Use your NAS as a VPN Server and connect to it using Windows and Mac

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course you should be able to:

1. Be able to use your ASUSTOR NAS as a VPN server and connect to it using Windows and Mac.

PREREQUISITES

Course Prerequisites:

None

Students are expected to have a working knowledge of:

N/A

OUTLINE

1. Configuring Your VPN Server

1.1 Enabling and configuring PPTP connections

1.2 Enabling and configuring OpenVPN connections

1.3 Enabling and configuring L2TP connections

1.4 Enabling and configuring WireGuard VPN connections

2. Connecting to Your VPN Server Using Windows and Mac

2.1 Connecting to your VPN server via PPTP

2.1.1 Connecting using Windows 11

2.1.2 Connecting using a Windows 10

2.2 Connecting to your VPN server via OpenVPN

2.2.1 Connecting using Windows 11

2.2.2 Connecting using a Mac

2.3 Configuring the gateway and routing for the VPN client

2.3.1 Configurations using Windows 7

2.3.2 Configurations using Windows 10

2.3.3 Configurations using a Mac

2.4 Connecting to your VPN server via L2TP/Ipsec

2.4.1 Connecting using Windows 7

2.4.2 Connecting using Windows 10

2.4.3 Connecting using a Mac

2.4.4 Connecting using an Android device

2.4.5 Connecting using an iOS device

2.5 Connecting to your VPN Server via WireGuard VPN

2.5.1 Connecting using Windows 11

2.5.2 Connecting using a MAC

2.5.3 Connecting using an iOS device

2.5.4 Connecting using an Android device

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1. Configuring Your VPN Server

In the following example, we wil configure ASUSTOR NAS’s VPN Server.
Before you begin, log in to ADM from your Web browser and then search for and install [VPN Server] from [App Central].

1.1 Enabling and configuring PPTP connections

 

STEP 1

Enabling PPTP service: You can use the toggle found under [PPTP] to enable PPTP service.

STEP 2

Adding a new user: Select [Privilege] → [User] → [Add]. In the graphic below, we have chosen to add the account “vpn” as an example. After you have chosen the user that wish to add, click on [Save].

Select the [PPTP] checkbox and then click on [Apply]. Now, the “vpn” user account will be able to utilize PPTP connections.

STEP 3

Configuring advanced settings: Select [Settings] → [PPTP]. Here, you will be able to configure settings for [Dynamic IP address], [Max. client number], [Authentication], [Max. MTU], [Max. MRU] and [DNS server]. Make sure to click on [Apply] after you have made any changes to the settings.

If you are using an ASUS router, please manually open port 1723 under port forwarding.
Some other routers might have to do a similar procedure.
From the router configuration interface, select [WAN]> [Virtual Server / Port Forwarding] tab > [Port Forwarding List]. Add a new item to the Port Forwarding list by entering the following information:

Service Name: A name of your choice
Port Range: 1723 ,(You can also add port 47 and select other protocol)
Local IP: Your NAS’s IP address.
Local Port: 1723
Protocol: TCP

Click on the [Add] button after you have entered all the information. Port 1723 should now be opened.

(1) port 1723, protocol TCP (2) port 47, protocol other



1.2 Enabling and configuring OpenVPN connections

STEP 1

Enabling OpenVPN service: You can use the toggle found under [OpenVPN] to enable OpenVPN service.

STEP 2

Adding a new user: Select [Privilege] → [User] → [Add]. In the graphic below, we have chosen to add the account “vpn” as an example. After you have chosen the user that wish to add, click on [Save].

Select the [OpenVPN] checkbox and then click on [Apply]. Now, the “vpn” user account will be able to utilize PPTP connections.

STEP 3

Configuring advanced settings: Select [Settings] → [OpenVPN]. Here, you will be able to configure settings for [Dynamic IP address], [Transmission Protocol], [Port], [Max. client number], [Checksum (Digest)], [Encryption (Cipher)], [DNS server], [Redirect gateway] and [VPN link compression]. Make sure to click on [Apply] after you have made any changes to the settings.

Note: Click on the [Download configuration file] button to download the configuration file for OpenVPN clients. You must import this file to your VPN client in order to successfully create OpenVPN connections.


If you are using an ASUS router, please manually open port 1194 under port forwarding.
Some other routers might have to do a similar procedure.
From the router configuration interface, select [WAN] > [Virtual Server / Port Forwarding] tab > [Port Forwarding List]. Add a new item to the Port Forwarding list by entering the following information:

Service Name: A name of your choice
Port Range: 1194 
Local IP: Your NAS’s IP address.
Local Port: 1194
Protocol: UDP

Click on the [Add] button after you have entered all the information. Port 1194 should now be opened.

 

1.3 Enabling and configuring L2TP connections

STEP 1
Enabling L2TP service: Enable L2TP service by using the provided toggle button.

STEP 2
Add new users: Select [Privilege] > [User] > [Add]. In this example we add the user “vpn” by selecting its checkbox and then clicking on [Save].

 

For the added user, select the [L2TP] checkbox and then click on [Apply]. This will allow the user to use L2TP connections.

STEP 3
Modifying advanced settings: Click on [Settings] >[L2TP]. Here you will be able to configure settings such as the dynamic IP address, max client number, max MTU, DNS server and key. Make sure to click on [Apply] once you are done modifying the settings.

If you are using an ASUS router, please manually open port 500,4500,1701 under port forwarding.
Some other routers might have to do a similar procedure.
From the router configuration interface, select [WAN] > [Virtual Server / Port Forwarding] tab > [Port Forwarding List]. Add a new item to the Port Forwarding list by entering the following information:

Service Name: A name of your choice
Port Range:  500,4500,1701
Local IP: Your NAS’s IP address
Local Port: 500,4500,1701
Protocol: UDP

Click on the [Add] button after you have entered all the information. Port 500 should now be opened.

1.4 Enabling and configuring WireGuard VPN connections
STEP 0
Before enabling WireGuard. It is imperative that ADM Kernel Extensions be installed first. ADM Kernel Extensions is found in App Central.


If ADM Kernel Extensions has not been installed, VPN Server will prompt you to install ADM Kernel Extensions if attempting to enable WireGuard.


STEP 1
Activate the switch for WireGuard to activate the WireGuard VPN server.

STEP 2
Click WireGuard under Settings in VPN Server. Click on Generate Key Pair. The public key from this key pair needs to be copied and pasted into the WireGuard client connection. Click on the adjacent button to copy the public key. The default address for a WireGuard VPN is 10.0.4.1.


STEP 3
Under Privileges click WireGuard Peer. Click Create When adding a new peer, input the peer's name. As an example, the name Test is used. Paste the public key from the client and set all allowed IPs needed. This guide uses 10.0.4.2 as an example. Click OK. This completes the setup of a WireGuard configuration for a specific peer. To add more connections in the future, they must be created within WireGuard Peer.



2. Connecting to Your VPN Server Using Windows and Mac
2.1 Connecting to your VPN server via PPTP
2.1.1 Connecting using Windows 11

STEP 1

Click the Network icon on the right-hand side of the task bar and select Network and Internet settings.

STEP 2

Select VPN.

STEP 3

Select Add VPN.

STEP 4

Select Windows (built-in) under VPN Provider. Type in a name for this VPN connection and enter either the current hostname or WAN IP address of your ASUSTOR NAS into the Server name or address field. Choose PPTP as the VPN Type, enter the username/password in the appropriate fields, and click Save.

STEP 5

Select Advanced options.

STEP 6

Select Edit in More VPN properties.

STEP 7

Select the Security tab, enable Allow these protocols and choose either PAP and/or MS-CHAP v2 as the protocols for your VPN server. Click OK to apply settings.

STEP 8

To connect, head to Network & Internet and click on VPN. Select a VPN profile and press connect.

2.1.2 Connecting using Windows 10

STEP 1

Click the [Network] icon on the bottom right-hand side of the system tray and select [Network Settings].

STEP 2

Select [VPN] from the left panel, and click [Add a VPN connection].

STEP 3

Select Windows (built-in) in [VPN Provider] field. Type in the name for this VPN connection and enter the WANl IP address of your ASUSTOR NAS into the [Server name or address] field. Choose PPTP as the [VPN Type], enter the username/password in the appropriate fields, and click [Save].

 

STEP 4

Now you can see that the newly created VPN connection has appeared. To specify the authentication protocol, please click [Change adapter options].

Right click on the VPN connection and select [Properties].

STEP 5

Select the [Security] tab, check the [Allow these protocols] option, then choose the same protocol (PAP or MS-CHAP v2) as the VPN server on your ASUSTOR NAS. Click [OK] to save the settings.

STEP 6

To establish the VPN connection, go to the Windows [NETWORK & INTERNET] > [VPN] page, select an existing VPN profile and click [Connect].

2.2 Connecting to your VPN server via OpenVPN
2.2.1 Connecting using Windows 11
STEP 1
Download and install the OpenVPN program from the OpenVPN website.


STEP 2
Extract the OpenVPN configuration file that you have downloaded from your ASUSTOR NAS’s VPN server (see section 3.2). Open the [asustor.ovpn] file, change the IP address for the VPN server and then save the changes. In the graphic below, we have changed the IP address of the VPN server to WANl IP 172.16.2.102.

STEP 3

Open [OpenVPN Connect] and import asustor.OVPN.

 

STEP 4
Enter the username and password for your ASUSTOR NAS VPN server and then click on [Connect].



STEP 5

After successfully connecting, you should be able to see that the OpenVPN GUI icon in your system tray has turned green. You should now be able to access your ASUSTOR NAS using Windows.

 

2.2.2 Connecting using a Mac

STEP 1
Download tunnelblick.


STEP 2

Install [Tunnelblick].

After installation, click on [Launch].

STEP 3

Click on [I have configuration files].

If you have already download the configuration file from your ASUSTOR NAS’s VPN server, click on [OpenVPN Configuration(s)].

You should now be able to see the newly created [Empty Tunnelblick VPN Configuration] folder on your desktop. Copy the configuration file from your ASUSTOR NAS’s VPN server to this folder.

Open the [asustor.ovpn] file and then change the WANl IP address for your ASUSTOR NAS VPN server.

After saving the changes to the file, change the name of the folder to “ASUSTORVPN.tblk”.

Tunnelblick VPN configurations should have now been installed successfully.

STEP 4

From the Mac menu bar, click on the [Tunnelblick] icon and then select [Connect ASUSTORVPN].

STEP 5

After successfully connecting, you will be able to see the connection status and time in the menu bar as shown in the graphic below.

2.3 Configuring the gateway and routing for the VPN client
When using a VPN client, the system will automatically forward your VPN server’s default gateway. Under these circumstances, you will not be able to connect to the Internet. Therefore, we must change the VPN gateway and routing in order to connect to the Internet.

2.3.1 Configurations using Windows 7

STEP 1

Right-click on your VPN connection and then select [Properties]. Select [Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)] and then click on [Properties].

STEP 2

Click on [Advanced…].

STEP 3

Uncheck the [Use default gateway on remote network] checkbox.

2.3.2 Configurations using Windows 10

STEP 1

Click the Windows icon on the bottom left-hand side of the taskbar, select [All apps] from the list, and scroll down to find [Windows Powershell]. Click on it to execute the program.

STEP 2
Issue the ”Get-VpnConnection” command to list the information of your existing VPN connections.

By default, the value of the SplitTunneling parameter is False, which means all network traffic of this VPN client will be forwarded to the VPN server’s gateway.

STEP 3
Issue the “Set-VpnConnection -Name “ASUSTOR VPN" -SplitTunneling $True” command to change the value of the SplitTunneling parameter to True.

Note: The “ASUSTOR NAS” string in the example above must be replaced to your own VPN connection name.

STEP 4

Issue the ”Get-VpnConnection” command again to verify that the change has been made successfully.

2.3.3 Configurations using a Mac

STEP 1

Open [Terminal] and then enter the command “ifconfig-a”. You will now be able to see your VPN server’s IP address. Note that the Mac operating system only provides this gateway for connecting to a VPN server and cannot connect to the Internet. Therefore, we will have to manually enter the IP address for the ASUSTOR NAS.

STEP 2
Please replace either 10.0.1.6 or 10.0.1.5 with the WANl IP address of the ASUSTOR NAS. Executing the commands below will allow you to connect to the Internet.

sudo route add –net 123.51.123.123/16 10.0.1.6 OR sudo route add –net 123.51.123.123/16 10.0.1.5

2.4 Connecting to your VPN server via L2TP/IPsec

2.4.1 Connecting using Windows 7

If you are using an ASUS router, please manually open port 500,4500,1701 under port forwarding.
Some other routers might have to do a similar procedure.
From the router configuration interface, select [WAN] > [Virtual Server / Port Forwarding] tab > [Port Forwarding List]. Add a new item to the Port Forwarding list by entering the following information:

Service Name: A name of your choice
Port Range:  500,4500,1701
Local IP: Your NAS’s IP address
Local Port: 500,4500,1701
Protocol: UDP

Click on the [Add] button after you have entered all the information. Port 500 should now be opened.




STEP 1
In Windows, go to [Control Panel] > [All Control Panel Items] > [Network and Sharing Center] and then click on [Set up a new connection or network].


STEP 2
Select [Connect to a workplace] then click [Next].


STEP 3
Select [No, create a new connection] and then click [Next].


STEP 4
Select [Use my Internet connection (VPN)]


STEP 5
In the [Internet address:] field enter your ASUSTOR NAS’s WAN IP address or domain address.



STEP 6
Enter your [User name] and [Password] and then click on [Connect]. You will now be able to access the local network resources on your ASUSTOR NAS via Windows.



Note: If you are unable to connect to the VPN Server, please ensure that the [VPN Settings] and [VPN Server] settings are identical.
Using the graphic below as an example, we check that the [Type of VPN] is L2TP/IPSec, that the data encryption method is either PAP or MS-CHAP v2 and that [Allow these protocols] radio button has been selected.

STEP 7
Click on [Start] and run “regedit”.



STEP 8
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesPolicyAgent and then right click and select [New] > [DWORD (32 bit) Value].


STEP 9
For the Value name enter “AssumeUDPEncapsulationContextOnSendRule”and set the Value data to “2” and then click [OK]. Restart your computer.


STEP 10
After restarting your computer, go to [Control Panel] > [Network and Internet] > [Network Connections] to see that your new connection is successful.


2.4.2 Connecting using Windows 10

If you are using an ASUS router, please manually open port 500,4500,1701 under port forwarding.
Some other routers might have to do a similar procedure.
From the router configuration interface, select [WAN] > [Virtual Server / Port Forwarding] tab> [Port Forwarding List]. Add a new item to the Port Forwarding list by entering the following information:

Service Name: A name of your choice
Port Range:  500,4500,1701
Local IP: Your NAS’s IP address
Local Port: 500,4500,1701
Protocol: UDP

Click on the [Add] button after you have entered all the information. Port 500 should now be opened.




STEP 1
Click on the [Network] icon in the system tray and then click on [Open Network and Sharing Center].


STEP 2
Click on [Set up a new connection or network].


STEP 3
Select [Connect to a workplace] then click [Next].


STEP 4
Click on [Use my Internet connection (VPN)].


STEP 5
Enter the Internet address from WAN IP of NAS, Destination name and then select the [Allow other people to use this connection] checkbox. Click on [Create] once you are done.



STEP 6
Click on [Change adapter settings]. Right-click on the VPN connection that you have just created and select [Properties]. Click on the [Security] tab and change the [Type of VPN] to L2TP/IPsec. Click on [Advanced settings], make sure the [Use preshared key for authentication] radio button is selected and then enter your key (Your key can be found from the ADM interface by selecting [VPN Server] > [Settings] > [L2TP]). Click on [OK] once you are done.


STEP 7
Click on [Start] and run “regedit”.


STEP 8
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesPolicyAgent and then right click and select [New] > [DWORD (32 bit) Value].


STEP 9
For the Value name enter “AssumeUDPEncapsulationContextOnSendRule”and set the Value data to “2” and then click [OK]. Restart your computer.


2.4.3 Connecting using a Mac

If you are using an ASUS router, please manually open port 500,4500,1701 under port forwarding.
Some other routers might have to do a similar procedure.
From the router configuration interface, select [WAN] > [Virtual Server / Port Forwarding] tab > [Port Forwarding List]. Add a new item to the Port Forwarding list by entering the following information:

Service Name: A name of your choice
Port Range:  500,4500,1701
Local IP: Your NAS’s IP address
Local Port: 500,4500,1701
Protocol: UDP

Click on the [Add] button after you have entered all the information. Port 500 should now be opened.




STEP 1
Click on the [Apple] icon and then select [System Preferences…].

STEP 2
Click on [Network].

STEP 3
Click on the + button, select [VPN] for “Interface:”, [L2TP Over IpSec] for “VPN Type”, enter a Service Name and then click on [Create].



STEP 4
Enter your [Server Address (Your NAS WANIP like here:123.51.123.123)] and [Account Name]. Click on [Authentication Settings…] and enter the User Account Password and Shared Secret (The Shared Secret is the key that can be found from the ADM interface by selecting [VPN Server] > [Settings] >[L2TP]).

Click [OK] and then click on [Connect].

STEP 5
Enter the VPN Server account name and password and then click on [OK].



STEP 6
After successfully connecting, you will be able to access the resources on your ASUSTOR NAS local network. If you wish to disconnect the VPN connection, you can click on the [Disconnect] button.




2.4.4 Connecting using an Android device

STEP 1
Select [Settings]>[More] > [VPN].






STEP 2
Click on [Add VPN profile], enter a name of your choice, select [L2TP/IPSEC PSK] for “Type” and enter your NAS’s IP address or URL into the [Server Address] field. Choose an encryption method and then select [Save] to complete configurations.


STEP 3
Select the created VPN profile. After entering the username and password, select [Connect] to create the VPN connection.

After creating the connection, selecting the profile again will allow you to view the associated information for the connection.

2.4.5 Connecting using an iOS device
The configurations in the following example were done using an iPhone 6.

STEP 1
In iOS, select [Settings] >[General] > [VPN].

STEP 2
Select [Add a VPN configuration…] and then enter the following information:
Type: L2TP
Description: A description of your choice
Server: Your NAS’s WAN IP address or URL
Account: Your account name
Password: The password for the account
Secret: They key that can be found in ADM interface by selecting [VPN Server]> [Settings]>[L2TP]

Once you have finished entering the information select [Done].



STEP 3
After completing the VPN profile you can select the status toggle to activate the VPN connection.

2.5 Connecting to your VPN Server via WireGuard VPN
2.5.1 Connecting using Windows 10 or 11
STEP 1

Visit the WireGuard official website to download and install the WireGuard client. Once installed, click on the dropdown menu and click Add Tunnel and select Add empty tunnel.

STEP 2

STEP 3
Click Activate and check traffic information in the last item to confirm if a connection with WireGuard has been made.

2.5.2 Connecting using a Mac
STEP 1

Visit the WireGuard official website to download and install the WireGuard client. Once installed, click on the dropdown menu and click Add Tunnel and select Add empty tunnel.

STEP 2

STEP 4
Click Activate and check traffic information in the last item to confirm if a connection with WireGuard has been made.



2.5.3 Connecting using an iOS device
STEP 1
Install WireGuard in App Store, open it and click Create fron scratch.


STEP 2
Enter the name and generate a key pair, and paste the public key into the public key field of the WireGuard Peer created in Step 3 of 1.4. Then enter the address, public key from VPN Server, preshared key, NAS IP, and other information. To allow packets from any IP subnet, enter 0.0.0.0/0. Click Save when you are finished.


STEP 3
Tap the connection switch you just set to use WireGuard VPN for iOS.

2.5.4 Connecting using an Android device
STEP 1
Install WireGuard in Google Play, open it and click Create fron scratch.


STEP 2
Enter the name and generate a key pair, and paste the public key into the public key field of the WireGuard Peer created in Step 3 of 1.4. Then enter the address, public key from VPN Server, preshared key, NAS IP, and other information. To allow packets from any IP subnet, enter 0.0.0.0/0. Click Save when you are finished.


STEP 3
Tap the connection switch you just set to use WireGuard VPN for Android.

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