Hello all!
I don’t know a lot about technology but am trying to figure out if a Firewalla or other VPN service would help me. I have a pretty dull remote work from home job, that for no good reason is tied strictly to my IP address at home. It’s supposed to be for security, but I really think it’s like a control thing- I can’t imagine why my work would be less secure if I was staying with family at a different IP address.
I want to try to be around family more after my sister started very early addiction recovery. For that, I’m trying to see if there’s someway that I can work on a computer from a different address while appearing to be using my home IP address.
It seems like perhaps having a Firewalla home VPN server would do that? Is there some way that I could set up a Firewalla to create a home VPN, that would show my home address as its location, and then go to a different family location and sign into that home VPN? As in: I live in NY. Can I set up a VPN in my home in New York, so that if I go to stay with the family in New Jersey, I can log into that VPN server in home in New York, and the work computer accesses the same home NY IP address even though it’s physically in NJ?
Not sure if that makes sense… but if it does, I’d love to know if this seems like some thing Firewalla can do?
just a general comment that my lord, you guys on reddit are amazing. i am so grateful for the replies (though still trying to figure it all out). I need to go hang out in a reddit community where i am knowledgeable to pay it forward. thanks to all of you
Yes, that is the way the vpn server is designed to work. FW has tutorials on configuring the server on their site if you need help.
Love my firewalla but you don’t need one to do what you’re asking. You can setup a WireGuard server or other vpn server on your network with any always on computer or even a raspberry pi.
But firewalla will make it easy and security is simpler.
Thank you SO much for your thoughts!
I would love to better understand what you are saying.
So – Firewalla isn’t the best way to to the home VPN server?
I would love something that makes it easy and am willing to pay for it, since I don’t understand a lot of this. (Do any of you guys want to be a remote tech consult? I would pay a day’s salary for it… I am serious…) I have heard about Raspberry Pi from my sis but I think that is way above my head (maybe I can go look at youtube to learn more).
Here’s what I’ve kind of understood so far about the setup:
Equipment 1 at Home Location: VPN Server (Open VPN, Wireguard) – Firewalla, other?
- Work Computer (no installation admin rights)
- Shows Home IP Address & Home Location
Equipment 2 at Travel Location: VPN Client- Firewalla and travel router (or other?)
- Work Computer (no installation or admin rights)
- Shows Home IP Address and Home Location
* need high speeds in both locations, like 200 mbps+
Here, for the Equipment 1, I guess you’re saying it doesn’t have to be Firewalla, is there something else you recommend?
And for Equipment 2, is it still Firewalla that’s needed or something else?
I’m looking over the tutorials, and I guess it’s pretty hard when you’re not savvy with this and unfamiliar with the terms. I’m thinking of someone tech savvy that I could ask for help.
But one question I have is-
If I am traveling, and I want to use the IP address that I have at home, will I have to install something into the computer? (I can’t do that since it’s a work computer). The firewalla tutorial seems to talk about installing some type of VPN application on the computer. Is there someway to instead, take a firewalla with me that will be able to on its own access the IP address from home, and then I can hook up to that from my work computer with no application installation needed?
If you don’t have any admin rights on the work computer then it gets a bit more difficult. Running a WireGuard server on home network is easy but assigning a connection to the work laptop without being able to use admin rights will be more involved.
I’m that case something like the firewalla on both sides would make it much easier as you can assign the vpn uplink by device.
It is quite easy to setup, but if you are not confident ask a friend who has ‘intermediate’ skills in setting up a router etc.
In your case, you are not allowed to install anything on your computer. The easiest that I can think of is getting a Firewalla Blue Plus to install at home. Use it a as a VPN server. Any device connected to the VPN server will automatically show your home IP.
Buy a second Firewalla Purple. You can have the Purple connect to the Firewalla Blue over VPN. Now, when you connect to the purple’s WiFi, which can be anywhere - even a coffeeshop - you can establish VPN to your home and any device connected to the purple will show your Home IP as long as the internet traffic is set to go over the VPN.
have you looked at this? https://help.firewalla.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004274633-Firewalla-VPN-Server#h_4151e472-a50a-4d01-ae62-98eba99bcd58
If you are just traveling and need only one or two devices need to VPN, you do not need another firewalla. Just run a VPN server at your home.
If you are traveling, and need everything to go through VPN … then you will need another device. The purple (https://firewalla.com/purple) is still orderable from Indiegogo.
Amazing! Is there a particular Firewalla I need to get? Is purple much better or different than blue plus?
And is it the same for both Firewallas- the home and travel one— do I need a blue plus/purple for both? Assuming I need relatively high speeds, 200 Mbps and above
Keep in mind that the Firewalla unit you are traveling with does not have wireless, the purple Firewalla does, but not the other units. So you would want to have a small travel router such as a cradle point that you connect your firewalla to and connect to internet. Does your work laptop allow wireless internet connection?
Would that work if you’re out of the USA and you have to be wired (so have an Ethernet cable from your Firewalla purple to your work computer) ?
Also is it compatible with companies computer that already have an installed vpn ?
Thank you!
I have been looking at this webpage, yes! It sounds embarassing, but honestly- it is really hard for me to understand-- but I think I’ve got the basics about set up. That, I would need to have two firewallas, one at home and one when travelling.
May I ask-- when you write “If you are just traveling and need only one or two devices need to VPN,
you do not need another firewalla. Just run a VPN server at your home.”
Do you mean Firewalla is not the best or easiest way to run a VPN server at home? I have been trying to figure this out, I think because I am not so savvy I need something user friendly or something that has a community like this reddit to ask questions.
And, do you think the Firewalla Purple is better for my purposes than getting the Blue plus?
I only have experience with the gold but It looks like it mostly depends on future proofing and your budget.
https://help.firewalla.com/hc/en-us/articles/360010465893
If you are traveling just a laptop. All you need to do is get one firewalla and run it at your home. The Blue+ and Purple/Gold, all support wireguard, if you need the extra bandwidth. (This is the VPN server function, and the link I pasted tells you how to setup). This is the only thing you need.
Now if you are traveling and need to connect IP phones, phone, TV all to VPN, then you need to get another firewalla, and setup site to site VPN.
The main problem comes with the fact that you can’t install software on your laptop. If you could, you’d be able to install a VPN Client (Software on your laptop) to connect to the Hardware VPN Server that is running on your Firewalla at home.
If you can’t install that software, the next easiest thing would be to have a Firewalla in both locations and have those 2 connect together using a VPN making it look like your laptop is at home. Hopefully that makes sense better.
This is amazing!! Thank you so much.
May I ask— why do you recommend Firewalla gold for at home, over Firewalla purple or blue plus?
Can I ask a quick question – is it only Firewalla gold where you can restart it remotely through the app, or can you do that also with Firewalla blue +?
Hi Artem!
No, that’s very thoughtful and interesting. And it’s absolutely wonderful to just hear that you were able to do exactly this, what I wanted to do. I ordered two purples but I’m not sure when the purples will come, so maybe I’ll check out the gold. I really appreciate you sharing how easy it was for you to do with the gold!