Currently using a Plusnet router and I need to get a VPN for some devices and I need to get extra range, around 40-50m. Would I be better off connecting another router with VPN setup to my Plusnet one or buying a better router that can support split VPN?
Router advice, split VPN?
- Thread starter aj1soad
- Start date
A second router will likely lead to double NAT, that may or may not be a problem for you.
What are the devices?
What protocol are you planning on using?
What is your connection type/speed and how fast do you want the VPN to run?
How much do you want to spend?
Do you have a docker/VM friendly environment?
What are the devices?
What protocol are you planning on using?
What is your connection type/speed and how fast do you want the VPN to run?
How much do you want to spend?
Do you have a docker/VM friendly environment?
For the split VPN issue check out Untangle. It does the routing on a per device or per target location basis in a very simple GUI. So if you wanted all your traffic from your iPad to go on NordVPN that’s a couple of clicks. If you want iPlayer from your iPad to go on PIA then that’s just a couple of clicks more. Most of the popular VPN options are already configured and it’s really easy to do.
For a WLAN extension, have a look at Ubiquiti Unifi. They have ceiling mounted access points, wall mounted access points and even a tabletop access point as well now. Very flexible and while they’re not cheap, they do the job.
For a WLAN extension, have a look at Ubiquiti Unifi. They have ceiling mounted access points, wall mounted access points and even a tabletop access point as well now. Very flexible and while they’re not cheap, they do the job.
Double NAT wouldn't be an issue if traffic connected to the extra router was running out over the VPN.
A £60 MikroTik is all you would need for this. You can choose, specific sites, specific devices or all traffic to go over the tunnel as well.
A £60 MikroTik is all you would need for this. You can choose, specific sites, specific devices or all traffic to go over the tunnel as well.
While both the above suggestions are correct, both deserve additional qualification before being recommended.
Untangle is $50/yr for a home licence that included VPN support last I knew, it’ll also require either a virtual environment (not best practice) or dedicated hardware, and it tends to be a little heavier than a simple firewall distribution. OPNSense/pfsense can do similar for free (VLAN’s/PBR), but they’re very much layer 3 products with some layer 7 features, Untangle has always felt like an L7 product with L3 stuff bolted on for $50/yr, it is a lot simpler to interact with and $50 is very reasonable for what you get.
Mikrotik make great hardware at very reasonable prices relative to what you get, but the management process and UI are not what i’d personally call user friendly - nor is it intended to be. Before buying one, it’s probably worth spending a bit of time learning about the OS as it can feel slightly counter intuitive initially.
Untangle is $50/yr for a home licence that included VPN support last I knew, it’ll also require either a virtual environment (not best practice) or dedicated hardware, and it tends to be a little heavier than a simple firewall distribution. OPNSense/pfsense can do similar for free (VLAN’s/PBR), but they’re very much layer 3 products with some layer 7 features, Untangle has always felt like an L7 product with L3 stuff bolted on for $50/yr, it is a lot simpler to interact with and $50 is very reasonable for what you get.
Mikrotik make great hardware at very reasonable prices relative to what you get, but the management process and UI are not what i’d personally call user friendly - nor is it intended to be. Before buying one, it’s probably worth spending a bit of time learning about the OS as it can feel slightly counter intuitive initially.