Set up your own secure network connection.
Set up your own secure network connection.
Looking for guidance on configuring a VPN through your home network. You're planning to use it to access your NAS remotely while maintaining a corporate appearance. Any tips or experiences with this setup?
I've set it up with an ASUS RT AC88U using Merlin and openVPN. Merlin is really great firmware! https://www.asuswrt-merlin.net My router also supports a NAS (SMB client included in the firmware). It's not extremely fast, but it's more than sufficient for my needs. This setup could also work with an external NAS. It makes sense only if you have a fast enough router and can handle VPN traffic. An alternative is using a Raspberry Pi or a budget PC (though that might be too much for most users). AND: In my area, being able to reach your VPN depends on your ISP. I have to pay extra.
I don’t have prior experience, but as @Metallus97 mentioned, you can try it on certain routers. Raspberry Pi devices are also possible options. In some setups, NAS systems can function like VPN servers. Keep in mind the limits of your home internet speed. Still, this offers a solid method to securely connect to your local network.
I rely on PFsense as my router system, which includes an integrated openVPN server and client. This simplifies the setup significantly. Alternatively, you can host a VPN server on another device such as a PC, Raspberry Pi, or even a NAS. You’d then need to adjust your router’s NAT settings so VPN traffic reaches the oVPN server and obtain a Dynamic DNS domain linked to your public IP address. If you don’t already have one (which I’m fortunate to possess but others claim isn’t necessary), you might consider SSH port forwarding from an affordable virtual machine. The ArchLinux wiki offers excellent, detailed guidance on configuring openVPN.
You should be able to set up OpenVPN with your Netgear R6400 v1. It’s not ideal, but it works. I’ve tried DD-WRT Kong builds before, but the hex values were incorrect, making recovery difficult. You found a suitable file on a Danish site after searching through many pages—good luck there. Since you’re already using VPNs for security on other devices, the same software should work for your Windows and Mac setups. Just ensure your ISP’s policies are respected, though they’re lax unless you misuse the connection. A regular individual VPN is perfectly acceptable.
It mainly depends on your upload speeds. Since you're sending data to a device outside your house, its usage affects your upload. I'm not sure about your connection, but I only receive 10 Mbps upload, which isn't very strong.
I’m not overly worried about how fast the transfer is. Mostly I’m moving Word and Excel files, and I’d prefer not to depend on services like Dropbox or Google Drive when I can handle it directly.
Regarding your laptop's software, TunnelBlick on Mac OS and OpenVPN on Windows are functional. For connecting to your NAS, you should be able to use them similarly—just ensure the NAS supports those protocols. If not, consider alternative tools or combinations that better suit your setup.
You can also use an OpenVPN client for Windows to link with your OpenVPN server. I don’t know anything about Mac OS.