remote.it

Remote.it can be a great way to remotely support an Internet-in-a-Box (IIAB).

As of 2024, 5 IIAB devices can be managed for free (their personal / non-commercial plan) and larger numbers for $10+/month.

For other approaches, please see FAQ.IIAB.IO -> "How can I remotely manage my Internet-in-a-Box?"

Getting Started

Create a remote.it account + consider its desktop application

Browse to https://remote.it (Web Portal) and sign up for an account.
Consider downloading and installing the remote.it desktop application (e.g. for Windows, macOS or Linux) on your own laptop/computer. Their https://remote.it Web Portal and mobile apps are also sometimes sufficient, but less functional.

2023-07-26 WARNING: IIAB no longer installs the /usr/bin/remoteit command-line interface (CLI), as it can no longer coexist with the core remoteit Device Package. Whereas in the past the remote.it CLI had offered a few more features: "The Desktop and CLI can [each] support both peer to peer connections and proxy connections [whereas] the Web Portal and API can only support proxy connections" according to https://docs.remote.it/software/device-package/usage

OPTION #1: Generate a remote.it claim code for your IIAB + register it + authorize services/ports

Prerequisite: Find any IIAB with remoteit_installed: True in /etc/iiab/iiab_state.yml (this is the default!) This means that the remote.it Device Package is already installed on your IIAB, most important.

Run sudo iiab-remoteit to enable remote.it on your IIAB:
- Hit [Enter] (repeatedly if necessary, to accept all defaults) to quickly generate a claim code for your IIAB.
  
  The claim code must be used within 24 hours (Step 2., below).
  
  Just FYI a copy is also put in: /etc/remoteit/config.json
- EXCEPTION #1: If a remote.it license key happens to be found in /etc/iiab/local_vars.yml or /etc/remoteit/registration, that will be tried first (prior to, and instead of generating a claim code).
  
  If the license key works, you will not get a claim code (as the IIAB device auto-registers to your remote.it account) so jump to Step 5. in OPTION #2.
- EXCEPTION #2: If you have an existing /etc/remoteit/config.json you will be given the option to try that (e.g. if you already registered the IIAB device to your remote.it account).
  
  Verify that after sudo iiab-remoteit completes, by jumping to Step 5. in OPTION #2.

Submit the claim code within the remote.it desktop application on your own laptop/computer. Or if you prefer, do that by logging into their Web Portal at: https://remote.it

Either way, click on the '+' icon to enter the remote.it claim code (to register the IIAB device to your remote.it account) as shown in this screenshot.
Authorize services/ports (e.g. SSH, HTTP, etc) for your IIAB device, as shown in these screenshots, and you're all done!

SUMMARY: One or more remote.it "Services" need to be authorized (registered) to allow remote access to your IIAB device.

EXAMPLES: Add an SSH Service on port 22 and/or add an HTTP Service on port 80 (screenshot guide).

OPTION #2: Paste your remote.it license key to IIAB + enable it + authorize services/ports

Copy your remote.it account license key from their Desktop Application (https://remote.it/download/) or from their Web Portal (https://remote.it) — as shown in this screenshot.

Paste it into your IIAB's /etc/iiab/local_vars.yml as in this example:
```
remoteit_license_key: 592AA9BB-XXXX-YYYY-ZZZZ-6E27654C3DF6
```
FYI to protect your credential, the above line will promptly be redacted (removed) from your /etc/iiab/local_vars.yml — after the key is copied to /etc/remoteit/registration in Step 3. or 4. below.
Also set remoteit_enabled: True in /etc/iiab/local_vars.yml

(And verify that remoteit_install: True is set.)
If your IIAB software is not yet installed, do that e.g. by running sudo iiab and following any on-screen instructions — until "INTERNET-IN-A-BOX (IIAB) SOFTWARE INSTALL IS COMPLETE" eventually appears on screen.

When that's complete, skip to Step 5.
If your IIAB software is already installed, make sure your IIAB is online.

Now register the IIAB device to your remote.it account, by running sudo iiab-remoteit (this also enables remote.it on your IIAB).

Or, if you prefer the legacy approach, run:
```
cd /opt/iiab/iiab
sudo ./runrole remoteit
```
The legacy approach can also reinstall the (latest) remote.it Device Package on your IIAB, if you instead run:
```
cd /opt/iiab/iiab
sudo ./runrole --reinstall remoteit
```
Log in to https://remote.it or its desktop application on your own computer/laptop.

In the "Devices" section on the left, check that your IIAB is now present (i.e. registered to your account).
Authorize services/ports (e.g. SSH, HTTP, etc) for your IIAB device, as shown in these screenshots, and you're all done!

SUMMARY: One or more remote.it "Services" need to be authorized (registered) to allow remote access to your IIAB device.

EXAMPLES: Add an SSH Service on port 22 and/or add an HTTP Service on port 80 (screenshot guide).

How to I disable remote.it on my IIAB?

Run sudo iiab-remoteit-off
If you also want to completely remove all remote.it software and its settings, run:
```
sudo apt purge "remoteit*"
sudo rm /usr/bin/remoteit
```

Docs

Known Issues

~~2021-10-27: This needs to be enhanced rather urgently, so remote.it also works when IIAB is installed on Raspberry Pi OS 11 (Bullseye), Ubuntu, Mint and Debian: #3006~~
2021-10-29: The above OS issues should be resolved by PR #3007, PR #3009 and PR #3010 — but this needs final testing! (Initial testing occurred on [1] 32-bit Raspberry Pi OS Lite on Raspberry Pi 4 and [2] Ubuntu Server 20.04 on x86_64 VM.)

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