As the topic states I am having issues getting my plex server to be able to have remote access.
I am on a wg3526 router running a rebranded version of openwrt 18.06 or 18.07, it is rebranded to read as WiFix. I dont believe the issue is with the router or openwrt build but my understanding of whats happeneing.
I have tried the following to get plex accessable from outside my unit:
port forward of any traffic using port 32400 to my severs ip address
traffic rule again using port 32400
tried opening many other ports related to plex
added in upnp and enabled the 3 checkboxes though not sure that is the correct method
Start UPnP and NAT-PMP service
Enable UPnP functionality
Enable NAT-PMP functionality
No matter what I do plex will say it connects fine and turn green for anywhere from 10 seconds to a few minutes then go red (loses external access)
I am not familiar with linux or with controlling openwrt from a command line. All I really have messed with is through LUCI. I am not even sure if there is a log somewhere I should be checking.
Lastly not sure if this is relevent but my internet connection is from a verizon phone plan, could verizon somehow be blocking that kind of traffc since its a phone plan?
A rebranded version likely means that there are potentially material differences between the official OpenWrt and what you're running. Furthermore, 18.06 has been EOL and unsupported for several years now.
Please consider installing the latest official version of OpenWrt (22.03), or ask the vendor/maintainer of your current version for assistance.
I missed this in my earlier review...
Are you talking about Verizon fiber or DSL, or Verizon Wireless? If wireless, this is very likely the reason you cannot maintain access. I also have Verizon (Northern CA, USA), and my phone has a CG-NAT IPv4 address.
ok... the rebranded version is actually goldenorb, I believe, which I am told is openwrt with mobile data support. I am kinda stuck on the older version because when I try the newer versions everything loads properly and I get no errors but I have major issue with the data so I have stayed on this older version which is flawless.
yes verizon wireless.. The router I mentioned has a mobile card in it. Thus it takes in the mobile verizon signal and rebroadcasts it like a hotspot. I suspected it might be a verizon issue/restriction. I have tried using a vpn on the server itself but if you premise is true that wont help.
I wonder if I put surfshark vpn directly at the router level if this would resolve my issue?
If you think it would I would need some help with:
putting it on the router but ONLY for the plex server to use, I guess a dmz or vpn setup for just that one server
actually configuring surfshark to work on only that dmz or vpn and not the rest of the router
Only if you get a dedicated public IP for your own use... you could use a VPS to achieve this.
More than likely, you'll need to run an official version of OpenWrt to do any of this. If the version you are using is customized, it may not work the same way as official OpenWrt, and may or may not even let you install.
On this front, you can ask for help from this forum to resolve those issues (once you've got 22.03 installed).
these would be done by defining routes manually and/or by using policy based routing (and possibly VLANs).
Again,
this is not official openwrt. You will need to visit their website and their forum if you want to continue using that firmware. https://www.ofmodemsandmen.com/
The official OpenWrt does not include 4G modem drivers in the initial install (which was an impetus for third-party modem-optimized builds like Goldenorb and Rooter). They can be added later, however that is best done through another method to temporarily connect the router to the Internet.
Before upgrading, read the router logs to determine which drivers your modem card actually uses, and save the 4G network configuration from the old version.
Some VPN services allow a customer to open a port on the VPN server's public IP which will forward back through the VPN tunnel to the customer's PC or network. This is one solution to your problem. Surfshark does not offer that service though.
I've been testing Verizon myself (with a hotspot / data card plan). It is a dual-stack network with CGNAT on the IPv4. The IPv6 connection issues direct usable public IPv6 addresses to customers, but it seems their network blocks incoming IPv6 connections. Though I can't yet say that with certainty.
ok lots of great information here.....
There is no need to upgrade for me as it sounds like there really is no solution to my issue, as the issue is really a verizon issue not a router issue and my current VPN provider is not a work around either.
Thanks to everyone for all the help... at least I have my answers now