Exploring MikroTik Router Wireless Features For VPN Deployments

So, you want to learn how to set up a VPN in your Mikrotik router for remote access, eh? Well, my friend, you've come to the right place. I'm going to walk you through all the steps you need to take to get that VPN up and running, because let's face it, sometimes you just need to access your home network when you're out and about in the world. And what better way to do it than by using a VPN?

A helpful image to aid in setting up your VPN in Mikrotik Router for Remote Access

Alright, let's get started. Here's what you need to do:

Step 1: Set up the VPN Server

The first thing you need to do is set up a VPN server on your Mikrotik router. To do this, you need to log in to your router, navigate to the "PPP" tab and select "Interface". Then, create a new PPP interface and configure it as a "Server".

Once you've created the new interface, you need to configure the server settings. You can do this by navigating to the "PPP" tab and selecting "Profiles". Here, you need to create a new profile and specify the following parameters:

Local Address: The IP address assigned to your router.
Remote Address: The IP address range to be assigned to VPN clients. This should be a different subnet than the one used by your router's LAN.
DNS Servers: The DNS servers to be assigned to VPN clients.
Authentication: Choose the authentication method you want to use (I recommend using "MSCHAP v2" for stronger security).
Encryption: Choose the encryption algorithm you want to use (I recommend using "AES-256-CBC" for stronger security).

Once you've configured the server settings, save the profile and activate the server.

Step 2: Set up the VPN Client

Now that you've set up the VPN server, it's time to configure a client to connect to it. To do this, you need to create a new PPP interface on your Mikrotik router and configure it as a "Client".

Once you've created the new interface, configure the client settings. You can do this by navigating to the "PPP" tab and selecting "Profiles". Here, you need to create a new profile and specify the following parameters:

Remote Address: The IP address of the VPN server you just set up.
Authentication: Choose the authentication method you used for the server.
Encryption: Choose the encryption algorithm you used for the server.

Once you've configured the client settings, save the profile and activate the client.

Step 3: Configure Firewall Rules

Now that you've set up the VPN server and client, it's time to configure your router's firewall to allow VPN traffic. To do this, you need to create a new firewall rule that allows traffic to and from the VPN server.

You can do this by navigating to the "IP" tab and selecting "Firewall". Here, you need to create a new rule that allows traffic from the VPN client interface to the VPN server interface, and vice versa.

Once you've created the firewall rule, activate it and save your changes.

Step 4: Test the VPN Connection

Now that you've set up your VPN server and client, and configured your firewall, it's time to test the connection to make sure everything is working properly.

To do this, simply connect to your VPN client from a remote device and try accessing resources on your home network. If you're able to access your home network resources, then congratulations! You've successfully set up a VPN in your Mikrotik router for remote access.

So there you have it, my friend. Setting up a VPN in your Mikrotik router for remote access may seem like a daunting task, but if you follow these steps, you'll be up and running in no time. Now go forth and access your home network from wherever you may roam!