Hello,
I’m a newbie in terms of VPNs so here’s my take:
I am trying to connect two different routers located in distinct locations (both running the same internet provider) to the same IP Address. One of the routers is capable of running a VPN, but here’s where my understanding is reaching a limit. How do I connect them and how do I make both routers and devices use the same IP?
Thanks and sorry for my noob-ness.
I am going to assume that when you ask “how do I make both routers and devices use the same IP?” you mean “how do I make traffic routed via these routers appear to come from the same public IP address”. If that’s a bad assumption and nothing else I say makes sense, that’s why.
What you are describing here is site-to-site VPN. To make it work you need two routers that are capable of running a VPN. Having one router that isn’t capable isn’t a show-stopper. You need some other device on that site, that can be used as a router and run a VPN.
You should be able to find instructions for setting up site-to-site VPN using you favorite search engine and the term “site-to-site”. This page contains some good diagrams explaining how the different configurations work with wireguard:
So I need both routers VPN capable in order to make it work? Yeah, that’s a shame.
So I need both routers VPN capable in order to make it work?
Not necessarily. You just need 2 devices that are VPN capable. At least 1 of those has to be able to act as a VPN server or exit node. You already have a router that sounds like it could be used as a VPN server so now you just need a device that can run a VPN client. For example, a PC running a VPN client is enough for the second device. You just need to connect the PC once connected to the VPN to any other device in the Network that you want to share the VPN with. This can be done through the PC’s Ethernet port.
Alternatively, there is also the option of installing a router OS to a compatible PC. Last resort is to install a custom firmware to the ISP router that doesn’t have the VPN capabilities.
As digby280 said, you can have one end whose router doesn’t do site-to-site VPN.
Let’s call the end with the public IP (that you want to present to the world) A, and the other end B. You mention both ends, but does the A router support VPN? In particular remote-access VPN?
And what’s the use case at B? If it’s light and if you have a computer there that runs an OS that can set it up as a WiFi hotspot , and if that computer can stay up 24/7and share its internet connection, you might remote connect from that computer to A and have your other devices connect via that computer. (Or something similar.)
I was exploring the possibilities of flashing a custom ROM to the non VPN capable router, since the option of having a pc running is just too much of a headache.
Ultimately, if this turns sideways, I will run it through an old PC.
A little question in that regard, is it possible that the VPN capable device to be a server running windows server?
A little question in that regard, is it possible that the VPN capable device to be a server running windows server?
I don’t see why not. As long as the Windows Server can run a VPN client it should work.