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dnir78's avatar
dnir78
Aspirant
Apr 02, 2020
Solved

RBR20 - Enable VPN but connect without it

While the VPN is enabled on the router, does all traffic have to go via it? Can I have some devices connect to the internet without using VPN? 

  • CrimpOn's avatar
    CrimpOn
    Apr 02, 2020

    Netgear provided the Orbi with an OpenVPN "Host".  That means that you can take a device with OpenVPN "Client" software anywhere and use the OpenVPN to create a tunnel from that location back to the Orbi LAN.  The Orbi hardware does not have the processing power to act as an OpenVPN Client for all of the devices inside the LAN.  There are generally two reasons why someone would want to use the Orbi VPN:

    1. To be able to reach resources inside the Orbi LAN from elsewhere in a secure manner.
      For example, do administer the Orbi itself.  Or,
      to connect with a web site (maybe to administer it) or a database server.
    2. To be able to have a secure connection from a remote location, such as an airport, hotel, or coffee shop and use that secure connection to do ordinary things, such as web browsing, email, etc.
      This has the side-benefit that all traffic "appears" to be coming from the Orbi.

    So, creating the VPN doesnot cause ANY traffic to go through it until you access it from a remote location.

     

     

     

     

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  • CrimpOn's avatar
    CrimpOn
    Guru
    Apr 02, 2020

    Netgear provided the Orbi with an OpenVPN "Host".  That means that you can take a device with OpenVPN "Client" software anywhere and use the OpenVPN to create a tunnel from that location back to the Orbi LAN.  The Orbi hardware does not have the processing power to act as an OpenVPN Client for all of the devices inside the LAN.  There are generally two reasons why someone would want to use the Orbi VPN:

    1. To be able to reach resources inside the Orbi LAN from elsewhere in a secure manner.
      For example, do administer the Orbi itself.  Or,
      to connect with a web site (maybe to administer it) or a database server.
    2. To be able to have a secure connection from a remote location, such as an airport, hotel, or coffee shop and use that secure connection to do ordinary things, such as web browsing, email, etc.
      This has the side-benefit that all traffic "appears" to be coming from the Orbi.

    So, creating the VPN doesnot cause ANY traffic to go through it until you access it from a remote location.