VPN on NAS, router, or both?

VPN
1

Newbie question here:

What I want:

  1. Access my synology from outside my network (watching Plex in hotels etc).
  2. Protect my NAS and torrenting from prying eyes.

Would it be easiest to just install a VPN client (ExpressVPN, NordVPN etc) on my router, or install an OpenVPN server on my NAS, or both? What’s the difference?

2

I run mine on the router (Synology), means I can access any device on my home network remotely, including the NAS, as though I were directly connected at home.

Edit: You might want to have a look at TailScale too, as an alternative.

3

Another VPN-‘Ouch’-question. Use the search function, you will find what you need because it has been discussed more than just once in detail.

4

1.You don’t need a VPN for that

  1. Those are two different VPN. See:

https://old.reddit.com/r/synology/comments/smi559/eli5_connecting_to_my_home_nas_via_vpn

TailScale on NAS easy. OpenVPN on NAS more flexible, potentially more risk. PiVPN probably best.

5

Maybe this topic may help you, https://www.reddit.com/r/synology/comments/t18883/quick\_connect/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3

6

Thanks! I set up TailScale (took about 5 seconds) but noticed I can’t access Plex remotely without enabling remote access in Plex. Isn’t that the beauty of OpenVPN, that you’re basically tricking your device into thinking your on your home network, and thus doesn’t have to enable remote access?

I’ve been trying to set up an OpenVPN on my NAS for 2 days now. Watching 3 separate YouTube videos and following a written guide I still can’t get it to work.

7

I used Synology VPN Plus. Very simple to setup and has worked flawlessly for 2+ years - even have managed to get non-techy family users to use it.