Hi guys as title suggests I have a pi 4b 4gb and basically I want to connect it to my isp provided router (wired connection via a lan cable) and run an openvpn config on it and then connect it to an access point that i already have (this one is wired too via a usb to RJ45 adapter and lan cable). I know that I need to flash openwrt image on an sdcard and install it on pi4 but I don’t know how to configure openwrt after that and honestly the guides on the forums and internet are a little confusing (I’m not that tech savy) also I read that not all usb to RJ45 adapters work with openwrt on pi4 but I don’t know which one to buy. can anyone show me a fool proof guide or tell me what I need to do?
It sounds like a fun tinker project, but I don’t think the hardware will perform as well as you hope.
Yeah like know open-vpn not gonna run well on it but wireguard is ok
Maybe this one ? https://www.pivpn.io/
Thanks but this is VPN server setup not a client
This may be helpful if you haven’t found it yet. It has a full list of instructions to flash and configure openwrt on the rpi 4 with wireguard VPN. It says you can also do it with openvpn, but claim the speed was much slower.
https://www.instructables.com/Highspeed-VPN-Router-With-Raspberry-Pi/
Thanks I haven’t seen this guide before. It looks easy enough to follow
You have the pi, give it a go.
If it’s inadequate then i’d recommend a used fanless thin-client type PC, such as a Wyse 5070, just make sure it comes with PSU and a few GB of RAM and SSD. And check reports of how much power it uses at idle.
Thanks I will try running Wireguard on pi4. I never considered tin-clients before. What kind of OS these have? Can they run VPN clients?
Usually they’re normal x86 PCs with nothing unusual about them so just your Linux/BSD distro of choice. You can look up the processor model to see what crypto acceleration it can do, or see if there’s any wireguard benchmarks available.
Some have interesting processors like PowerPC, or other strange hardware, but avoid them unless interesting is what you’re after.
Sounds interesting I’m looking for a good mikrotik router right now. Going to look for these too thanks
Thanks This looks like exactly what I need. Installation seems easy enough. How do I configure it afterwards?
there’s a nice WebUI, should be easy.
Just install Raspbian and PiVPN and forward the right ports dude; Less complicated
I miss not being a CGNAT user.
Thanks but I think you misunderstood. I don’t want to run a VPN server I want to run a openVPN client on a router
Can you just get your own Router and use that instead of the ISP one? Then you can flash whatever firmware you want on it and you can run the openvpn/wireguard client at the router level. You won’t need to combine the Pi with it.
What should I buy that supported by OpenWRT?
I think most consumer routers let you flash firmware. I believe certain Asus ones do, but obviously just validate that before buying it. OpenWRT has a list of supported devices you can check.
I just figured that if you’re doing network stuff then you’d likely want to use something other than the ISP router as those track your activity more (this is a privacy community after all) and lock many features you may need.
I checked OpenWRT table of hardware and there were some Asus and Mikrotik models that are available where I live but I don’t know which one to buy that sufficient hardware for running ovpn clients
Mikrotik wont need openwrt unless you are dead set on having an open source OS on your device.
Mikrotik supports all sorts of VPN connections, both client, server, and site to site. You could even get creative and have it for certain services or IP addresses.
If you get one of the more modern devices it will support a pretty chunky VPN as well, mine can get over 600mbps without much hassle.
Thanks. I know routerOS is pretty capable but I’m also aware it’s not noob friendly at all that’s why I want to flash OpenWRT on it. I’m not sure which one to buy, I found RB750GRE hex model for a good price and it’s supported by OpenWrt too but I’m not sure it can handle openvpn or not
Does it need to be openwrt? What about tomato or asus-merlin? I think any of those should work, no?
What are these and how does it change anything?
Yea seriously. So much easier lol.
