I'd very much would like to control (or at least monitor) my Sonos system over VPN. I can control my lighting and HVAC via Lutron and my IP cameras but it appears that the Sonos iOS app only functions over the device's wireless interface (network). All that is required is a change to allow the Sonos app to use any network, wifi or otherwise. This could be implemented as a enumerated list in the app's settings where the user could enable or disable (on or off slider) each network type and then sort the list to establish a priority. I understand that there would be a delay if for example, my primary network was wifi but I was currently connected remotely via VPN, I would have to wait for discovery via wifi to timeout before the app would begin searching via VPN. This would be acceptable to me. Thanks!
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Please add this feature for remote management of Sonos system over a VPN for client support.
I'm trying to set this up using a VPN to support a client at a remote location.
It is obvious-- remote controlled application is needed in case you need to access your system away from home. We left our system on and I needed to be able to turn off. Huge inconvenience & waste of time to not be able to.
It needn't be a scope discussion, Sonos simply shouldn't bind to the wifi interface of the controller device. Best practice would be to bind to the active interface. That way normal routing procedure could connect controller to players. whether wifi, wired, or VPN. I too have this need and it's quite troublesome that I can control the entirety of my home remotely except for the audio.
VALID USE CASE
For those asking "why?" to this question, I have a valid use case for you. I set up a SONOS system for my elderly Mom to be able to enjoy music throughout her home, but she is not yet comfortable using her iPad to control it due to her limited hand dexterity. So, she can only enjoy it if I am there to control it. Would be nice to be able to control it remotely for her.
What is really needed is a more "accessible" user interface with easier to control volume, etc. Even I have trouble controlling the volume with my fat fingers and that little bitty slider on the iPad.
For those asking "why?" to this question, I have a valid use case for you. I set up a SONOS system for my elderly Mom to be able to enjoy music throughout her home, but she is not yet comfortable using her iPad to control it due to her limited hand dexterity. So, she can only enjoy it if I am there to control it. Would be nice to be able to control it remotely for her.
What is really needed is a more "accessible" user interface with easier to control volume, etc. Even I have trouble controlling the volume with my fat fingers and that little bitty slider on the iPad.
I'm not able to use Sonos app via VPN. Not even when tricking it to think that my phone is connected on wifi.
But a simple way to connect to Sonos via VPN: you can connect via VPN and then use Macronos and do all commands via macros. It's a really great app for Sonos! 🙂 A bit expensive, but worth it
But a simple way to connect to Sonos via VPN: you can connect via VPN and then use Macronos and do all commands via macros. It's a really great app for Sonos! 🙂 A bit expensive, but worth it
That scenario would require advanced configuration capabilities on the customer site as STP path and UDP routing would have to be configured manually in the router/VPN settings.
This seems a little 'out of scope' for the intend of the application itself.
But i agree Sonos needs home integration capabilities, preferably with IFTTT to stay vendor neutral.
This seems a little 'out of scope' for the intend of the application itself.
But i agree Sonos needs home integration capabilities, preferably with IFTTT to stay vendor neutral.
I just ran into this easily fixable problem as well today. I have a little vpn server at my parents house and even when I'm connected to it, the sonos app won't even try the vpn interface to see that there is indeed sonos on my network. It just tries the wifi adaptor and if's down it gives up. If I turn on wifi in my house, the sonos app will start to find the controller at my own home. As others have mentioned, this could easily be fixed. Probably one line of code.
To everyone who keeps questioning why do you need this. Besides the obvious that remote access should be there and there is no reason to require WiFi if on network if through a VPN. Here's a simple scenario. I have my Sonos alarms set to go off and blast some loud rock music because I'm hard to wake up. I went away on business out of the country, forgot to turn them off. My alarms went off for 2 days blasting music. I live in an apartment building on the 4th floor. They were complaining on the 1st floor. It's my fuck up. But if I could of accessed it remotely I could of remedied that. Now I have taken measures for when I forget, like I can connect to my router and disconnect the SONOS from accessing the Internet to stream my music for the alarms or use my logitech harmony hub to mute them. But it would be simpler to go into the sonos app and control it like I should be able to. Not rocket science. Sonos has fallen so behind in the smart home market, it's ridiculous.
I don't think we needore reasons to justify why we need remote control of Sonos while nest and hue provide this function already.
I hope to see Sonos not only support remote control also support Google cast. You will be left out by the market if you are so afraid and not confident enough to follow the trend of the current market.
I hope to see Sonos not only support remote control also support Google cast. You will be left out by the market if you are so afraid and not confident enough to follow the trend of the current market.
I often worried that I would leave home forget to turn off my Sonos and the loud sound keep troubling my neighbors. Well that hasn't happened until now, but I do wish Sonos can turn it off when I leave home, my other home appliances can, such as nest, hue, no bug deal for them.
I was woke up from overseas this morning in the mid night by my nest telling me it detects something, I turned on nest then relised that it was 7 o'clock in the morning back home and the music is loud. I did remember to turn off Sonos before I took off to my overseas trip, but I forgot to turn off the alarm.
I love Sonos, but from my previous experience with Sonos community, I found Sonos tend to ignore these comments and refused to make any changes, so I dont post stuff, only watch.
Sonos by now should have Bluetooth ability, a better line-in port and management, support wireless headset, and a remote control over Internet. But hey, they never listen!
I was woke up from overseas this morning in the mid night by my nest telling me it detects something, I turned on nest then relised that it was 7 o'clock in the morning back home and the music is loud. I did remember to turn off Sonos before I took off to my overseas trip, but I forgot to turn off the alarm.
I love Sonos, but from my previous experience with Sonos community, I found Sonos tend to ignore these comments and refused to make any changes, so I dont post stuff, only watch.
Sonos by now should have Bluetooth ability, a better line-in port and management, support wireless headset, and a remote control over Internet. But hey, they never listen!
Use case: i have a home automation solution (rwe smarthome) that works with motion detectors and cameras. If someone not authorized enters my home, all SONOS devices are turned on, grouped, and a VERY LOUD Alarm ist played and I´m notified.
This is the use case I am looking for as well Chris. Can you please elaborate how you tied things together ?
Until now I am also using motion detectors and cameras and I am getting email notification when someone not authorized enters my home. I would like to take the next step now and play an VERY LOUD alarm on SONOS but I cannot link the email trigger to the Alarm.
This is the use case I am looking for as well Chris. Can you please elaborate how you tied things together ?
Until now I am also using motion detectors and cameras and I am getting email notification when someone not authorized enters my home. I would like to take the next step now and play an VERY LOUD alarm on SONOS but I cannot link the email trigger to the Alarm.
Principally it is easy to get SONOS players running via VPN (I use openVPN embedded in my router).
As we know, the Sonos controller does not allow multicast.
Conclusion: the SONOS controller is not designed for that purpose. Technically it is no problem not to rely on a WLAN connection and address the devices directly via IP.
So we need an alternative: a) another controller app, that was designed with regards to home automation. OK so use "iHome" from Appstore, it´s free and allows to play your music, start and stop rooms or group them and select music from the library via VPN. But: no Spotify. Works great.
b) use scripts written in php, works fine, too, but only is for nerds. If you need more information, let me know (kram@cool.ms).
But you may ask: what is the purpose of playing music if you are not at home ?
Tell ya:
Use case: i have a home automation solution (rwe smarthome) that works with motion detectors and cameras. If someone not authorized enters my home, all SONOS devices are turned on, grouped, and a VERY LOUD Alarm ist played and I´m notified.
USE CASE 2: you have a subnetted enterprise network (several rooms \ stores) and you want to control your SONOS devices centrally.
Works great. SONOS really hast to improve.
As we know, the Sonos controller does not allow multicast.
Conclusion: the SONOS controller is not designed for that purpose. Technically it is no problem not to rely on a WLAN connection and address the devices directly via IP.
So we need an alternative: a) another controller app, that was designed with regards to home automation. OK so use "iHome" from Appstore, it´s free and allows to play your music, start and stop rooms or group them and select music from the library via VPN. But: no Spotify. Works great.
b) use scripts written in php, works fine, too, but only is for nerds. If you need more information, let me know (kram@cool.ms).
But you may ask: what is the purpose of playing music if you are not at home ?
Tell ya:
Use case: i have a home automation solution (rwe smarthome) that works with motion detectors and cameras. If someone not authorized enters my home, all SONOS devices are turned on, grouped, and a VERY LOUD Alarm ist played and I´m notified.
USE CASE 2: you have a subnetted enterprise network (several rooms \ stores) and you want to control your SONOS devices centrally.
Works great. SONOS really hast to improve.
No- we didn't have it 'blaring'. We left and babysitter told us it was on, not blaring but loud enough & needing to be turned off. The app is on our phones & couldn't turn it off after we left. Not sure what is so confusing about that
i'm also interested in this as part of my home automation setup. i want my sonos speakers to be my "alarm," and i want to be able to turn it off or on remotely
i haven't tried this yet, but i think it's possible with 3rd party tools. e.g. vera home controllers have a sonos app. openremote can also talk to sonos boxes. i think these should permit remote control. anyway, this probably isn't totally trivial to setup; a solution like this is more suitable for someone who already has a VPN server running at home
i haven't tried this yet, but i think it's possible with 3rd party tools. e.g. vera home controllers have a sonos app. openremote can also talk to sonos boxes. i think these should permit remote control. anyway, this probably isn't totally trivial to setup; a solution like this is more suitable for someone who already has a VPN server running at home
Intrigued, but confused. You left the house and got however far down the road and realized you left your Sonos kit blaring... How would that happen? If you're leaving the house, you'd hear it, no? Leaving the garage door up is one thing, but leaving the house with Sonos on loud or even a TV on... kind of bizarre.
Once again, the answer is a remote computer.
Since most solutions posted here look to having a remote computer (e.g. Raspberry Pi), I’d consider the most elegant solution to be for the controller to be easily accessed via any browser connecting over the VPN.
This looks like this could be quite an elegant solution to the problem. Might try setting this up in a jail on my FreeNAS box and give it a try...
https://github.com/Villarrealized/sonos-web
This looks like this could be quite an elegant solution to the problem. Might try setting this up in a jail on my FreeNAS box and give it a try...
https://github.com/Villarrealized/sonos-web
I need it because of the following...
My mother who is having memory problems calls me and asks me if I can turn it on for her and put some music for her. When I am home I can do that but not if I am away. It seems simple but it is necessary. I do set it as an alarm clock to play everyday on something that she likes when I am not there but she then has to run it off if she is watching tv or reading. Not a b deal for you and me but for her and her problems it is another phone call and another difficult task for her to perform. I hope Sonos helps...
My mother who is having memory problems calls me and asks me if I can turn it on for her and put some music for her. When I am home I can do that but not if I am away. It seems simple but it is necessary. I do set it as an alarm clock to play everyday on something that she likes when I am not there but she then has to run it off if she is watching tv or reading. Not a b deal for you and me but for her and her problems it is another phone call and another difficult task for her to perform. I hope Sonos helps...
Dog/Cat ... I am also wondering the point of it, apart from pets. IFTTT understandable, Home automation both great ideas, but being able to vpn when I am at work? Burglar deterrent maybe?
Hi all, I'm in the IT enterprise mobility industry and this is solvable and pretty easily for an apps dev team. All depends on what's the on wish list and how badly customers want that feature.
1. Enable micro-vpn on Sonos mobile app
2. install remote agent on Sonos device
3. Open random (predefined port) on WiFi Router
4. Control Sonos from anywhere using existing Sonos mobile app.
No need for full VPN and RDP type service or even a PC.
C
1. Enable micro-vpn on Sonos mobile app
2. install remote agent on Sonos device
3. Open random (predefined port) on WiFi Router
4. Control Sonos from anywhere using existing Sonos mobile app.
No need for full VPN and RDP type service or even a PC.
C
After playing with it for a little while I made it work with L2TP IKEv2 VPN setup.
The idea is to get it on the same network as your Sonos devices and make multicast and broadcast work.
You can use:
1) raspberry pi or any linux device you're willing to use as a VPN gateway. Raspberry PI is cheap, small and has no fans
2) StrongSwan software on the server side for L2TP VPN connection. Required plugins: dhcp (for getting an IP address from your home router), farp (for proxying ARP to make it look like device is on the same network) , forecast (for broadcast / multicast forwarding)
To save people some time:
1) You don't have to join the same network but having your controller on a separate network will complicate the setup even more. it doable, though.
2) The most obvious setup - OpenVPN with 'tap' device won't fly. Android doesn't support TAP devices. making it work with TUN device is a nightmare.
3) Sonos controller must be connected to a wifi network to function properly, so you'll have to use public / private wifi or wifi hotspot on some other device in conjunction with VPN
Enjoy your music.
The idea is to get it on the same network as your Sonos devices and make multicast and broadcast work.
You can use:
1) raspberry pi or any linux device you're willing to use as a VPN gateway. Raspberry PI is cheap, small and has no fans
2) StrongSwan software on the server side for L2TP VPN connection. Required plugins: dhcp (for getting an IP address from your home router), farp (for proxying ARP to make it look like device is on the same network) , forecast (for broadcast / multicast forwarding)
To save people some time:
1) You don't have to join the same network but having your controller on a separate network will complicate the setup even more. it doable, though.
2) The most obvious setup - OpenVPN with 'tap' device won't fly. Android doesn't support TAP devices. making it work with TUN device is a nightmare.
3) Sonos controller must be connected to a wifi network to function properly, so you'll have to use public / private wifi or wifi hotspot on some other device in conjunction with VPN
Enjoy your music.
What is the practical application for this? I don't see why you want to be able to turn on music if you aren't home to listen to it?
Here's another scenario where remote access for Sonos is desired. I have a rental property that is used for short term rentals. I thought it would be a nice touch to have music playing when our guests arrive. It would be great if I could turn music on shortly before check-in time and even better if the speakers could be triggered by certain actions in the house through IFTTT. We love our Sonos speakers in our primary home, but probably won't spend the money on Sonos speakers in the rental unless, or until, easy remote access controls are available.
That's cool now i have a question as i am using 3rd party vpn services so this will be same for or its only for specific vpn? I am using Ipvanish which is best us vpn serivce provider..
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