By using a VPS (Virtual Private Server) as a home server, you can enjoy various benefits such as remote access and enhanced security. In particular, by using SSH (Secure Shell), you can establish secure connections and access your home server.
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Setting Up VPS as a Gateway
To use a VPS as a gateway, follow these steps:
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SSH Server Configuration: Install an SSH server on your VPS and configure it appropriately. This includes setting the SSH port number, configuring public key authentication, and disabling root login.
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SSH Connection Configuration: Configure settings to establish SSH connections from your home PC to the VPS. This includes adding VPS connection information to the SSH configuration file (
~/.ssh/config). -
Reverse Tunneling Configuration: When using a VPS as a gateway, set up reverse tunneling to securely access your home server from the VPS.
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Security Enhancement: To strengthen SSH connection security on the VPS, configure settings such as IP address restrictions, allowing only public key authentication, and disabling password authentication.
SSH Connection Example
Here’s an example of using a VPS as a gateway to connect to a home server via SSH:
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Reverse Tunneling Setup: Set up reverse tunneling from your home server to the VPS.
ssh -R 2222:localhost:22 user@vps -
Connecting from Home PC to VPS: Connect to the VPS from your home PC via SSH.
ssh user@vps -
Connecting from VPS to Home Server: Connect to your home server from the VPS via SSH.
ssh localhost -p 2222
By following these steps, you can use the VPS as a gateway to securely access your home server from the internet.
Security Measures
When using a VPS as a gateway, it’s important to consider security measures. The following measures can strengthen your VPS security:
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Allow Access Only from Specific IP Addresses: Configure SSH settings to allow access only from specific IP addresses. This may include home IP addresses of company members or IP addresses of OpenVPN built on the VPS.
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Disable Password Authentication: Disable password authentication in SSH settings and configure to allow only public key authentication.
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Close Non-SSH Ports: Close unnecessary non-SSH ports to reduce the possibility of unauthorized access.
Reverse Tunneling with autossh
When using reverse tunneling, you can use autossh to automatically reconnect if the connection is lost. autossh provides functionality to automatically reconnect when an SSH connection is lost.
Here’s an example of setting up reverse tunneling using autossh:
autossh -M 0 -f -N -R 2222:localhost:22 user@vpsThis command sets up reverse tunneling from your home server to the VPS and automatically reconnects if the connection is lost.
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Summary
By implementing these measures, you can securely utilize a VPS as a gateway. However, when implementing security measures, it’s important to be careful when editing VPS configuration files and SSH configuration files. Incorrect configurations can have serious impacts on the system, so it’s good to be cautious.