Possible to connect to content server or as a wireless device without WiFi connected?

[Rattor]

I have a home server set up with my Calibre library. I have a VPN set up that allows me to put my phone on my home network even when I'm out and about. When I try to connect to my content server or as a wireless device to my Calibre server, Calibre Companion says that WiFi must be enabled in order to connect.

My question is: why? Is there a reason for this requirement? Is there a way around it? I definitely do not need it for my particular use case. I can even be connected to a different WiFi network and it will allow me to connect to the content server. It seems arbitrary to require a WiFi connection to connect when I can do everything I need to via VPN on a cell data connection. I can even VPN home, launch an RDP window into my server, launch Calibre, manipulate the databases and move books around to Dropbox or directly download them, but CC wants me to have an active WiFi connection.

Any thoughts or ideas?

[Rattor]

Oops. Wrong post.

[chaley]

Check the "Allow connecting using 3G" box in CC's Settings / Connecting to calibre / Content server connection / IP address and port, or the equivalent in the wireless device setup. That tells CC to attempt to connect even if WiFi is off, using whatever networking is available. I can't guarantee that connections will work because VPNs can be strange but at least you will get past the WiFi check. By "strange" I mean that VPNs may or may not pass UDP and broadcasts, DNS may or may not work correctly, and routing might send the packets over the wrong network.

[Rattor]

Thanks, that actually did it. Not sure how I missed that setting. Looks like I'm connected and able to download books now. My VPN is a full tunnel, so all of my phone's data passes through the VPN to my home network before being routed to the internet at large, and it's set up to allow UDP and broadcasts. Also, since my phone is assigned a local IP on my home network, the DNS routing is working exactly as if I were on my home WiFi network.

Thanks for the amazing app!

[taratears]

I tried to do this, but it refuses to connect. It just tells me it can't find Calibre. Works fine if my wireless is on. I'm on a Win10 laptop, Calibre version 3.60, Android version 6.0.1.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by taratears

I tried to do this, but it refuses to connect. It just tells me it can't find Calibre. Works fine if my wireless is on. I'm on a Win10 laptop, Calibre version 3.60, Android version 6.0.1.

If you turn off WiFi then your device is no longer connected to your local network, but is instead connected to the Internet via your data provider. Normally, for excellent security reasons computers on the internet can't see computers on your home net (one exception can be IPV6). For connections to work you must do *something* to allow connections from the internet to your library on your home net.

@Rattor solved this problem by setting up a VPN that connected his device to his home network. This works well but usually requires advanced technical knowledge to set up.

@d2produce solved this problem by opening his local network to the internet. His approach is rather quick-and-dirty and suffers from some structural and security problems, but it can work.

Others, including me, solved the problem by running a content server on internet-connected computer.

Many others, also included me, solved the problem by using CC's cloud connection, syncing our book libraries to Dropbox or equivalent.

The point here is that unless you do something special, CC will not be able to see your library on your local (home) network from the internet. What you do is up to you, based on your technical knowledge and your risk tolerance. Cloud connections are reasonably secure and are easy to set up. Content server connections from the internet can be a difficult and can be insecure. Wireless device connections from the internet are the hardest to set up.

[taratears]

Originally Posted by chaley

If you turn off WiFi then your device is no longer connected to your local network, but is instead connected to the Internet via your data provider. Normally, for excellent security reasons computers on the internet can't see computers on your home net (one exception can be IPV6). For connections to work you must do *something* to allow connections from the internet to your library on your home net.

@Rattor solved this problem by setting up a VPN that connected his device to his home network. This works well but usually requires advanced technical knowledge to set up.

@d2produce solved this problem by opening his local network to the internet. His approach is rather quick-and-dirty and suffers from some structural and security problems, but it can work.

Others, including me, solved the problem by running a content server on internet-connected computer.

Many others, also included me, solved the problem by using CC's cloud connection, syncing our book libraries to Dropbox or equivalent.

The point here is that unless you do something special, CC will not be able to see your library on your local (home) network from the internet. What you do is up to you, based on your technical knowledge and your risk tolerance. Cloud connections are reasonably secure and are easy to set up. Content server connections from the internet can be a difficult and can be insecure. Wireless device connections from the internet are the hardest to set up.

Thank you for your feedback, it gives me a good idea of all my options.