Exclusion of gaming ports in VPN traffic restrictions
Exclusion of gaming ports in VPN traffic restrictions
Hey, newbie here. You’re using PIA with your Windows client and can connect automatically, but you need to turn it off before launching games to prevent lag or switching servers. Once uninstalled, you can’t browse freely without your ISP’s connection. The modem can’t be changed to support VPNs, and you’re considering DD-WRT or virtual network interfaces. I’ve heard about setting up two virtual networks, but a VM NIC caused issues before. Maybe try another approach—like configuring PIA’s firewall rules to allow gaming ports directly through the VPN tunnel, while blocking other traffic. Or look into third-party tools that let you route specific ports around. Let me know if you want more details on any of these options.
Without clear details about the specific games involved, it becomes difficult to determine anything. It’s possible games aren’t using dedicated ports at all and are routed through one port while bypassing your router with another, thanks to NAT. Relying solely on port numbers won’t provide useful insight. Additionally, I’m not familiar with any Windows tools that can filter or reroute network traffic. Games typically don’t support multiple network interfaces; they rely on the computer’s built-in internet connection and routing table, which dictates their path.
For gaming, I mainly play Fortnite and likely will try COD/BF soon. It seems COD works on ports 28960, but matchmaking might have changed. I could forward the 80/443 connections through a VPN so my browser stays open for YouTube or other sites. I’ll still close the torrent while gaming. I already have a PC with a Pentium G3258 that functions as a server for two external HDDs, mainly to decode HD movies to my TV using PLEX and a generic media center hub for my network. I’m not sure if I can set up something there to help. A Raspberry Pi only has one Ethernet port and probably won’t be useful. If I need a better solution, I might consider a programmable switch/router—any model suggestions? Otherwise, I’ll probably stick with the popular Linksys, which seem to support many compatible programs.
To ensure only HTTP and HTTPS traffic travels through the tunnel, set up a proxy service alongside your VPN. Using a setup named Split Tunnelling for the VPN lets you direct specific traffic to designated gateways while leaving other data on the regular connection. If you have access to an HTTP/HTTPS proxy, follow these steps:
1. Set up PIA for Split Tunnelling
2. Follow the provided guide for configuration
3. Assign a static route pointing proxy IPs through the PIA gateway
4. Adjust interface metrics on your VPN port to higher values
5. Add a proxy in your web browser to the proxy’s IP address
6. Test to confirm everything works
This approach keeps all traffic encrypted end-to-end. Other options exist, but I’d need details about your network setup and technical background to recommend the best path.
You could also use a virtual machine running Linux for casual browsing or opt for an affordable laptop. For gaming purposes, I favor dedicating my PC and rely on my laptop or phone only when necessary. If you're open to investing in a router, a budget laptop should still be feasible for this task.