Choosing the Right VPN for Untangle NG Firewall

Untangle NG Firewall, formerly known as Untangle Gateway, is a Debian-based network security appliance designed for small to medium enterprises, schools and branch offices. Unlike a typical Linux desktop distribution, Untangle is primarily managed via its web UI and runs headless by default. Under the hood it uses the apt package manager, and administrators interact through an SSH console or the web interface. There’s no GNOME or KDE desktop, so any VPN solution you choose must be fully scriptable or have a CLI toolset. The typical Untangle user is a network administrator or IT manager who values stability, predictable updates and seamless integration with firewall rules, captive portals and content-filtering engines.

When evaluating VPN providers for Untangle NG Firewall, focus on these attributes:

• Debian-compatible packages or easy OpenVPN/WireGuard configs
• Command-line tools (no GUI dependencies)
• Strong no-logging policies to maintain privacy
• High server count and geographic diversity to minimize latency
• API or automation support for scripted deployments

Top VPN Providers Suited to Untangle NG Firewall

Installation Configuration Guides

Mullvad VPN on Untangle NG Firewall

Mullvad offers pre-generated OpenVPN and WireGuard configuration files. You only need openvpn or wireguard-tools from Debian.

1. Install required packages

apt update
apt install -y openvpn resolvconf
# For WireGuard:
apt install -y wireguard-tools

2. Download Mullvad config files

cd /etc/openvpn
wget https://mullvad.net/download/ovpn/latest/ -O mullvad-configs.zip
apt install -y unzip
unzip mullvad-configs.zip -d mullvad

3. Start the VPN tunnel

# Example with OpenVPN
openvpn --config /etc/openvpn/mullvad/GB/tcp/mullvad_gb_tcp.ovpn
# Or with WireGuard (after placing .conf in /etc/wireguard/)
wg-quick up wg0

In the Untangle web UI, navigate to Config → Interfaces and add the new VPN tunnel as a WAN or DMZ interface, then adjust your routing and firewall rules accordingly.

NordVPN on Untangle NG Firewall

NordVPN provides an official Linux repository and a straightforward CLI.

1. Add the NordVPN repo

apt update
apt install -y curl gnupg apt-transport-https
curl -sSf https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/linux/gpg  apt-key add -
echo deb https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/linux/deb stable main 
   tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nordvpn.list
apt update

2. Install and authenticate

apt install -y nordvpn
nordvpn login

3. Connect and configure auto-connect

nordvpn set technology nordlynx
nordvpn set autoconnect on
nordvpn connect

Then in the Untangle UI, bind the NordLynx interface and set your firewall rules to route selected traffic through it.

ProtonVPN on Untangle NG Firewall

ProtonVPN’s official CLI simplifies configuration on Debian.

1. Install the ProtonVPN repository

apt update
apt install -y gnupg2 curl
curl -fsSL https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian/public_key.asc 
   apt-key add -
echo deb https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian stable main 
   tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/protonvpn.list
apt update

2. Install the CLI and log in

apt install -y protonvpn-cli
protonvpn-cli login your-username

3. Connect using a quick command

protonvpn-cli c --fastest

After establishing the tunnel, assign the ProtonVPN interface in Untangle, and set your outbound rules to route specific networks or subnets via VPN.

Conclusion

Untangle NG Firewall excels in its role as a dedicated network appliance, so choosing a VPN that aligns with its Debian core, CLI-only environment and web UI management is key. Mullvad, NordVPN and ProtonVPN stand out for their Linux support, no-logs stance and protocol flexibility. Following the steps above, you’ll have a secure, always-on VPN tunnel integrated smoothly into your Untangle deployment.