Home Lab Remote Access with sshforward
You have servers running at home — maybe a NAS, a hypervisor, a Docker host, or a development machine. They work perfectly on your local network. But when you're at the office, traveling, or just on a different network, you can't reach them.
The usual fixes — port forwarding, dynamic DNS, VPNs — all have drawbacks. Port forwarding exposes services to the internet. Dynamic DNS breaks when your IP changes. VPNs require setup on every client device.
sshforward gives each of your machines a permanent name and makes them reachable from anywhere with a single command.
How It Works
1. Create a Free Account
Sign up at sshforward.net and pick a handle (e.g. alice).
2. Install on Your Machines
On each machine you want to reach:
sudo sshforward.net install
Each machine gets a name based on its hostname — like nas.alice, proxmox.alice, or devbox.alice. You can change names later in the dashboard.
3. Connect from Anywhere
From any computer:
sshforward.net connect nas.alice
That's it. No VPN client, no port forwarding rules, no DNS updates.
Why This Works Well for Home Labs
No port forwarding needed. sshforward connects outbound over HTTPS (port 443). Your router doesn't need any special configuration, and no ports are exposed to the internet.
Works behind CGNAT. If your ISP uses carrier-grade NAT — common with many residential providers — port forwarding isn't even possible. sshforward works regardless because it tunnels outbound.
Multiple machines, one account. Install on as many machines as you need. Each gets its own permanent name under your handle. The web dashboard shows all your machines and their status at a glance.
Survives reboots and network changes. sshforward installs as a system service. After a power outage, a kernel update, or a router restart, your machines reconnect automatically.
End-to-end encrypted. All connections are encrypted from your device to your machine. The sshforward servers never see your traffic.
Common Setups
- NAS access: Reach your Synology, TrueNAS, or DIY file server to manage files and backups remotely.
- Hypervisor management: SSH into your Proxmox or ESXi host to manage VMs from anywhere.
- Docker administration: Deploy containers and check logs on your Docker host without being home.
- Development machines: Use a powerful desktop as a remote build server from your laptop.
Get Started
Install sshforward on your home lab machines and access them from anywhere.
Create a free account to get started.