Using remote access on Plex with a Qnap nas with a VPN applied

VPN
1

Howdy,

Would love a tech guru to help me out with this really annoying problem I’m having.

I’m going to try my best to explain everything below.

-So I’m running a Plex server from my QNAP NAS TS-464.

  • I also have my NordVPN applied to my NAS for security.
  • in order to maximize the quality for my Plex content I have to establish a direct connection to my server. I did this by port forwarding within my router to give it direct access and everything works fantastic.
  • the issue is that when I connect to my VPN on the server the direct remote access doesn’t work anymore.

I’ve heard of split tunneling and such but I’m not super technical and don’t know how to do this. If not through split tunneling is there any way I can have this direct access connection from my server to my router with port forwarding and my VPN enabled?!

I’d really appreciate any help

2

Use containers. Put the container behind the VPN but not the whole nas.

3

Can you specify what NordVPN is used for ?

Generally paid VPN providers are for hiding your identity when doing legally questionable stuff (e.g. downloading torrents) or circumventing geoblocking … they do not improve security (although they love to have influencers repeat this nonsense)

4

So basically what everyone is saying, but le me ELI5, your nas can have nord setup so it’s a client and then OpenVPN as a server both at the same time, you can use the client for things as the others are saying and the server so you can remote into your nas safely and free, you do have to open the one port as you said.

5

Crazy ask but could u teach me how to do that? I don’t really know how to do containerization

6

Hmmm I was under the impression it would increase security. Not doing anything legally questionable. More so to negate the risk of anyone hacking into my server

7

For that (secure access) you setup a VPN server on your router or a dedicated appliance (costst no monthly fee), then you can access your NAS from WAN.

Putting your Plex install behind a random NordVPN tunnel will have no benefits*.

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*NordVPN has meshnet that can be used as an external VPN endpoint (if self hosting is not possible e.g. CGNat) but you would have to check if your account has that feature