So I have this idea that I might like to create a mobile web server based on a Raspberry pi with a 4G hat and ISPconfig. I know at the very minimum I would have to use dynamic DNS or route the web server through a VPN with a static IP on the other end. Is this completely ridiculous or within the realm of reasonable? THX, JB
Possible but may not be practical. Also it is not completely ridiculous but its reasonableness will depend on individual reasoning. I can think of, may be, using it for presentation or proof of concept but not for a proper web server.
I guess, in most cases, it would be better to rent a cheap cloud server. But generally, it should be possible doing that.
I already have a couple of web servers both on my own hosted infrastructure and in the cloud. I was actually more interested in creating a lightweight web server that could work anywhere (solar, off-grid, etc.) I might just give it a try! Thanks, John
Raspberry Pi uses 5 or 10 watts, so could be powered by solar cell. If sun is not shining battery backup could work. There is already this solar powered website: https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/ If you have the low power computer, solar cells and battery, the project is doable. I think only difference to the usual ISPConfig setup would be the IP address of that host. If it is not online all the time the IP may change when it comes back up. That needs some twisting of knobs in name service to make it work.
And that light I think an openvpn connection to a static IP address would accomplish the goal of running a web server as if it was behind a Nat on a DMZ.
I don't quite understand what you mean with "an openvpn connection to a static IP address" and are trying to accomplish with that. You do need some sort of nat firewalling solution so your ISPC server can have a static ip on one nic (may be virtual, will be firewall's lan or dmz) and another nic for your internet connection (will be firewall's wan). With ddns on top of that your ISPC server can be completely mobile without any other dependencies. Creating an openvpn solution will require another endpoint somewhere on the internet.
