WinSCP on different network?

[maxjperkins]

Hello,
Firstly, I apologize if this has been covered since I can't imagine I'm the first person to think of it, but I was unable to find any 100% relevant posts in the first few pages of the search I did.

I have setup a RetroPie console that I plan to give to my buddy across the country as a gift. Because he's even less familiar with Linux, RetroPie, RetroArch, etc. I'd like to be able to help him out remotely should the need ever arise.

I've been using WinSCP for configuring at home and it works amazingly. I read an article saying that this is only easy to do if the Pi is on the same network, however. As mentioned, my buddy lives a thousand miles away so I'll need to use my PC on my network to talk to the Pi, via WiFi, on his home network.

Is there a guide or easy way to setup this sort of connectivity ahead of time? It's a gift that he doesn't know about, so any preemptive setup I can do would be great.

[paradadf]

What about TeamViewer + WinSCP?

[maxjperkins]

Definitely an option, but not what I'd consider ideal. He is not computer savvy at all and it'd be much faster to just allow me to "remote in" and change the things myself. Actually, I can't even remember the last time I saw him with a laptop/computer anyway and he may have lost that one in his recent divorce. So maybe not even an option in that case.

Is there a reason you suggested that vs. WinSCP over external network?

[herb_fargus]

@maxjperkins I use chrome remote desktop to take over other people's computers

[zanefielding]

I would like to do this as well. Setting up one for my brother.

[RedFarmer]

To be able to directly connect he could open port 22 in his router and direct it to the local IP-address of the Pie. You then connect to his external address/WAN IP using that same port and it should work. Maybe your friend can’t fix this by himself but it’s necessary if you don’t want to use TeamViewer, VNC or similar.

However, it’s recommended to change port 22 to something else as it’s a known port.

[cyperghost]

@RedFarmer ... and change passwords ;)
Combo: pi - raspberry is very common

[stoney66]

could also setup openvpn...

[RedFarmer]

@cyperghost said in WinSCP on different network?:

@RedFarmer ... and change passwords ;)
Combo: pi - raspberry is very common

Ah! Probably even more important than changing the port :D

[Clyde]

@stoney66 said in WinSCP on different network?:

could also setup openvpn...

That was my first thought, too. A vpn would make both networks one, so anything else would work like on the same network.