Routing traffic in Meshnet
Learn how to use the traffic routing feature of Meshnet on all compatible operating systems.
Introduction
Meshnet's traffic routing feature allows you to use another device's public IP address for your internet connection, essentially turning that device into a VPN server. With a single click, you can obtain either your home IP address or the IP address associated with your own VPN server. Additionally, while routing traffic, you can seamlessly connect to a remote local area network (LAN) and manage other devices as if you were physically present on the same network.
To familiarize yourself with the traffic routing functionality, have a look at this video:
Alternatively, the written instructions below cover the availability and functionality of the traffic routing feature and detail its usage on available systems.
How traffic routing works
When you choose to route traffic through a Meshnet peer, the selected device acts as a VPN server. Your device, which acts as the , is assigned the public IP address of the host and connects to the internet using it instead of your standard IP address. This functionality allows you to protect your connection and obtain a known, specific IP address.
To visualize this process, consider the following example illustrated in the diagram:
A phone (client) has a public IP of
185.61.156.14.Then, it routes traffic through the home computer (host) with a public IP of
45.92.11.187.As a result, the phone (client) accesses the internet using the same public IP address as the home computer,
45.92.11.187.
Note
The traffic routing connection automatically uses the same NordVPN DNS addresses (103.86.96.100 and 103.86.99.100) as a standard VPN connection. They are used for efficient query processing and to prevent DNS leaks.
Local network access possibilities
With local network permissions granted, traffic routing allows you to establish connections with other devices within the host's LAN. You can interact with the devices on the remote LAN using their original IP addresses. This networking configuration empowers you to remotely manage a variety of appliances that would otherwise be inaccessible, such as IP cameras and network-attached storage (NAS).
Using the model above as an example, while routing traffic from your laptop through the home computer, you can access the local web server using its LAN IP address, as shown:
Feature availability and device compatibility
The traffic routing feature is available on all devices compatible with Meshnet. However, due to technical constraints, only certain devices can serve as hosts.
The table below acts as a reference point to check whether your device can act as a traffic routing host or only as a client.
| Host devices | Client devices |
|---|---|
Windows | Windows |
macOS (direct download version only) | Android (including ChromeOS) |
Linux | iOS |
macOS | |
Linux | |
Android TV (including FireOS and Google TV) |
Note
The App Store version of the macOS NordVPN app doesn't provide the required functionality for your device to act as a traffic routing host.
A list of available devices you ran route traffic through is shown in the Devices in Meshnet list in the connection menu (Windows and macOS), the Devices list (Android), and the Route traffic menu (iOS).
Traffic routing caveats
Even though traffic routing opens a multitude of opportunities, it is vital to be aware of the potential situations that could arise while using this feature. When using traffic routing, be cautious that:
A client device is assigned your public IP address, which potentially could lead to illegal activities being performed under your IP.
A client device, with the Local network permissions enabled, could access other devices on your LAN and make unauthorized changes.
A host device could monitor your network activity, such as DNS queries.
See also
For guidance on using traffic routing across different platforms, refer to these articles:
For information on setting up a personal VPN server using traffic routing, explore our how-to guides in the Own VPN server setup section.
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