Need advice on a PMS NAS that works with PIA VPN

[Jbirnel]

I would like to switch to a NAS PMS server instead of using my main computer as the PMS. Currently with my ASUS RT AC87U AC2400 I cant seem to set up the VPN to not blovk PLEX. I’ve tried port forwarding (not tech savy enough to know what I’m doing wrong) and it just causes me heartache when it doesnt work. I would LOVE something that is plug and play in that I can use my VPN on my main computer without worrying about it blocking the PMS.
Ultimately: what equipment do you have that works awesomely for you- especially if you use Private Internet Access VPN!
TIA

[Luc4Plex]

Hi Jbirnel,

This is what I have done:

1. I opened an account with a VPN Provider.
2. I configured the VPN client directly on my DS1813+ (they provided me all required instructions)
3. I connect my DS1813+ to the VPN

I didin’t had to configure anything inside Plex nor in my router, as the connection is initiated by my Synology and PLEX don’t really “see” the VPN but only the link.

Everything is working well for many years. Just be careful on one thing: if your VPN is down, PLEX will not be reachable form outside your network.

Hope this will help

Have fun

Luc

[aptalca]

@Jbirnel

I would like to switch to a NAS PMS server instead of using my main computer as the PMS. Currently with my ASUS RT AC87U AC2400 I cant seem to set up the VPN to not blovk PLEX. I’ve tried port forwarding (not tech savy enough to know what I’m doing wrong) and it just causes me heartache when it doesnt work. I would LOVE something that is plug and play in that I can use my VPN on my main computer without worrying about it blocking the PMS.
Ultimately: what equipment do you have that works awesomely for you- especially if you use Private Internet Access VPN!
TIA

What is your problem with the vpn exactly?

The problem I had originally was that all my internet connection (outbound) goes through PIA via pfsense (router). But keep in mind that PIA by default doesn’t forward any incoming ports. So if an app like plex checks its online IP address and incorrectly advertises the PIA ip instead of the real wan ip, your remote clients cannot connect (no incoming ports forwarded on PIA)

The solution is to tell your router to route all connections to plex.tv to go through the wan interface and not the vpn interface so that when plex media server checks in with plex.tv, the ip that is logged (and advertised to remote clients) is the wan ip.

Here are the instructions for pfsense, there’s probably a similar way to do that on your router: How To Run Pfsense with PIA VPN, but still use Plex Remote Access... | LinuxServer.io