How to remote control the pcWRT router

[mbrink44]

How do I change the pcwrt.com password then sync with my router?

[support]

There are two steps:
1. Use the forgot password link to reset password: https://www.pcwrt.com/forgot-password/. You’ll receive an email with a link to reset the password.
Alternatively, you can click on your own user link in forums to open the User Profile page, then click the Edit link to change your password.

2. Log on the router admin console locally, update the pcwrt.com password on the Cloud Settings page.

[lihjong]

Hi,

I had pcwrt 802.11 n router and was able to manage my setting thru cloud. Yesterday I bought pcwrt 802.11 ac router and have exactly same cloud setting except new router display name. But when I login to pcwrt.com, click manage, it still try display my old router display name and display currently is offline.

How can I delete my old setting in the cloud?

Thanks

Mark

[support]

@lihjong Currently there’s a limitation of one remote control router per pcwrt.com login. You may try hook up your old router, go to Cloud settings page, remove the check on remote control then click Save. After that you can disconnect your old router and reconnect your new router.

[support]

Update: remote management now has the ability to manage multiple routers with the same pcwrt.com account.

[bambina]

Do i need to set up the SSH thingy for remote access to the router or can i just do the cloud thingy as i really confuse?

[support]

@bambina Just to the cloud thingy

[bambina]

1. I am very confused as i tried to set up Remote Access and failed as i was looking for DDNS option in SETTINGS to click and couldn’t find then i looked for Cloud and couldnt find…?

2. If i was to set up Remote Access on the pcWRT Router at Location 1 then could i disconnect the pcWRT Router then drive to Location 2 and plug it in to that ISP Router and would i still have Remote Access or do i need to set up Remote Access each time i move the pcWRT Router to a new Location with a total different ISP Router/modem?

3. When i do manage to set up remote access then can i BRIDGE the ISP Router and if so then what about firewalls, DNS and anything else, do i need to then set up all that stuff on the pcWRT Router or will the ISP Router still provide all of that whilst it is in Bridge Mode?

[support]

@bambina 1. Did you mean you don’t see the Cloud icon?

[bambina]

I am trying to set up this pcWRT Router a long way away from where my location is so i wanted to pre-set it up from Location 1 then drive to Location 2 and plug it all in and leave?

I don’t recall doing as i don’t have or want anything to do with clouds, i was told i just remotely log into pcWRT website to get remote access and im sure that is via DDNS?

• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 1 day ago by bambina.
• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 1 day ago by bambina.

[support]

There are two ways to remote control a pcWRT router:
1. Via pcWRT Cloud control (see the first post in the current topic)
2. Set up a VPN server on the pcWRT router and log back in your home network via VPN.

Method 1 is more secure than the normal way of opening up the web server port on your router and using DDNS to access the router. After you set it up, you’ll log in to pcwrt.com to manage the router. The pcwrt.com web server is used as a relay to send messages between your browser and the router. No data is saved on the server. And there’s no open port on your router (which you can use ShieldsUP to verify).

If you want to use method 2, here’s how to set up a VPN server on the router: https://www.pcwrt.com/2021/01/the-complete-guide-to-setting-up-a-wireguard-vpn-server-at-home-with-pcwrt/. Make sure the LAN box under “Network Access” is checked when you configure the VPN server.

Method 2 allows full functionality since it’s using the local web server on the router, while method 1 lacks some functionality (notably VPN management).

[bambina]

I understand, thanks, so i intend to re-search for the cloud thing and try it that way, however im still confused about the below;

2. If i was to set up Remote Access on the pcWRT Router at Location 1 then could i simply disconnect the pcWRT Router thereafter set up at Location 1 then drive to Location 2 which is a few hours drive away and plug it in to another ISP Router and would i still have Remote Access as i set it up at Location 1 prior or do i need to set up Remote Access each time i move the pcWRT Router to a new Location with a total different ISP Router/modem?

3. When i do manage to set up remote access then can i BRIDGE the ISP Router and if so then what about firewalls, DNS and anything else, do i need to then set up all that stuff on the pcWRT Router or will the ISP Router whilst in bridge mode still provide all of that whilst it is in Bridge Mode?

[support]

2. You set it up once. Take it to location 2 and it should work. You can test it with your smartphone on mobile connection while at location 2. If you put it behind another router at location 2, you might need to set up port forwarding on that router for the UDP port used by remote control. But in most cases you don’t need to do that, it’ll just work.

3. If you put the ISP router in bridge mode, then the pcWRT router will have a direct Internet facing interface, just like it’s directly connected to your ISP.

[Author]

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