this post was submitted on 04 Dec 2025
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So I want to setup a remote backup location at my parents house although they are very mindful about there electricity usage and environmental impact (and so am I) so I don't want to have to have a pc always on when it doesn't need to be.

Is it possible to setup remote Wake-on-lan so I can schedule my homelab at my place to wake up the server at my parents house and start a backup like once a week, I want to do this in a secure fashion as well so ideally no port forwarding, I currently use cloudflare tunnels for my home network.

Are there any other options or do you have a similar setup at your place?

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[–] cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 20 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

You could use a very low power computer that's always on like a Raspberry PI Zero W to send the WoL packet to the backup computer. It only uses about 1 watt. Some routers have the ability to send a WoL packet as well.

[–] JustEnoughDucks@feddit.nl 2 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

You can even use an ESP32 or similar since it just has to perform 1 tiny function.

Getting an WT32-ETH01 knockoff dev board for 15€ or PoE for 25€ and uses <300mW with the wireless modem off. You could even just use a WiFi module for 8€ if you don't want something wired.

https://registry.platformio.org/libraries/a7md0/WakeOnLan

There is already an wakeonlan library to generate a packet very easily.

You can even do it in pseudocode with ESPHome if you have HomeAssistant

https://community.home-assistant.io/t/solved-wake-on-lan-packet-from-esp32-to-ha-server-how-to-automate/617595

Then VPN in, send a signal to the esp using one of various methods to tell it to send the packet.

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Then VPN in, send a signal to the esp using one of various methods to tell it to send the packet.

this sounds like it requires another computer already turned on

[–] faercol@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 5 hours ago

Depends on your hardware. My routers can serve as a Wireguard serveur, so no need for a computer for that part

[–] artyom@piefed.social 1 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

And how do you communicate with the Pi0?

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 5 points 13 hours ago

Wireguard between you and remote device like a pi. Set pi to portfowarding and masquerading on. It will then let you be on say a 10.x.x x network remotely but will send info on the remote LAN like it came from that pi local IP

[–] cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Use SSH. Ether open a port in the firewall or connect it to a VPN. If the backups are done on a schedule, you could also setup a cron job on the Pi to send the WoL packet a few minutes ahead of time.

[–] AtariDump@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Use a VPN; don’t open up SSH to the internet.

[–] cecilkorik@piefed.ca 5 points 12 hours ago

Or just be cautious, thoughtful and sensible if you do. Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

[–] Creat@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

Ssh over Internet is fine as long as it's properly setup (no password auth, root not allowed, etc.). Obviously a VPN is even better.