Posts about Travel
It seems some people are quite lost on how to create a basic server to client setup to hide their current location IP so that it appears they are in their home location while actually not. Yes, we have a resource in the Wiki: https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalnomad/wiki/vpn. I contacted the mods about modifying it to be more clear and correct a few minor things, but never received any response. Also never received a response about including https://thewirednomad.com in the sidebar, but I digress...
I've had at least one or two redditors from this community ask me for a more clear step-by-step instruction. The only issue is I can only create it based on somewhat specific hardware, but I think it could help a lot of people. Though I understand there are some who will be too unfamiliar with using the command line that it will not be of any benefit.
Equipment needed:
Server: Raspberry Pi 4B (any Linux "thin client" will do, $50-100), you could also use another GL.iNet router but Tailscale exit node is in beta still for those devices.
Travel router: GL.iNet Beryl AX (on sale for $109)
Misc. 1-2 ethernet cables
Basic steps:
Connect the server computer (ex. Raspberry Pi 4B) to your local internet by configuring it for ethernet, then plug the Pi into your home router's LAN port.
Configure the server computer to have a static IP on your home network by editing /etc/network/interfaces. Note the subnet must match your local internet's... so if your computer's IP starts with 192.168 then use that, or in my case Xfinity router uses 10.0.0. This is like 4 lines of code inside an already existing file in the filesystem.
Here's my /etc/network/interfaces
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
post-up /sbin/ethtool --set-eee eth0 eee off
address 10.0.0.YY
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 10.0.0.X
dns-nameservers 10.0.0.X 8.8.8.8
3. Install Tailscale on the server (sudo apt-get install tailscale) and turn it on as an exit node. Navigate to Tailscale web admin panel and confirm everything is turned on correctly. Tailscale documentation is very good, so check that out. https://tailscale.com/kb/1103/exit-nodes/
4. Configure the client travel router to point to the exit node so any traffic coming into the router (i.e., your work laptop) passes through your server VPN back at home. This requires adding subnets. Can be a little tricky at first, but still very easy. https://tailscale.com/kb/1019/subnets/
5. Confirm your client device is getting your home VPN (aka same IP as your server/exit node) by using this linux command:
dig -4 +short myip.opendns.com @resolver1.opendns.com.
Obviously if you're on your work computer with Windows and cannot use that command, then just go to a web browser and use whatsmyip.com.
Lastly, remember that your home server's upload speed is your client's DOWNLOAD speed.