turning a raspberry pi 4B into a vpn router - eviltoast

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?

  • merlin@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
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    15 hours ago

    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

    • tankplanker@lemmy.world
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      7 hours ago

      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.

      • merlin@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
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        7 hours ago

        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

        • tankplanker@lemmy.world
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          5 hours ago

          RB750GRE

          They should all be able to run a VPN, its just the speed you’ll get through it that will vary. That particular model is pretty old now I would not get that unless your budget is limited. The refreshed version of that is the E50UG, which is a lot more powerful, but its still a budget device. I have no idea when openwrt will be coming for the refreshed hex, but it should not be that long as other arm devices from mikrotik are supported.

          It requires a bit of work to setup routeros but the guides for the common tasks are easy enough to follow. Its only if you want to do something outside of the guides or miss a step that it becomes a PITA if you aren’t familiar with networking.

          • merlin@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
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            4 hours ago

            Yeah I know open-vpn speeds are not gonna be pretty. I’ll try wireguard or AnyConnect configs on it. about the device yeah it’s a few years old but I can’t find new version here. I guess that’s what you expect when living in a third world country

    • FeelzGoodMan420
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      8 hours ago

      Does it need to be openwrt? What about tomato or asus-merlin? I think any of those should work, no?