I’ve just received the GL-AXT1800 as a gift. I subscribe to a VPN service so that when I am on the go, I simply connect to my VPN service with my laptop or phone using a VPN software client. Is there a value add for using this hardware device that I don’t get from a software solution alone?
I have configured a VPN client on the GL-AXT1800 to handle all internet traffic. I’ve also set up Tailscale to connect to my services at home, so that the clients of the GL-AXT1800 LAN can connect transparently to these services without further configuration.
In addition, the guest LAN is open (no VPN, DNS of WAN) to connect my work stuff / work VPN without being able to access my private devices. Oh and AdGuard filtering. This works for my family’s devices as well. This means all client devices can do exactly what they can do at home by just connecting to the WIFI of the GL-AXT1800.
If you only have one client using the VPN then no, but if you have multiple clients that you want to use the VPN service then yes (you dont have to install it on all your devices)
That is about the extent of it from the VPN side
One advantage is you do not need to let your PC or phone ever attach directly to the remote AP, while you enable the VPN, so it will never show was at that location. Some people work real hard to hide their location, especially if using a corporate PC or phone outside their home country.
Apart from VPN the router can also do other stuff. For example run your own DNS server that automatically blocks all ads https://docs.gl-inet.com/router/en/4/interface_guide/adguardhome/
You could also setup failover connections (if Ethernet is down, use tethering/wifi).
Glinet routers can do so much more than being VPN clients. Check the docs for more use cases.
Lucky you! Great gift.
I’ll tell you my use-case: I travel frequently and globally, and I carry a bunch of Internet-dependent devices: two laptops, a Kindle, an Apple Watch, my iPhone, often some gizmos I’m working on or developing. Getting each of these logged onto hotel wifi via their captive portals is flatly impossible, and some hotels only give you one device log-on. With a travel router, you have only the one device to connect and plod through the logon process, then it re-broadcasts on a new, private WiFi network that in my case mimics my home network. So, everything that’s set up to connect at home Just Works.
You can of course have each device running its own VPN client, or you can have the router run one that protects all your connected devices. It supports all the latest VPN standards including WireGuard.
For power, I just connect it to the USB charging hub I carry in my travels, as seen here. It provides plenty of power for my usage. If I were running two hundred clients, I’d probably need to use the wall-wart that comes with the unit.
There have been reports of corporate-scale VPN’d routers being compromised by state-sponsored hackers. Doubt that’s of concern for the routers we’re talking about-- hackers tend to go for the target-rich environments. For really sensitive usage, you might still want to run a VPN on one or more of your devices.
Thank you. Is there any benefit outside of the VPN capability that would warrant one to go through the rigmarole of using it as a client and then connecting to it?
Depends what your use case for VPN is. If you just want to change your IP to countries in order to show up in other geo regions, or hide your traffic thought a VPN (depends for what purpose though), a comercial VPN on phone is a comfortable solution.
If you’re running something at home (a NAS, a home server, some VMs, maybe Plex) and you would like to be secure and not expose them to the internet, having a VPN server allows you to connect securely from wherever you are, back home, through the VPN server in the router, at decent speeds.
There are also other use cases, but from your description I highlighted the main use case that matches your description.
I keep digitized versions of some documents on encrypted storage sites. I may set up a NAS with those documents and use this to connect in.
As far as masking traffic what do you mean “depends for what purpose though”?
There are multiple options for using a VPN service.
For example, I don’t care about traffic masking, but I do want to be able to access resources inside my home network (NAS, VMs, local apps, local streaming, etc) while I am outside my home, without exposing all these services to the internet. This is why I care about having a VPN server on the router so I can VPN into my network.