Do you mean installing OpenVPN on the router and then logging in with PIA? Or do you mean running the PIA App on your local machine via your router? Your question is a little vague.
You can load software on your router (if compatible) to access PIA via OpenVPN. This will protect all devices connected to your router.
You can load OpenVPN on your local machine and access PIA this way also.
And, you can load PIA Manager on your local machine to access PIA. Either way all three use OpenVPN.
If this doesn't answer your question, then please rephrase your question or try and be a little more specific. Maybe try and tell us what you are trying to accomplish.
I've got PIA macOS VPN on my Mac, and PIA VPN on my iOS devices (just signed up today). My WAP is a Time Capsule. I'd like to either replace my Time Capsule WAP with a router that comes with VPN capability, or else add it to the TC. That way I can protect all my devices in the house.
Does OpenVPN work on the Time Capsule, and how hard is it to configure if it works on the TC? Alternatively I can buy a router that has VPN capability. The ASUS RT-AC68U is one such device I saw reviewed, and appears easy to set up. Another one that is well reviewed is Netgear R7000 DD-WRT. The question then is will PIA macOS VPN work with routers with VPN capability, or is there some conflict that could arise?
Is there another alternative to protecting all my devices?
I don't know what the Time Capsule is so I looked it up. It is an Apple device so I doubt that DD-WRT will work on that device knowing how Apple has a closed architecture. PiaVipper listed a router that seems to be popular. I was thinking of getting one myself.
You can purchase a router that is already loaded with OpenVPN client. There are a few ASUS routers that I have read about that have VPN Client already. Just need to program them to work with PIA or who ever you choose as your provider.
Here is a list of compatible routers if you want to venture off and flash your own. Some are easy, some are not. The chances are high of bricking your router if you are not careful.
This site lists some routers that already have VPN added. All you need do is configure them for your VPN Service Provider.
Yes, Apple products are closed and there is no way to add any VPN anything. Sorry for assuming everyone knows what a Time Capsule is.
After a few google searches and reading a few articles, I am ever so slightly smarter on VPN. I live in the "Apple ecosystem" with mostly Apple devices in the house. Everything works well together. I'd like to keep the Time Capsule (and Airport Express in the back of the house) for WiFI and streaming in every room (heaven help me if I screw that up and my wife can't get instant access to whatever she wants to watch wherever at the moment).
Is there anything wrong with keeping my current set up, and inserting a wired VPN router between my TC and cable modem? I can set the TC to bridge easily enough, so it isn't fighting with the proposed wired router. I'll post on the Apple user forum and see if there is any problem with that idea.
FWIW, at least one Apple forum user has the same setup I am thinking about, interposing a wired VPN router between my TC and modem. It all works for him. I'll report back if i have any problems.
Meanwhile, does anyone have any experience with a good quality, easy to set-up wired VPN router?
If you put a router between your TC and your modem, you will have to setup a default route to the new router. You will also have to ensure that the IP address is different. So you may need to brush up on your networking skills (not assuming you do not have any, merely saying this just in case).
I definitely need to learn some networking skills. I'll post your comments to the Apple forum. Meanwhile, if you have any pointers for me I am all eyes.
If you put a router between your TC and your modem, you will have to setup a default route to the new router. You will also have to ensure that the IP address is different. So you may need to brush up on your networking skills (not assuming you do not have any, merely saying this just in case).
No brushing up necessary. The AirPort Utility pretty much handles it all automagically by pinging all network devices and determining how the network is configured. If it senses a primary router it sets the Time Capsule up in bridge mode, etc. The Time Capsule will be the simplest part of setting up your network. And yes, your TC can not be flashed to support PIA. So you'll definitely need a WRT router.
I last configured a router maybe 10 years ago. Then I dropped Windows (after a Vista debacle I'd had enough) and got into Apple stuff. To my surprise, the hype was all true: it all just worked. Apple really puts effort into making things user friendly. So now I am a dumb-a** as far as networking goes.
I am glad to read that the TC will sense the upstream router and bridge itself. Will my Airport Express in the back of the house similarly bridge itself? It is ethernetted to the TC, thru a switch.
Why the WRT router, rather than one of the other protocols?
Also, Flashrouter sells routers configured for PIA. That seems like a good place to start for an amateur. However they all seem to be wireless. I want a wired router sitting in front of the TC, with the TC handling all the WiFi in the house (house came wired with ethernet and cable in every room, so I have a mix of wireless and ethernetted stuff). A guy on the Apple forum did exactly what I want to do, with a Cisco router. He has the networking skills to configure it. The point is, the VPN router does the security, and Air Play, printing, etc all happen via the TC WiFi. That is my goal. Can a Flashrouter set up for PIA be used as a wired router, with the WiFi disabled?
Will my Airport Express in the back of the house similarly bridge itself? It is ethernetted to the TC, thru a switch.
Yes.
Also, Flashrouter sells routers configured for PIA. That seems like a good place to start for an amateur.
It is. Although bear in mind you're paying quite a premium for doing something that with very little effort you can do yourself. But if money is not object I say go for it.
Can a Flashrouter set up for PIA be used as a wired router, with the WiFi disabled?
Yes. However, bear in mind that after all the bother and expense you may be very disappointed with the results. Consumer routers aren't specifically designed for supporting vpn. Encrypting/decrypting places a heavy burden on any processor. The processors used in modern Macs and PCs can handle it readily, but the processors used in consumer routers are generally not up to the task, so speeds will suffer. It's never going to be as fast as just connection to PIA directly from your Macs. At best you're probably looking at a 50% hit, and probably worse. Yes, there is that convenience factor of protecting the entire household at once, but it comes at the price of the family complaining about slow speeds. If you've got any gamers you can be sure they'll be complaining about lag. There's also the issue of being seriously inconvenienced anytime someone needs to access web sites that block vpns, such as online banking, etc. Then you're looking at having to set up the router to bypass vpn for specific IP addresses. If you're an amateur, as you say, you may find doing so to be a bit over your head. So think it all through very carefully.
Comments
You can load software on your router (if compatible) to access PIA via OpenVPN. This will protect all devices connected to your router.
You can load OpenVPN on your local machine and access PIA this way also.
And, you can load PIA Manager on your local machine to access PIA. Either way all three use OpenVPN.
If this doesn't answer your question, then please rephrase your question or try and be a little more specific. Maybe try and tell us what you are trying to accomplish.
Does OpenVPN work on the Time Capsule, and how hard is it to configure if it works on the TC? Alternatively I can buy a router that has VPN capability. The ASUS RT-AC68U is one such device I saw reviewed, and appears easy to set up. Another one that is well reviewed is Netgear R7000 DD-WRT. The question then is will PIA macOS VPN work with routers with VPN capability, or is there some conflict that could arise?
Is there another alternative to protecting all my devices?
You can purchase a router that is already loaded with OpenVPN client. There are a few ASUS routers that I have read about that have VPN Client already. Just need to program them to work with PIA or who ever you choose as your provider.
Here is a list of compatible routers if you want to venture off and flash your own. Some are easy, some are not. The chances are high of bricking your router if you are not careful.
This site lists some routers that already have VPN added. All you need do is configure them for your VPN Service Provider.
After a few google searches and reading a few articles, I am ever so slightly smarter on VPN. I live in the "Apple ecosystem" with mostly Apple devices in the house. Everything works well together. I'd like to keep the Time Capsule (and Airport Express in the back of the house) for WiFI and streaming in every room (heaven help me if I screw that up and my wife can't get instant access to whatever she wants to watch wherever at the moment).
Is there anything wrong with keeping my current set up, and inserting a wired VPN router between my TC and cable modem? I can set the TC to bridge easily enough, so it isn't fighting with the proposed wired router. I'll post on the Apple user forum and see if there is any problem with that idea.
Meanwhile, does anyone have any experience with a good quality, easy to set-up wired VPN router?
I am glad to read that the TC will sense the upstream router and bridge itself. Will my Airport Express in the back of the house similarly bridge itself? It is ethernetted to the TC, thru a switch.
Why the WRT router, rather than one of the other protocols?
Also, Flashrouter sells routers configured for PIA. That seems like a good place to start for an amateur. However they all seem to be wireless. I want a wired router sitting in front of the TC, with the TC handling all the WiFi in the house (house came wired with ethernet and cable in every room, so I have a mix of wireless and ethernetted stuff). A guy on the Apple forum did exactly what I want to do, with a Cisco router. He has the networking skills to configure it. The point is, the VPN router does the security, and Air Play, printing, etc all happen via the TC WiFi. That is my goal. Can a Flashrouter set up for PIA be used as a wired router, with the WiFi disabled?
It is. Although bear in mind you're paying quite a premium for doing something that with very little effort you can do yourself. But if money is not object I say go for it.
Yes. However, bear in mind that after all the bother and expense you may be very disappointed with the results. Consumer routers aren't specifically designed for supporting vpn. Encrypting/decrypting places a heavy burden on any processor. The processors used in modern Macs and PCs can handle it readily, but the processors used in consumer routers are generally not up to the task, so speeds will suffer. It's never going to be as fast as just connection to PIA directly from your Macs. At best you're probably looking at a 50% hit, and probably worse. Yes, there is that convenience factor of protecting the entire household at once, but it comes at the price of the family complaining about slow speeds. If you've got any gamers you can be sure they'll be complaining about lag. There's also the issue of being seriously inconvenienced anytime someone needs to access web sites that block vpns, such as online banking, etc. Then you're looking at having to set up the router to bypass vpn for specific IP addresses. If you're an amateur, as you say, you may find doing so to be a bit over your head. So think it all through very carefully.