Hey guys! Ever wanted to set up your own VPN server right at home using OpenWRT? It's actually pretty straightforward, especially if you're using LuCI, the web interface. In this guide, we're going to walk through setting up an OpenVPN server on your OpenWRT router using LuCI. This will allow you to securely access your home network from anywhere, protect your browsing data on public Wi-Fi, and even bypass geo-restrictions. So, let’s jump right in and get this set up!

Why OpenVPN on OpenWRT?

Before we dive into the how-to, let's quickly touch on why you might want to do this. OpenWRT is a fantastic open-source firmware that you can flash onto many routers, giving you a ton more control and features compared to the stock firmware. OpenVPN is a robust and highly configurable VPN protocol. Combining these two gives you a powerful, private, and customizable VPN server right on your router. This means all your home network traffic can be routed securely, and you don't need to rely on third-party VPN services.

Benefits of Using OpenVPN on OpenWRT

• Enhanced Security: By encrypting your internet traffic, OpenVPN provides a secure tunnel for your data, protecting it from eavesdropping, especially on public Wi-Fi networks.
• Remote Access: Access your home network files, devices, and resources securely from anywhere in the world, as if you were sitting right at home.
• Bypass Geo-Restrictions: Circumvent geographical restrictions and access content that might be blocked in your current location.
• Cost-Effective: No need to pay for a third-party VPN service; you control your own server.
• Customization: OpenWRT allows you to customize your VPN server to suit your specific needs and preferences.

Prerequisites

Before we start, make sure you have the following:

• OpenWRT Router: Obviously, you'll need a router with OpenWRT installed. If you haven't already, check out the OpenWRT website for installation instructions specific to your router model.
• LuCI Web Interface: Ensure LuCI is installed. It usually comes pre-installed, but if not, you can install it via the command line.
• Internet Connection: A stable internet connection for your router.
• Basic Networking Knowledge: A basic understanding of networking concepts will be helpful.

Step-by-Step Guide: Setting Up OpenVPN Server on OpenWRT via LuCI

Step 1: Install the Necessary Packages

First, you need to install the OpenVPN package and its LuCI interface. Log into your OpenWRT router via SSH. You can use a terminal on Linux or macOS, or PuTTY on Windows. Once logged in, run the following commands:

opkg update
opkg install openvpn-openssl luci-app-openvpn

These commands update the package lists and then install the OpenVPN server and the LuCI app, which provides a graphical interface for managing OpenVPN.

Step 2: Access the OpenVPN Configuration in LuCI

After installing the packages, refresh your LuCI web interface. You should now see an "OpenVPN" option under the "VPN" menu. Click on it to access the OpenVPN configuration page.

Step 3: Configure the OpenVPN Server

Now, let's configure the OpenVPN server. Click on the "Add" button to create a new OpenVPN instance. You'll need to fill in several fields. Here’s a breakdown:

• Enabled: Check this box to enable the OpenVPN instance.
• Description: Give your VPN server a descriptive name, like "MyHomeVPN."
• Server Mode: Select "server" from the dropdown menu.
• Protocol: Choose between UDP and TCP. UDP is generally faster but less reliable, while TCP is more reliable but can be slower. For most users, UDP is a good choice.
• Port: The default port is 1194, but you can change it if you like. Just make sure it's not a commonly used port.
• Device Mode: Set this to "tun".
• IPv4 Tunnel Network: This is the IP address range for the VPN. A common choice is "10.8.0.0/24".
• IPv4 Local Network: This is your local network's IP address range. It's usually something like "192.168.1.0/24".
• Encryption Cipher: Choose an encryption cipher. AES-256-CBC is a strong and widely supported option.
• Hash Algorithm: Select a hash algorithm. SHA256 is a good choice.

Step 4: Generate the Necessary Keys and Certificates

For security, you'll need to generate keys and certificates. You can do this directly from the LuCI interface by scrolling down to the "Advanced Settings" section and finding the "Generate" button next to the "TLS Auth Key" field. Click it to generate a key.

Alternatively, you can generate the keys and certificates manually via the command line using the easy-rsa scripts. This method is more complex but gives you more control over the key generation process. If you want to go this route, you'll need to install the easy-rsa package:

opkg install easy-rsa

Then, follow the instructions in the Easy-RSA documentation to generate your keys and certificates. Once you have them, you can upload them to the OpenVPN configuration in LuCI.

Step 5: Configure Firewall Settings

Next, you need to configure the firewall to allow VPN traffic. Go to the "Firewall" section in LuCI and create a new traffic rule.

• Name: Give the rule a name, like "Allow-OpenVPN".
• Protocol: Select "UDP" or "TCP", depending on what you chose in Step 3.
• Source Zone: Set this to "wan".
• Destination Zone: Set this to "device (input)".
• Destination Port: Enter the port number you chose in Step 3.
• Action: Set this to "Accept".

Create another traffic rule to forward traffic from the VPN subnet to your local network:

• Name: Give the rule a name, like "Forward-OpenVPN".
• Source Zone: Set this to "vpn". You might need to create a new zone named "vpn" that covers the VPN subnet you configured earlier (e.g., 10.8.0.0/24).
• Destination Zone: Set this to "lan".
• Action: Set this to "Accept".

Also, ensure that masquerading is enabled for the VPN zone. This allows clients connected to the VPN to access the internet through your router.

Step 6: Create OpenVPN Client Configuration Files

Now that the server is set up, you need to create configuration files for your clients (e.g., your laptop, phone, or tablet). LuCI doesn't directly provide a way to generate client configuration files, so you'll need to create them manually. A basic client configuration file looks like this:

client
dev tun
proto udp
remote your_router_ip 1194
resolv-retry infinite
nobind
persist-key
persist-tun
cipher AES-256-CBC
hash SHA256
remote-cert-tls server
tls-auth ta.key 1
<ca>
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
YOUR_CA_CERTIFICATE
-----END CERTIFICATE-----
</ca>
<cert>
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
YOUR_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE
-----END CERTIFICATE-----
</cert>
<key>
-----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----
YOUR_CLIENT_PRIVATE_KEY
-----END PRIVATE KEY-----
</key>

Replace your_router_ip with the public IP address or domain name of your router. Also, replace YOUR_CA_CERTIFICATE, YOUR_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE, and YOUR_CLIENT_PRIVATE_KEY with the contents of your CA certificate, client certificate, and client private key, respectively. You'll need to generate these client-specific certificates and keys using Easy-RSA or a similar tool.

Step 7: Import the Configuration File to Your Client

Install an OpenVPN client on your device (e.g., OpenVPN Connect for Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS). Import the configuration file you created in Step 6 into the OpenVPN client. You may also need to copy the ta.key file to your client and reference it in the client configuration file.

Step 8: Test the Connection

Finally, test the connection. Enable the VPN connection on your client. If everything is configured correctly, you should be able to connect to your OpenVPN server and access the internet through your home network.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues, here are a few things to check:

• Firewall Rules: Make sure your firewall rules are configured correctly to allow VPN traffic.
• Key and Certificate Errors: Double-check that your keys and certificates are valid and that you've included the correct paths in your configuration files.
• Routing Issues: Ensure that traffic from the VPN subnet is being routed correctly to your local network.
• Logs: Check the OpenVPN logs on your router for any error messages. You can usually find the logs in /var/log/messages.

Conclusion

And there you have it! Setting up an OpenVPN server on OpenWRT using LuCI can seem a bit daunting at first, but by following these steps, you can create a secure and private VPN server right at home. This not only enhances your security but also gives you the freedom to access your home network from anywhere. So, go ahead and give it a try, and enjoy the benefits of your own private VPN!