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How to Make a Raspberry Pi Mini PC Into a DIY VPN Server

A Raspberry Pi is a small, affordable computer that has a wide range of uses. One great way to utilize a Raspberry Pi is to turn it into a VPN (Virtual Private Network) server. This allows you to securely access your home network remotely and browse the internet privately.

Why Make a Raspberry Pi VPN Server

There are several key benefits to making your own DIY Raspberry Pi VPN server:

  • Enhanced Security and Privacy – Using a VPN routes all your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel, hiding your IP address and online activity from your internet service provider (ISP) and third parties. This prevents tracking and protects against attacks.
  • Remote Access – A Raspberry Pi VPN server allows you to securely access devices on your home network when away, like streaming from a media server or accessing files.
  • Bypass Geographic Restrictions – VPNs can be used to bypass location-based content blocking and access region-restricted sites and streaming services when traveling.
  • Affordable – Raspberry Pis only cost $35-$75 depending on the model, making it a very budget-friendly way to setup a always-on VPN server compared to pricier commercial solutions.

What You’ll Need

To create your Raspberry Pi VPN server, you will need:

  • Raspberry Pi (any model)
  • MicroSD card (8GB Class 10 recommended)
  • Power supply
  • Ethernet cable
  • Software:
  • Raspberry Pi OS (or other OS like Ubuntu Server)
  • PiVPN (OpenVPN software)

Optional items:

  • Raspberry Pi case
  • Heatsinks
  • Cooling fan

Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these steps to install PiVPN and configure your Raspberry Pi into a VPN server:

  1. Install OS – Flash Raspberry Pi OS or Ubuntu Server onto a MicroSD card and boot up your Pi.
  2. Update Software – Run sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade to update packages.
  3. Install PiVPN – Run the PiVPN install script:
   curl -L https://install.pivpn.io | bash
  1. Choose Protocol – Select OpenVPN protocol when prompted.
  2. Configure Settings – Choose UDP on port 1194 when asked. Select a default encryption strength.
  3. Setup Firewall – Allow traffic to port 1194. You can use iptables or install ufw.
  4. Generate Certificates – Follow the steps to generate certificates and keys for the VPN server.
  5. Install Client – Download and install the client VPN profile on devices you want to connect. Connect to your home IP address/domain.
  6. Secure Server – Change default Pi user password, enable firewall, disable unused services.

And you’re done! You now have a functioning VPN server on your Raspberry Pi to enhance privacy and securely access your home network.

Improving Performance

If your VPN connection speeds seem slow, try these optimization tips:

  • Use a Raspberry Pi 4 for the fastest CPU and networking performance. The quad-core processor provides a big boost.
  • Overclock your Raspberry Pi to increase the CPU and RAM speeds. This can provide 20-50%+ speed gains.
  • Use a powered USB hub if using several USB devices to provide stable extra power.
  • Tweak the VPN configuration:
  • Try TCP protocol instead of default UDP for increased reliability.
  • Lower the Encryption cipher strength if the CPU is maxing out.
  • Experiment with the VPN port number. Port 443 is good to bypass hotel/cafe WiFi blocking.
  • Disable VPN compression since the Raspberry Pi CPU is already the bottleneck in most cases.
  • For OpenVPN servers, use Raspbian 64-bit OS instead of 32-bit for better performance.

So in summary, the Raspberry Pi makes for an inexpensive always-on VPN server for enhanced privacy. With good speeds achievable on a Pi 4 via overclocking and configuration tuning, it’s a great do-it-yourself home project!

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