pi. Follow these steps to install and configure it:

  1. Update your Raspberry Pi: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade.
  2. Install SSH: sudo apt install openssh-server.
  3. Start the SSH service: sudo systemctl enable ssh && sudo systemctl start ssh.
  4. Check the status of the SSH service: sudo systemctl status ssh. It should be active and running.
  5. To connect to your Raspberry Pi securely, you’ll need to generate an SSH key pair on your local machine and copy the public key to the Raspberry Pi. Skip this step if you already have a key pair. On your local machine:
    • Generate a new SSH key pair (or use an existing one) by running ssh-keygen.
    • Copy the public key to the Raspberry Pi: ssh-copy-id pi@<Raspberry Pi's IP address>. Replace <Raspberry Pi's IP address> with the actual IP address of your device. You will be prompted to enter your Raspberry Pi password.
  6. Test the connection by running ssh pi@<Raspberry Pi's IP address> from your local machine. If everything is set up correctly, you should see a welcome message and the command prompt on your Raspberry Pi. Type exit to return to your local machine.

3. Setting Up a Dynamic DNS Service

Dynamic DNS services allow you to access your Raspberry Pi using a domain name instead of an IP address, even if your IP address changes frequently. Here’s how to set up a dynamic DNS service:

  1. Choose a dynamic DNS provider and create an account. Some popular options are DynDNS, No-IP, or DuckDNS.
  2. Follow the provider’s instructions to add a hostname (e.g., “myraspberrypi”) and configure your router to update the IP address automatically.
  3. After setting up dynamic DNS, you should have a domain name that points to your Raspberry Pi’s current IP address (check the provider’s website for details).

4. Configuring Port Forwarding on Your Router

To allow remote access to your Raspberry Pi, you need to forward a port from your router to the device. This will enable incoming connections to reach the Raspberry Pi. The default SSH port is 22, but you can choose any other available port if you prefer. Here’s how:

  1. Log in to your router’s administration interface (e.g., http://192.168.1.1 for most routers).
  2. Navigate to the port forwarding settings.
  3. Add a new port forwarding rule with the following details:
    • External port: The port you want to use (e.g., 22222).
    • Internal port: 22 (or the custom port you chose earlier).
    • Protocol: TCP.
    • Internal IP address: The static IP address of your Raspberry Pi (192.168.1.<static IP address>).
  4. Save the changes and exit the router administration interface.

5. Connecting to Your Raspberry Pi Remotely Using an SSH Client

Now you can connect to your Raspberry Pi from anywhere in the world using an SSH client like PuTTY (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux). Just replace <domain name> with the dynamic DNS domain you set up earlier:

ssh -p <external port> pi@<domain name>

For example, if your external port is 22222 and your dynamic DNS domain is myraspberrypi.duckdns.org, run:

ssh -p 22222 pi@myraspberrypi.duckdns.org

You should now see the Raspberry Pi command prompt, as if you were connected locally.

Remember to keep your Raspberry Pi and router firmware up-to-date for maximum security and reliability. Also, consider using a VPN or other security measures if you’re connecting to sensitive data or services on your Raspberry Pi.