Synology NAS VPN WireGuard kernel module
Synology NAS VPN WireGuard kernel module
Many Synology NAS devices can act as VPN servers, allowing you to securely connect to your home network from anywhere. WireGuard is a modern VPN protocol known for its speed and efficiency. The "kernel module" version offers performance benefits over the standard user-space implementation. Think of it as a faster engine for your VPN.
A kernel module is a piece of code that runs directly within the operating system's core. In this case, the WireGuard kernel module allows your Synology NAS to handle VPN connections more efficiently. This generally translates to faster VPN speeds and lower CPU usage on your NAS, especially when dealing with multiple connected devices or high bandwidth.
Consider using the WireGuard kernel module if:
You want the best possible VPN performance from your Synology NAS.
You frequently access large files or stream media through your VPN.
You have multiple devices connecting to your NAS via VPN simultaneously.
You notice high CPU usage on your NAS when the VPN is active.
However, the performance difference may be negligible for light usage, like occasionally checking email or browsing the web.
The setup is straightforward within Synology's VPN Server package:
Open the "VPN Server" package in your Synology's Package Center and ensure it's installed.
Launch VPN Server and navigate to "WireGuard".
Enable WireGuard. The system will usually prompt you to install the kernel module if it's not already present. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Configure the basic settings, such as the IP address and port.
Create configuration files for each of your client devices (phones, laptops, etc.). These files contain the necessary keys and settings for each device to connect.
MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit): Experiment with lower MTU values if you experience connectivity issues. A value of 1420 is a good starting point.
Allowed IPs: Carefully configure the allowed IPs for each client. This controls which parts of your network the client can access. Leaving it at "0.0.0.0/0" allows access to everything, which may not be desired for security reasons.
Persistent Keepalive: Set this to a low value (e.g., 25 seconds) to keep the connection alive, especially when connecting from mobile networks that might frequently change IP addresses.
Firewall: Ensure your Synology NAS firewall allows UDP traffic on the port you've configured for WireGuard.
Privacy: While WireGuard encrypts your traffic between your device and your NAS, your NAS is still connected to your home internet connection. Your ISP can still see that connection. For complete privacy, consider using a commercial VPN service in addition to your NAS VPN.
Updates: Keep both the VPN Server package and your Synology DSM (operating system) updated to benefit from the latest security patches and performance improvements.