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Forum Discussion
Nighthawk RAX54 - vpn
I have a Netgear Nighthawk RAX54 router. I am thinking I want to get a VPN and I understand that my router has a built-in VPN. My understanding, though, is that all a VPN Router does is make it unn...
VPNs can be confusing. The one built into the router may not be what you are looking for.
Some VPNs require putting special firmware on the router. You'll have to talk to the suppliers about that.
This is a useful background guide:
What is a VPN and How Does it Work? - NETGEAR Blog
Just another user with time on their hands.
I’ve read the entire article, some parts multiple times. While I understand what a VPN is, my original question remains: if I follow the steps outlined in the article and configure the built-in router, will I have created my own private VPN, and is that the end of the process? The article mentions that a VPN connects to a server as part of the process, and I assume that’s what OpenVPN is referring to. Does this mean I need to create an account with OpenVPN and pay a subscription fee?
This is where my confusion lies. When I read independent articles about VPN clients versus VPN routers, they seem to suggest that both options require a subscription—one is software-based for individual computers, and the other is hardware-based for an entire network. Either way, it seems I would be paying for a VPN service.
However, when I read Netgear's literature, including the article you suggested and the manual, it seems to imply that you just click a few buttons, download configuration files, install them, and voilà—you have your own VPN. There’s no mention of subscribing to or becoming part of a service. It almost seems like it’s free, contrary to what independent articles suggest. I’m skeptical that it’s as simple as the Netgear manual and article make it seem. It’s all a bit unclear!