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New Mac mini as VPN server

michelg1970

michelg1970

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 26, 2011
312
151
The Hague - The Netherlands
OK, while convincing my wife we "needed" a Mac Mini because it could also serve as a VPN server (apart from all the other positives), now I have the MM but how the heck do I set up a VPN server?

My previous experience (MM Server, 2011) was easy: it was included. What to do now? When I google I find many commercial alternatives. When I find OpenVPN I have to build something myself?

My self-esteem is under pressure as I have to perform now to show my wife how great the MM is...

Any help welcome.

Thanks in advance!
 
Actually I know only a few commercial VPN servers for Mac – not many.

OpenVPN Enabler is one of them. Yes, it's paid for the Ventura version. $20 isn't a lot for a software that presumably it'll be used on daily basis.

Another one was iVPN – unfortunately it isn't developed anymore due to the changes Apple made in the last OS versions regarding VPN.
 
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Marco Klobas said:
Actually I know only a few commercial VPN servers for Mac – not many.

OpenVPN Enabler is one of them. Yes, it's paid for the Ventura version. $20 isn't a lot for a software that presumably it'll be used on daily basis.

Another one was iVPN – unfortunately it isn't developed anymore due to the changes Apple made in the last OS versions regarding VPN.
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Thank you, I will give openvpn enabler a try!
 
There are a lot of options. If you have and old PC try a Linux server or get an inexpensive mini PC. Many of the NAS servers also have VPN's available.
 
I used to run a VPN server on my old Mac with iVPN and it worked OK. iVPN dried up…I wanted a different solution anyway and I was lucky enough to have a router I could flash with DD-WRT. There's probably an easier solution now, something like a Raspberry Pi, but it's nice to have it running 24/7 and not be dependent on and running in the background on my current Mac.
 
BrianBaughn said:
I used to run a VPN server on my old Mac with iVPN and it worked OK. iVPN dried up…I wanted a different solution anyway and I was lucky enough to have a router I could flash with DD-WRT. There's probably an easier solution now, something like a Raspberry Pi, but it's nice to have it running 24/7 and not be dependent on and running in the background on my current Mac.
Click to expand...
I tried this with my RPI but it was slow. The QNAP NAS also does VPN but I do not want to keep it on all day. My MM is now on 24/7 and with the OPENVPN enabler (@Marco Klobas) and after quickly reading up on DDNS (enabled now at the modem) it all seems to work like a charm!

Doing break something when it works but I will give the RPI another try.

Thank you all for thinking along!
 
BrianBaughn said:
I used to run a VPN server on my old Mac with iVPN and it worked OK. iVPN dried up…I wanted a different solution anyway and I was lucky enough to have a router I could flash with DD-WRT. There's probably an easier solution now, something like a Raspberry Pi, but it's nice to have it running 24/7 and not be dependent on and running in the background on my current Mac.
Click to expand...
Also if you have an ASUS router running on Merlin you could utilise YazFi to run VPN on a guest network thereby does not interfere with or slows down the devices on the main network.
 
Bl0ckHe1d said:
Also if you have an ASUS router running on Merlin you could utilise YazFi to run VPN on a guest network thereby does not interfere with or slows down the devices on the main network.
Click to expand...
I may not understand that YazFi completely but it looks like it applies to making guest networks go through a VPN client.

This discussion is about VPN servers.
 
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I just setup a M1 mini as my server (moving from an old intel MM) I run a VM with Ubuntu server and pinhole. I am looking for an arm vpn to run in the vm, any suggestions?
 
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