Server to Server Connection/Authorization

Here is the setup I'm going for. I have a couple of remote locations that my household frequents. I have Xfinity internet, & the upload bandwidth is limited, plus there's a data cap. I also only have 1 HD-Homerun Prime. So that gives me 3 tuners lots between 3 total locations (Office, wherever else I happen to be for work & home).

I want to run a server at each location. The one at home acting as a home base so to speak. The two servers away from home, I want to log in with my TVE credentials and then access the home server for any non-TVE channels and then that server can spin up the Prime and send it off.

Primary reason for this is is that there are a couple channels not available VIA TVE that'll be shared across locations more often than not. My local Sports affiliate. So I'd like to be able to take advantage of the main server doing Tuner sharing. That way we aren't interrupting other viewing.

I thought I had a solution to this, but I ran into an issue in testing. I exported an M3U playlist from my home server and was able to access any stream from within my home network. So I thought, hey, I'll just tap into the Port Forwarding that's already set up and change the internal IP from the M3U list and make it my external IP. I then discovered the Authentication tokens that need to be exchanged. On the web interface, I can copy & paste those tokens to access that way.

So does anyone know how I could get this setup to work? I've thought about a VPN, but then I run into the everything originates from home anyway. I also thought about port-forwarding the HD-HomeRun directly, but then I run into using a separate for each connection, even if we're watching the same channel.

To be clear, I don't care about accessing recordings & such from the home server. I actually like the idea of keeping the DVR's separate in addition to limiting the upstream bandwidth sent out. If I ever actually need to get to any specific server, then I'll simply do it manually.

Work & Travel Servers - Priority List
TVE Credentials -> M3U Playlist that links back to my home server

Home Server - Priority List
HDHomeRun- Prime -> TVE Credentials

For your situation, a VPN is probably the best solution. Just beware of that data cap, as cable streams can be quite large.

If I use a VPN, then I might as well just use the Remote feature and remove the local servers at each location right? It'd be essentially the same effect, unless there is a VPN setup that doesn't force all traffic through the VPN connection.

I have an Asus Router that I can use to set up an Open VPN server, which I've done on a couple of occasions.

Correct. And if you're concerned about the data transfer of TVE channels, then you can use local instances of the apps for live viewing of those networks at the remote sites.

I actually think I figured out a solution to my problem! I saw an option in my router to make the VPN LAN only. So I can request things from the VPN as if I was an internal user however the regular internet Traffic runs through the original WAN. Solves my problem!