Raspberry pi Home Connect

Overview

• Describes how to setup a Github Action workflow to manage a Raspberry Pi (or other Linux Home server).
• In this scenario we are considering the Port forwarding feature available in your Home Router.
• The objective is to directly interact with Raspberry Pi from Github Actions.
  • However more secure and feature rich methods exist by using 3rd party services. e.g. remote.it
• The Home router needs to be setup with Port forwarding to connect with Home server's SSH port (Default: 22) and private IP address.
  • Source port: Something not port 22
  • Destination port: 22
• NOTE: The workflow uses SSH keys instead of Passwords to connect to the Raspberry pi.
  • Generate an SSH key pair in the Raspberry Pi and add the id_rsa.pub to ~/.ssh/authorized_keys.
  • Use the id_rsa file for SSH_PRIVATE_KEY Github secret.

Github Secrets

• HOST: Home router's public NAT IP. i.e. The result of "What's my IP'.
• USERNAME: Raspberry pi user
• PORT: Forwarding Port (Source port) setup at the Home router.
• SSH_PRIVATE_KEY: Private key of authorized SSH key.

Misc: Setting Raspberry Pi Power saving mode OFF

• Raspberry Pi may lose the WiFi connection after a period of inactivity if the Power saving mode is turned ON.
• Check Power saving mode status,

  $ sudo iw dev wlan0 get power_save
  >>
  power_save: on

• Disable power saving mode,

  $ sudo iw dev wlan0 set power_save off

• Link: Does Your Raspberry Pi 3 Lose WiFi Connections After a While

References

• GitHub Action: SSH Remote Commands
• Rebooting the Raspberry Pi when it loses wireless connection