How to Setup VPN Client on QNAP NAS

VPN Protocol Comparison for QNAP

QNAP Model Compatibility

Recommended: OpenVPN Setup (Secure)

Step 1: Download OpenVPN Config

1. Login to TorGuard client area
2. Go to Tools → OpenVPN Config Generator
3. Select server location
4. Download .ovpn config file

Step 2: QNAP OpenVPN Configuration

1. Open Control Panel → VPN Client
2. Click Add → Select OpenVPN
3. Import the .ovpn file
4. Enter credentials:
   • Username: Your VPN username
   • Password: Your VPN password
5. Enable Use default gateway on remote network
6. Enable Reconnect when VPN connection is lost

Legacy: PPTP Setup (Not Recommended)

Step 1: Access VPN Client Settings

Open the Control Panel and click VPN Client:

Step 2: Add PPTP Profile

Click Add, then choose PPTP in the dropdown menu:

Step 3: Configure PPTP Settings

Enter the following configuration:

• Profile Name: TorGuard VPN (or location-specific like "TorGuard UK")
• Server address: Select from TorGuard server list
• Username: Your VPN account username
• Password: Your VPN password
• Authentication: MS-CHAPv2
• Encryption: Medium (AES40/128 bit)
• Use default gateway on remote network: ✓ Activated
• Allow other network devices to connect: Enable for VPN sharing
• Reconnect when VPN connection is lost: ✓ Activated

Step 4: Connect to VPN

Click the blue Connect button next to your profile:

Verify VPN Connection

Method 1: SSH Command

Login to NAS via SSH and run:

curl http://checkip.dyndns.org

Method 2: Web Interface

1. Check connection status in VPN Client panel
2. Look for green "Connected" status
3. Verify assigned VPN IP address

Method 3: Container Station

# If using Docker/Container Station
docker run --rm curlimages/curl http://ipinfo.io

Advanced VPN Configuration

VPN Gateway for Network

Share VPN connection with entire network:

1. Enable "Allow other network devices to connect"
2. Configure DHCP to use NAS as gateway:
   • Router DHCP: Set NAS IP as default gateway
   • Or manually configure devices

Split Tunneling

Route only specific traffic through VPN:

# Add to OpenVPN config
route-nopull
route 10.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 vpn_gateway

Kill Switch Implementation

#!/bin/bash
# QNAP VPN kill switch script
iptables -I FORWARD -i eth0 -o tun0 -j ACCEPT
iptables -I FORWARD -i tun0 -o eth0 -j ACCEPT
iptables -I FORWARD -j DROP

NAS VPN Performance Tips

1. CPU Considerations:
   • VPN uses significant CPU resources
   • Monitor with Resource Monitor
   • Consider hardware upgrade for high speeds
2. Protocol Selection:
   • WireGuard: Best performance/security ratio
   • OpenVPN UDP: Better than TCP
   • Avoid PPTP/L2TP for security
3. Buffer Tuning:

   # Add to OpenVPN config
   sndbuf 524288
   rcvbuf 524288
   push "sndbuf 524288"
   push "rcvbuf 524288"

QNAP VPN Use Cases

Docker/Container VPN Setup

For container-specific VPN:

# Docker compose example
version: '3'
services:
  vpn:
    image: qmcgaw/gluetun
    cap_add:
      - NET_ADMIN
    environment:
      - VPN_SERVICE_PROVIDER=custom
      - VPN_TYPE=openvpn
      - OPENVPN_CUSTOM_CONFIG=/config/torguard.ovpn
    volumes:
      - ./config:/config
    ports:
      - 8888:8888/tcp # HTTP proxy
      
  app:
    image: your-app
    network_mode: service:vpn
    depends_on:
      - vpn

Troubleshooting VPN Issues

Connection Failures

• Wrong credentials: Check VPN username (not email)
• Server down: Try alternate server
• Port blocked: Try different protocol/port
• Firmware: Update QTS to latest version

Slow Speeds

• Check CPU usage during transfer
• Try different VPN protocol
• Select closer server location
• Disable unnecessary QNAP services

DNS Leaks

• Configure DNS in VPN settings
• Add to config: dhcp-option DNS 1.1.1.1
• Test at dnsleaktest.com

Security Best Practices

1. Never use PPTP for sensitive data
2. Enable 2FA on QNAP admin account
3. Firewall rules: Restrict NAS access to VPN only
4. Regular updates: Keep QTS and apps updated
5. Backup VPN configs: Store securely off-NAS
6. Monitor logs: Check for unauthorized access