How to choose, use and configure a VPN in EasyNAS (My opinion)

Choosing the Ideal VPN for EasyNAS

When you’re running EasyNAS on your home or small-office box, you need a VPN solution that integrates seamlessly with its Debian-based apt package manager, minimal GNOME or XFCE desktop spins (when a UI is installed at all), and a headless-by-default design honed for SMB and NFS sharing. EasyNAS users tend to be sysadmins or power-users who value straightforward CLI tools, lean systemd services and kernel-level performance. With that in mind, three standout VPNs surface:

WireGuard – lightning-fast, built into the Linux kernel, minimal config files.
OpenVPN – ultra-stable, mature ecosystem, wide compatibility.
Tailscale – mesh-VPN using WireGuard under the hood, NAT traversal with zero config.

Why These Work Best on EasyNAS

EasyNAS ships with systemd networking by default and a barebones network stack. You’ll appreciate:

Kernel support: WireGuard is already in the kernel, so no extra DKMS or rebuild hassles.
CLI-first tools: All three have robust command-line clients that install via apt.
Headless flexibility: No heavy desktop dependencies – perfect for a server that rarely runs X or Wayland.
Stable services: EasyNAS expects systemd units that auto-start cleanly on boot.

Comparison Table

Feature	WireGuard	OpenVPN	Tailscale
Kernel Integration	Built-in (≥ Linux 5.6)	Userspace daemon	Userspace WireGuard kernel module
Config Complexity	Very low (single .conf)	Medium (certs, keys, .ovpn profiles)	Minimal (OAuth login CLI)
Systemd Service	Yes (wg-quick@)	Yes (openvpn@)	Yes (tailscaled)
Performance	Excellent (UDP, modern crypto)	Good (tun device)	Excellent (WireGuard under the hood)
Key Management	Self-managed keypairs	PKI or pre-shared	Automatic via cloud
Ideal for	Admins wanting speed amp simplicity	Legacy support amp cross-platform	Zero-config remote access

1. Installing amp Configuring WireGuard

WireGuard delivers kernel-level performance with minimal fuss. On EasyNAS, follow these steps:

Update apt cache and install:

apt update
apt install wireguard

Generate keys:

wg genkey  tee /etc/wireguard/privatekey 
   wg pubkey > /etc/wireguard/publickey
chmod 600 /etc/wireguard/privatekey

Create /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf with your interface and peer blocks:

[Interface]
Address = 10.0.0.1/24
ListenPort = 51820
PrivateKey = ltcontents of /etc/wireguard/privatekeygt

[Peer]
PublicKey = ltpeer’s publickeygt
AllowedIPs = 10.0.0.2/32
Endpoint = vpn.example.com:51820
PersistentKeepalive = 25

Enable and start the service:

systemctl enable wg-quick@wg0
systemctl start wg-quick@wg0

Verify with wg show. Traffic will now route over your encrypted tunnel.

2. Installing amp Configuring OpenVPN

OpenVPN remains the go-to for legacy compatibility. Here’s the quick path:

Install the package:

apt update
apt install openvpn

Place your .ovpn profile in /etc/openvpn/client/ (create dir if needed).

Enable the client unit (assuming profile named myvpn):

systemctl enable openvpn-client@myvpn
systemctl start openvpn-client@myvpn

Logs are available via journalctl -u openvpn-client@myvpn. If you need custom TLS-auth or scripts, drop them alongside the profile.

3. Installing amp Configuring Tailscale

For a mesh VPN that just works through NAT, Tailscale is hard to beat:

Add the Tailscale repo amp install:

curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh  sh

Authenticate and bring up:

tailscale up --accept-routes

You’ll be guided via a device login URL. Once complete, your EasyNAS box automatically appears in your tailnet, ready for secure SSH, SFTP or any other service.

Wrapping Up

Whether you need raw throughput with WireGuard, bullet-proof compatibility via OpenVPN or plug-and-play mesh networking through Tailscale, EasyNAS handles each with aplomb. Choose the one that aligns with your workflow: kernel-fast tunnels, certificate-driven stability, or zero-config peering. Happy securing!

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