Octoprint RPi 0w remote access
I just finished my printer last night and got my first prints off. What a great machine! I also set up octoprint with the Rpi zerow. It is working well on my home network, but I would like to access the printer outside my network (over the internet remotely). I read up on this topic here. They say that the safest way to accomplish this is to use a plugin. I chose to try Octoeverywhere and discovered it made octoprint stop working. I don't know if this problem is specific to the pi zerow or to the image provided by prusa. Have any of you used a pluggin to access octoprint remotely? I should also note that when I access octoprint, it asks me to update the software and I have not yet done so. I assumed that octoprint on a pi zero w might not be able to handle the upgrade.
RE: Octoprint RPi 0w remote access
Honestly, the safest way to access Octoprint remotely is probably a VPN into your network rather than one of the plugins, this avoids involving a third party tunneling into your network. I’m sure some of the plug-ins out there work just fine and are reasonably secure, but the VPN route works just fine for me (I already had it set up for other purposes).
RE: Octoprint RPi 0w remote access
As you correctly observe "I assumed that octoprint on a pi zero w might not be able to handle the upgrade. " although I don't think remote access will add enormously to the load on the Pi, the camera that you will inevitably want to add most defianatly will.
FWIW The Pi zero is generally considered no longer fit for purpose, it just doesn't have enough grunt. This has been raised several times on the OctoPrint board and the maintainer (is that the correct term?) of OctoPrint has made it very clear that the Pi zero is not supported by the current versions.
Perhaps at some time you'll need a Pi zero for another project and you can buy a 3B+ to run OctoPrint with all the bells and whistles.
RE: Octoprint RPi 0w remote access
If I would have to get a new Raspberry Pi I would buy a Pi 4 2GB for € 41,- a Pi 3B+ is about € 38,- (www.reichelt.at) and this will last for a long time. I played around with a Pi Zero with Octoprint - to me that makes realy no sense. Even when there is no support for the Zero!
Best regards, Clemens
Mini, i3 MK2.5S, i3 MK4, CClone (Eigenbau)
RE: Octoprint RPi 0w remote access
From a pure networking/security perspective, the safest way to access a home device is using a VPN service on an open source home router.
The worst way is to expose your device completely on the router in the DMZ.
There are LOTS of variations in between.
With any type of plug-in, you are probably talking about some service that helps you overcome the barriers of remote access. The equivalent of a TeamViewer type solution.
Back to purely networking perspective I would say some the range of options from least secure to most secure would be:
- Device in DMZ (please never do this)
- Setting up Port Forwarding to the Device (only do this if you trust the security of your device, Pi should be better than a web-cam)
- Use a reverse proxy device on a secure device to broker any inbound connections to the desired device. (I personally use this)
- Use a VPN on a proprietary router that you are not sure of the pedigree of the VPN solution
- Use a VPN on an open source router that is well vetted.
RE: Octoprint RPi 0w remote access
One advantage of the Pi-zero is that you can mount it to the Einsy directly. Very small advantage to me personally. I'd rather have a more capable device in case a new plug-in came along and pushed my zero over the limit.
RE: Octoprint RPi 0w remote access
One advantage of the Pi-zero is that you can mount it to the Einsy directly. Very small advantage to me personally. I'd rather have a more capable device in case a new plug-in came along and pushed my zero over the limit.
I concur. Pi Zero is just not powerful enough.
--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Octoprint RPi 0w remote access
Thank you all for your replies. I agree with everything that has been said. Frankly, I don't think I need all the bells and whistles of octoprint. I just want to be able to upload a file and print it. Seeing video is a bonus and a still image is fine to see if everything is going well. I chose to use an extra pi3 I had lying around for a vpn. I am not all that tech savvy when it comes to linux as I am a mechanical engineer by trade, but I found this guide fairly helpful. The only hang up I had was that the guide did not do a good job explaining the step about the dns provider. I just chose google as my option. My router has the ability to use a dns service so I set that up and edited the open vpn file with a text editor to add my host name for the ddns service. I know that everyone hates using the pi zero for this, but I like the way it fits on the einsy board and it is doing what I want it for. Down the road I can change things as necessary.
RE: Octoprint RPi 0w remote access
[...] Frankly, I don't think I need all the bells and whistles of octoprint. I just want to be able to upload a file and print it. [...] I know that everyone hates using the pi zero for this, but I like the way it fits on the einsy board and it is doing what I want it for. Down the road I can change things as necessary.
Have you considered not doing all the work of embedding a Zero into your printer until you're sure of what you will ultimately want to do with OctoPrint? OctoPrint provides a wealth of features beyond just "print and video". Most of the plugins are pretty lightweight, but a Zero is already pushing hard. Running a VPN is likely to really push things with crypto being done on a single core CPU. If nothing else, I wouldn't make any printer changes until verifying the Zero can really do what you need. The cost of a failed large print can cost more than the price of a RPi 3B+ if you're using nice filament, not to mention potential time lost.
and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
RE: Octoprint RPi 0w remote access
Zeros are cheap enough. If it doesn't work, keep it for some other task.
RE: Octoprint RPi 0w remote access
@bobstro
That is a good point. I am using a pi 3 for the vpn though so taxing the zero with that is not a concern. Since so many are advocating away from the pi zero. I wonder if any of you have good integration schemes for the pi 3 or 4. That would be a more productive line of inquiry.
RE: Octoprint RPi 0w remote access
[...] I wonder if any of you have good integration schemes for the pi 3 or 4. That would be a more productive line of inquiry.
Nothing sexy. The RPi4 is small enough that I tuck it neatly out of sight below the printer. I've read of people doing GPIO connections with a RPi 3 or 4, but have also read that there's no real gain from doing so.
and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
RE: Octoprint RPi 0w remote access
@dave-frankman
I highly recommend the pi3A+ integration. I run the 5Mp pi camera off it with no additional PSU, everything thru the Einsy board via GPIO.
https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/70609-raspberry-pi3a-mount-for-prusa-mk3s-with-csi-camer
https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/31482-raspberry-pi3a-mount-for-prusa-mk3mk3s