In today’s video, I will guide you step by step on how to set up a WireGuard VPN server on TrueNAS SCALE. This will enable you to securely access your home network from anywhere. Let’s get started!
If you’re new to setting up WireGuard, you can check out my previous videos for installation guides. In this tutorial, we will be using an excellent tool called Django Easy, which simplifies crafting and managing a WireGuard server.
Step 1: Install the Django Easy App
First, we need to install the Django Easy app.
- Click on the “Discover Apps” button and search for Django Easy.
- Click on the app and then click “Install Now”.
- Once it’s installed, we’ll be on the configuration page for Django Ea
Step 2: Configure Networking
In this step, we need to set up networking for the app.
- For the host, you can input your public IP address and domain name. It’s highly recommended to use a domain name here for convenience.
- I’ll be using my TP-Link router’s built-in Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service to set this up quickly. To do this, find the DDNS settings in your TP-Link router.
- Log in with your TP-Link ID, select TP-Link from the provider dropdown, and save the DDNS configuration. This will automatically update your router’s IP address with the TP-Link DDNS service.
- Now, enter the DDNS hostname you just created in Django Easy under the host configuration section.
- Leave the default WireGuard port (51820) as it is.
- Set a password for the Django Easy admin account.
- Next, we need to specify the network interface that WireGuard will use for VPN traffic. You can find this under the “Network” tab.
Step 3: Install the App
Once all configurations are set, click “Install” to begin the installation. While the app installs, let’s move on to setting up port forwarding on your router.
Step 4: Set Up Port Forwarding
To connect your client devices to the VPN server from outside your home network, you need to set up port forwarding on your router
- Find the port forwarding section in your router settings.
- Create a new rule for WireGuard, naming it “WireGuard”.
- Enter the local IP address of your TrueNAS server and input the WireGuard port (51820) in both the external and internal port fields.
- Apply the changes, and your router will now forward WireGuard traffic to your TrueNAS server.
Step 5: Access the Web Interface
Once everything is installed and running, you can access the web interface of Django Easy.
- Enter your admin password and create a new user by clicking on the “Plus New Client” button.
- Give your user a name (for example, “My PC”).
- After the user is created, load the WireGuard configuration file.
This file contains all the necessary information your client device needs to connect to your VPN.
Step 6: Install the WireGuard Client
Now, let’s install the WireGuard client on our devices. The process is similar for both Windows PCs and Android phones.
On Windows PC:
- Go to the official WireGuard website and download the Windows client.
- Run the installer and open the WireGuard app.
- Click on “Import Tunnel from File” and select the configuration file you downloaded.
- Before activating, ensure your PC is connected to an external network (like mobile hotspot).
- Click “Activate” and your VPN tunnel will be active.
Now, try accessing resources on your home network like your TrueNAS server or other devices. If you can access them while connected to the VPN, it means your routing is correctly set up.
On Android Phone:
- Open the Google Play Store and search for “WireGuard”.
- Install the official WireGuard app.
- Open the app, tap on “Import from File”, and select the configuration file.
- Connect to your mobile data, then tap the toggle next to the newly added tunnel to activate it.
- Open a browser and try to access your TrueNAS dashboard using its local IP address. You should be able to reach it, confirming that your phone is connected to your home network via the VPN.
Step 7: Enjoy Your Private VPN
Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up WireGuard on TrueNAS SCALE. Now you can securely access your home network from anywhere, enjoying the benefits of your own private VPN.
That’s it—setting up a secure, reliable VPN with WireGuard was that easy!