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Routing traffic in Meshnet

Learn how to use the traffic routing feature of Meshnet on all compatible operating systems.

Introduction

In today's shrinking world, remote work is becoming more popular. Having instant access to your home IP address from any place in the world can open heaps of possibilities. For example, you can access IP-restricted work or online resources from anywhere. However, the process of setting up remote access to your home IP address can take time and effort. From setting up a VPN server in your home to configuring VPN client software on your devices — the preparation process can get tiresome swiftly. With Meshnet’s traffic routing feature, you can have access to your home IP address with a click of a button.
Alternatively, you can have a virtual private server (VPS) located in another country. Traffic routing allows you to gain the IP address of your VPS by routing your internet through it. This makes accessing IP-restricted or geo-restricted websites a breeze.
This article covers information about the functionality of traffic routing and includes instructions on how it can be used on all compatible operating systems.

Traffic routing functionality

The traffic routing feature of Meshnet gives you the ability to route all of your internet traffic via a compatible peer device. When you initiate a connection to the peer device, it is established using NordLynx technology. The usage of this VPN protocol results in a fast, safe, and encrypted connection between the peer devices.
Diagram showing a mobile phone routing traffic through a home computer.
When routing traffic, you get assigned the public IP address of the host device and connect to the internet using it instead of your standard IP address. The host device acts as a VPN server.
The diagram above illustrates the following configuration flow:
  1. 1.
    A mobile device has a public IP of 185.61.156.14.
  2. 2.
    Then, it routes traffic through the home computer with a public IP of 45.92.11.187.
  3. 3.
    After that, it is assigned the home computer’s IP address of 45.92.11.187.
  4. 4.
    Lastly, it reaches the internet using the public IP address of 45.92.11.187.
Traffic routing is available even when the host device is connected to a VPN server. In such cases, instead of the IP address given by the internet service provider (ISP), you will be assigned the IP address of the VPN server to which the host is connected.
Additionally, traffic routing can be chained between several devices. This means that you can route traffic through a peer device that is already routing traffic through another device.

Local network access

With local network permissions enabled, traffic routing allows you to access the local network of your host device. While traffic routing is active, your device can interact with devices on the host’s LAN. You can communicate with them using their standard local IP addresses. The devices can vary from routers and cameras to network-attached storage (NAS) systems or a home server.
To reach any device on your home network, you must first know its LAN IP address. Once you have that information, you can reach it using the same methods as if your devices were physically connected to the same network.
This feature is especially useful if you want to manage your home devices while being away. All you need is a traffic routing-capable device in the network. By routing traffic through this device, you can remotely manage all devices on your local subnet.
Diagram illustrating access to local device while routing traffic.
Using the model above as an example, you can route the internet traffic from your laptop through the computer in your home network. Then, to access the web interface of the local server, enter its LAN IP address into your internet browser, as shown:
Local IP address being entered to the URL bar of an internet browser.

Feature availability

The traffic routing feature is available on all devices that are compatible with Meshnet. However, due to technical limitations, not all devices allow internet traffic routing through them. This is why the devices are classified into two categories — hosts and clients.

Hosts

Hosts are devices that can route traffic. Traffic routing is possible through devices running the following platforms:
  • Windows 10 (64-bit) and Windows 11
  • macOS Catalina 10.15 and newer (if the app was downloaded from the NordVPN website)
  • Linux
Note
The App Store version of NordVPN doesn't provide the required functionality for your device to act as a traffic routing host.
Only the devices mentioned above will appear in the Devices in Meshnet section of the connection menu in the Windows or the macOS NordVPN app.
Meshnet peer devices available for traffic routing on the Windows application connection menu.
On iOS and Android, the host devices are displayed in Meshnet’s Route traffic menu.
Meshnet peer devices available for traffic routing in the Route traffic menu on the mobile NordVPN application.

Clients

Client devices are those that rely on host devices to route traffic. Any device using Meshnet can act as a client. All of these devices are visible on the Your devices and External devices tabs of the Meshnet menu.

Using traffic routing

To start using the Traffic routing feature, the host device owner must enable the Traffic routing through your device permission for the client device. To learn more, see Traffic routing permissions.
Windows
Android
iOS
macOS
Linux

Start routing traffic

To start routing traffic on Windows, follow these steps:
  1. 1.
    Open NordVPN and select the Meshnet
    tab.
  2. 2.
    Click the Route traffic card.
  3. 3.
    Find the host device that you want to use and click Route all traffic.
    Peer traffic routing host
Upon connecting, the peer device’s section in the traffic routing menu will change the background color from white to blue.
Traffic routing is active through a peer device
Alternatively, you can do the following:
  1. 1.
    Open NordVPN and expand the connection menu.
  2. 2.
    Locate the Devices in Meshnet section.
    Meshnet peer devices in the connection menu.
  3. 3.
    Click the device that you want to route traffic through.
Once connected, you will see the host device’s Nord name on the main application page.
Nord name of Meshnet peer device in the connection menu.
Additionally, you can check your new IP address and the ISP by hovering your mouse cursor over the Meshnet peer device icon.
New IP address and ISP shown on the NordVPN application.

Stop routing traffic

To stop traffic routing, you can use the following methods:
  • Click the Disconnect
    button on the main application page.
    Disconnect button highlighted in the connection menu.
  • Click the Stop routing button on the Meshnet
    tab.
    Stop routing button highlighted next to a Meshnet peer device.
Note
Connection pause is currently not available while routing traffic through a Meshnet peer device.

Start routing traffic

To start routing traffic on Android, follow these steps:
  1. 1.
    Open NordVPN and select the Meshnet
    tab at the bottom.
  2. 2.
    Tap Route traffic.
  3. 3.
    Find the device that you want to use as a host and tap it.
Upon establishing the connection, the peer device’s section in the traffic routing menu will change the background color from white to blue.
Route traffic menu
Alternatively, you can do the following:
  1. 1.
    Open NordVPN and tap Traffic routing.
    Traffic routing option highlighted.
  2. 2.
    Find the host device that you want to use and tap it.
Once connected, you will see the host device’s Nord name on the main application page.
Main application screen showing connection to a Meshnet peer device.

Stop routing traffic

To stop traffic routing, you can use the following methods:
  • Tap the Disconnect button on the main application page.
    Disconnect button.
  • Tap the host device in the Route traffic menu.
    Meshnet peer device highlighted in the Route traffic menu.
Note
Connection pause is currently not available while routing traffic through a Meshnet peer device.

Start routing traffic

To start routing traffic on iOS, follow these steps:
  1. 1.
    Open NordVPN and select the Meshnet
    tab at the bottom.
  2. 2.
    Tap Route traffic.
  3. 3.
    Find the host device that you want to use and tap it.
Upon establishing the connection, the device’s icon will change.
Route traffic menu.
Alternatively, you can do the following:
  1. 1.
    Open NordVPN and tap Traffic routing.
    Traffic routing option highlighted.
  2. 2.
    Find the device that you want to use as a host and tap it.
Once connected, you will see the host device’s Nord name on the main application page.
Main application screen showing connection to a Meshnet peer device.

Stop routing traffic

To stop traffic routing, you can use the following methods:
  • Tap the Disconnect button on the main application page.
    Disconnect button.
  • Tap on the host device in the Route traffic menu.
    Meshnet peer device highlighted in the Route traffic menu.
Note
Connection pause is currently not available while routing traffic through a Meshnet peer device.

Start routing traffic

To start routing traffic on macOS, follow these steps:
  1. 1.
    Open NordVPN and select the Meshnet
    tab.
  2. 2.
    Find the device that you want to use as a host and click Route all traffic.
    Clicking Route all traffic
Upon connecting, the Route all traffic label will change to Stop routing traffic.
Alternatively, you can do the following:
  1. 1.
    Open the NordVPN app.
  2. 2.
    In the connection menu, find the Devices in Meshnet section.
  3. 3.
    Select either Your devices or External devices, and click the device that you want to route traffic through.
    External Meshnet devices that allow traffic routing.
Once connected, you will see the host device’s Nord name on the main application page.
Nord name of the traffic routing host

Stop routing traffic

To stop traffic routing, you can use any of the following methods:
  • Click the Disconnect button on the main application page.
    Disconnect button highlighted.
  • Click Stop routing traffic under the host device name on the Meshnet
    tab.
    Stop routing button highlighted next to a Meshnet peer device.
Note
Connection pause is currently not available while routing traffic through a Meshnet peer device.

Start routing traffic

To start routing traffic on Linux, follow these steps:
  1. 1.
    Open the terminal.
  2. 2.
    Run the following command to list your Meshnet peers:
    nordvpn meshnet peer list
  3. 3.
    Note the Nord name of the host device you want to route traffic through.
    Nord name of a Meshnet peer device highlighted.
  4. 4.
    Run the following command, replacing <NordName> with the device’s Nord name or Meshnet IP.
    nordvpn meshnet peer connect <NordName>
    Terminal output showing successful connection to a Meshnet peer device.
You can also check the connection status by using this command:
nordvpn status
Terminal output showing the connection status of NordVPN.

Stop routing traffic

To stop traffic routing, run one of the following commands in the terminal:
nordvpn disconnect
nordvpn d

Next steps

Refer to our documentation on traffic routing use cases for further information:
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