I’ve moved my Plex server to Truenas Scale, and I’m about to get Sonarr/Radarr/Ombi/etc setup, but first I need to get VPN going. Truenas Scale uses OpenVPN and my current VPN service is ExpressVPN (which I’ve been very happy with). Setting up ExpressVPN with Truenas has proven challenging because of certificate import issues.

Previously I’ve always run ExpressVPN locally. Do you think it’s a good idea just to put it on my router (PfSense) and call it a day? They do provide specific instructions to set it up on that specific router OS. I imagine I could always use a custom route to bypass it if needed (ie local sports on Fubo TV).

  • Random Dent@lemmy.mlEnglish
    3·
    1 year ago

    I don’t put it on my router because there are certain things it would kind of mess with (for example: Netflix on the TV would get all weird and restrict content if it goes through a VPN, I assume it’d slow down online gaming on the Playstation and I don’t really care if that’s anonymous or not and so on.) I could probably split tunnel that stuff, but for me it’s just easier to run it locally on the things I think need it (my laptop, phone etc.) than figure all that out.

    That’s just me though, it really all depends on your preferences/threat model I guess.

  • WeAreAllOne@lemm.eeEnglish
    31·
    1 year ago

    Depending on your routers capabilities. I have my VPN on my router and chose which device gets behind it or not. Works like a charm. If you want to access your server from outside your local network, you have to see if express vpn offers port forwarding.

    • MasterBuilder@lemmy.oneEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      It doesn’t, so I use OpenVPN ony DSM when I remote connect, and use ExpressVPN on the devices that need it for anonymousness.

    • phxEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Seems to be an increasingly rare thing these days from VPN providers. Mullvad recently dropped it, but it does look like ExpressVPN may still support it

      • Melmi@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        Nah that ExpressVPN article is about regular port forwarding, not through the VPN. If you use that type of port forwarding you’ll be leaking your IP.

        • phxEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          Ugh, wait what? Why would anyone even do that with a VPN?

      • WeAreAllOne@lemm.eeEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        Unfortunately this is true and I can’t figure out why…

        Proton still supports it; easier in windows than in Linux. Also windscribe does.

  • Bldck@beehaw.orgEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    I run QB through a docker container that’s an always on VPN

    Then the xArr apps are in the same virtual network as QB. They run without a VPN

  • lemming007@lemm.eeEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    What are you trying to accomplish? Hide/anonymize your Internet/torrenting activity? Or access your LAN devices from the Internet? Because those are two different use cases for VPN. One requires paying a third party provider, the other - hosting a VPN server on your network.