MobiLinc Connect, Port integration and remote access

[DIYguy]

After a few challenges I have full remote access of my ISY994i from my office computer.

I've had MobiLinc Pro for quite a while and tried using it before my ISY. Wasn't impressed with the SmartLinc connection and stopped using it. It seems to work well with the ISY so I just updated to 4.0

 

My question is, how can I get MobiLinc to work remote without paying the annual fee?

I have a business gateway with static IP and port forwarding in place. External IP configuration is taken care of.

What does the Portal Integration Module do. If that module is installed can MobiLinc be manually configured for remote connection without using the service?

Will the push notification work if not using the Connect service?

Don't mind spending the $30 if get added features but since I've done all the other work already wondering if I still need to pay for the service.

Any suggestions?

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello DIYguy,

 

 

My question is, how can I get MobiLinc to work remote without paying the annual fee?

I have a business gateway with static IP and port forwarding in place. External IP configuration is taken care of.

That's all you need (i.e. port forwarding to ISY and having MobiLinc point to your remote IP address).

 

What does the Portal Integration Module do. If that module is installed can MobiLinc be manually configured for remote connection without using the service?

Portal integration module basically removes the necessity for port forwarding: ISY makes an outbound connection to a Proxy/Portal Server and keeps it open. In this case, the Proxy/Portal server is MobiLinc Connect.

 

Will the push notification work if not using the Connect service?

I am not sure. I think it would be best to post this question in the MobiLinc forum.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[mrbudin]

I am successful configuring ISY and a few Insteon Devices that makes them work together.

 

But anyone knows how to config Mobilinc to work with ISY 994i pro by port forwarding method. I look forward to hearing step by step instruction.

 

Best regards,

[larryllix]

The only port forwarding I have is in my router.

 

 A router has a firewall that doesn't let anything through that isn't initiated inside, and by, my house internal LAN equipment. Port forwarding is a feature, in a router, that allows certain data through when it's initiated externally from the Internet side

.

 

So if my ISY has been assigned an IP address of 192.168.0.28 by my router (DHCP) and my router has been assigned an IP address of 123.456.7.89 on the Internet by my ISP (DHCP) then my port forwarding may look something like this.

 

   convert external IP 123.456.7.89 on port 8099 (chosen arbitrarily by you) to internal 192.168.0.28 port 80 (chosen inside ISY)

 

This will allow external browsers (and Admin Console, Mobilinc) traffic using the URL http://123.456.7.89:8099'>http://123.456.7.89:8099 to be converted by your router and dumped on your LAN as http://192.168.0.28:80 and get through to your ISY.

 

 

This all works very well while your IP loaned to you by your ISP doesn't change. Usually when there is a power outage your IP address is re-issued and now your external software is lost, doesn't know it's way home, and cannot connect to your new external IP address.  In comes the DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name Service).

 

Most newer routers support DDNS with built in firmware that keeps a cloud service notified what IP address it has been assigned externally (by your ISP). Instead of your cell phone talking to http://123.456.7.89:8099 and being lost, it talks to http://www.YourRouterName.noip.com:8099, which keeps track of what IP your router is at dynamically, and just passes the data through to it. My Netgear router comes with a free service to do this. They spammed me a few times at first but it works well.

 

In my case, with my ISP, I could survive without my free cloud DDNS service if my power never failed for more than a few minutes. 

Edited October 14, 2014 by larryllix

[DennisC]

Hi,

 

When you attempt to connect with MobiLinc are you using the local, secure, or auto detect? If you are within your network, select local and see if you can get that one working first.

 

I also believe the secure https setting in MobiLinc should be your external IP address or a DDNS name, not your local IP address. This would be consistent with larryllix's example.

 

You also need to select the sync with ISY button to make your first connection. Once you get the local working then try working on the secure. Afterwards you can change the connection to auto detect.

 

Regards,

 

Dennis

[MWareman]

My ISY994i URL: 192.168.1.5, local port forwarding 80, external port forwarding 443

 

Yeah, that won't work. 443 is SSL and 80 is not. You cannot (normally) port forward port 443 to port 80 and have it work.

 

You also appear to have two definitions that include external port 443 this will cause a conflict. Remove the line labeled 'isy' (its the one that forwards all ports from 80 to 443!). I'm also not sure why you are port forwarding TCP/500 to ISY - but that won't affect your connectivity.

 

Michael.

Edited October 20, 2014 by MWareman

[larryllix]

it still doesn't work with my Mobilinc HD + ISY 994i.

 

My ISY994i URL: 192.168.1.5, local port forwarding 80, external port forwarding 443

 

 

 

 

I added port forwarding to my Tenda D830R as the following attachment

 

Nat -> Virtual Servers ->

 

See the picture 1

 

 

 

Then i config my Mobilinc Setting as follows:

 

See picture 2

 

 

 

But i am still unable to remote access ISY 994i from Mobilinc

 

 

What's wrong with me?

 

Can someone help me solve this problem.

 

Regards,

 

Some observations

- you have no external IP address in ISY: Turn on Internet access.

- in MobiLinc you are using the internal address of your ISY for the external connection. Use 0.0.0.0 until you get the Internal one working. Turn off automatic selection and select local only for now. Once that works enable external https stuff. I always have to disable my cell's WiFi to test that.

- your ISY firmware and GUI versions do not match. You should update your ISY with the latest version to get any new support offered and be compatible.

 

** Take that second line out of your router!! That allows anybody access to your LAN from port 80 to 443 through your firewall .Basically a non-existent firewall with invitations sent out here.  Not a good thing as much of you internal things won't even be passworded. Also you may want to blur pictures or change some of the IP information posted here when you are done for future hacking made easy.

Edited October 20, 2014 by larryllix

[mrbudin]

Since i don't have static IP address and my Internet IP Access is always: http://0.0.0.0/

When i am at my local wi-fi network, it works fine. But i don't know how to make it work remotely.

 

I would be grateful if anyone could help step by step.

 

Many thanks

 

 

 

I followed this guide

 

If you have a UPnP router, on Admin Console please try File->Enable Internet Access the outcome of which should be the URL at which you can access ISY remotely.

If you do not have a UPnP router, or if File->Enable Internet Access returns "null" or fails, then:
1. On Admin Console go to Help->About
2. Write down IP Address and Port number for your ISY listed in front of My URL. So, for instance, if you have:
My URL: http://192.168.1.105:54321/0/p then 
Your IP is 192.168.1.105 and
Your your Port is 54321
If you do not see any ports, then you would want to forward to port 443 (for HTTPS) unless it has been changed using CWP
3. Follow the information in http://portforward.com/ to configure your specific router for port forwarding
4. Your remote access URL will be in the form:
http://your.isps.address:your.isys.port/0/x

Please note:
1. Each ISY has its own unique Port number
2. If your ISY is on a DHCP (default behavior for most routers) then ISY's IP address may change. As such, if you plan to use remote access:
a. Use static IP for ISY, or
b. On your router, make ISY's IP lease permanent, or
c. Use dynamic DNS services such as dyndns.com or tzo.com

Edited October 20, 2014 by mrbudin

[larryllix]

You should go into your router setup and find the Mac address for your ISY and assign a permanent IP address for your ISY in your DHCP table to assign it the same  IP every time. Every time your ISY reboots it will get the lease of that IP address and it will work with your router.

 

Now when you do Port Forwarding in your router you will always know the  ISY IP and  Mac address, depending on how your assignments work in your router  table.

Pick a port for your ISY to "punch through" your firewall. The default is 443 but I used a higher address (4 digits) to make it less hackable. This should be the same port picked inside your ISY for external/secure access.

 

Shut off your WiFi on your cell phone to force and prove external connections.

 

Run MobiLinc

Open your MobiLinc setup and set the https:// address to the IP address your ISP leased to you. The IP address (not 0.0.0.0) and the Port address  must both show  in the "About" info in your ISY or your ISY does not have External Internet Access turned on. Set your IP address and the port you opened up in your router Forwarding. Click Link update at the bottom of the MobiLinc page after entering numbers. You should set access to secure (https = Hyper Text Markup Protocol Secure) only.

 

Once connections are established turn MobiLinc connections  back to automatic and turn your WiFi back on in your cell phone.

Edited October 20, 2014 by larryllix