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Edgerouter vpn site to site: complete guide to configuring EdgeRouter site-to-site VPN with IPsec, dual tunnels, and best practices

Yes, you can configure a site-to-site VPN on EdgeRouter. This guide walks you through what a site-to-site VPN is, why EdgeRouter is a solid choice, prerequisites, a step-by-step setup, troubleshooting, and practical tips to keep traffic secure and reliable. It’s written like a friendly how-to you’d follow on a weekend project, with clear commands, real-world tips, and quick checks you can run along the way.

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What this guide covers

What a site-to-site VPN does and when you’d use IPsec on EdgeRouter
Prerequisites and hardware choices for EdgeRouter
Step-by-step EdgeOS/IPsec configuration examples
How to route traffic across the VPN and test connectivity
Common pitfalls, troubleshooting, and security considerations
Optional automation, backup, and monitoring tips
A Frequently Asked Questions section with practical answers

What is a site-to-site VPN on EdgeRouter?

A site-to-site VPN creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between two networks, so devices on one side can reach devices on the other as if they were on the same LAN. On EdgeRouter EdgeOS, the most common method is IPsec Internet Protocol Security. With IPsec, you authenticate both ends, agree on encryption settings, and encapsulate traffic meant for the remote network in encrypted packets. This is ideal for interconnecting office sites, data centers, or remote facilities without exposing internal addresses to the internet.

Key benefits

Extends your network securely over the internet
Centralizes access control with your existing firewall policies
Works with dynamic WANs if you set up appropriate failover and health checks
Supports multiple tunnels and routing policies for redundancy and load-balancing

EdgeRouter is popular for site-to-site VPNs because of its affordable hardware, solid CLI/GUI, and flexible IPsec configuration options. Real-world performance varies by model, encryption, and the number of tunnels, but many deployments achieve reliable connectivity with business-grade encryption and sane throughput.

Why EdgeRouter for site-to-site VPN?

Cost-effective and feature-rich: EdgeRouter devices provide robust VPN capabilities without a pricey appliance.
Flexible firewall and routing: You can mix VPN policies with firewall rules and static routes to shape traffic precisely.
Active community and documentation: There’s a broad user base and plenty of configuration examples to learn from.
Scalable for multiple sites: It’s easy to add additional IPsec peers or failover tunnels as you grow.

Note: Actual throughput depends on the model, CPU, encryption, and negotiated tunnel parameters. Real-world speeds typically range from a few hundred Mbps to a couple of Gbps on capable EdgeRouter devices, so plan capacity accordingly.

Prerequisites and hardware considerations

Before you start, gather these basics: Vpn for edge browser a comprehensive guide to using a VPN with Microsoft Edge

EdgeRouter model with EdgeOS e.g., EdgeRouter X, EdgeRouter 4/6/12, or higher
Two network subnets you want to connect, e.g., 192.168.1.0/24 on Site A and 192.168.2.0/24 on Site B
Public IPs for both sites or a dynamic DNS setup if you don’t have fixed addresses
A pre-shared key PSK for IPsec authentication
Access to both EdgeRouter devices console or SSH for configuration

Suggested plan

Decide on IP addressing for both LANs and the remote subnet
Confirm firewall policies and NAT rules won’t block VPN traffic
Choose an IPsecIKE group IKEv1 vs IKEv2, and encryption/hash/SA lifetimes
Plan for routing: static routes or dynamic routing if you’re using OSPF/BGP inside your sites

IPsec basics you should know

IKE Internet Key Exchange handles the security association and key exchange.
IKEv2 is generally preferred for its robustness and faster rekeying. however, many EdgeRouter setups still use IKEv1 depending on the peer devices.
IPsec policies define how traffic between the two networks is encrypted.
Tunnels ipsec0, ipsec1, etc. are virtual interfaces created when an IPsec tunnel is active.
NAT traversal NAT-T helps when one or both sites are behind NAT devices.

Step-by-step: configure EdgeRouter site-to-site VPN IPsec

Below is a practical outline with example commands you can adapt. The exact commands may vary slightly depending on your EdgeOS version and the remote device. Use these as a template and replace IPs, subnets, and PSKs with your actual values.

Prerequisites

Ensure both sites have public IPs or reachable addresses
Determine local and remote subnets
Pick anIKE group and IPsec policy that both sides support

Access the EdgeRouter and enter configuration mode

Connect via SSH or console
Enter configuration mode
Example:
- configure
- set vpn ipsec ike-group IKE-PROFILE proposal 1 encryption aes128
- set vpn ipsec ike-group IKE-PROFILE proposal 1 hash sha1
- set vpn ipsec ike-group IKE-PROFILE lifetime 28800

Define the IPsec peer remote side

Replace 203.0.113.1 with the remote side’s public IP
Replace YOUR_PSKEY with your pre-shared key
- set vpn ipsec site-to-site peer 203.0.113.1 authentication mode pre-shared-secret
- set vpn ipsec site-to-site peer 203.0.113.1 authentication pre-shared-secret ‘YOUR_PSKEY’
- set vpn ipsec site-to-site peer 203.0.113.1 ike-group IKE-PROFILE
- set vpn ipsec site-to-site peer 203.0.113.1 default-profile

Define local and remote subnets for the tunnel

Local subnet is your site’s LAN, remote subnet is the other site’s LAN
- set vpn ipsec site-to-site peer 203.0.113.1 tunnel 1 local prefix 192.168.1.0/24
- set vpn ipsec site-to-site peer 203.0.113.1 tunnel 1 remote prefix 192.168.2.0/24

Create the tunnel interface and assign an IPsec tunnel

EdgeRouter creates ipsec0 or ipsec1 when the tunnel is active
Example if needed to specify: set vpn ipsec site-to-site peer 203.0.113.1 tunnel 1 local-identity address 203.0.113.2

Enable and test the tunnel

commit
save
run show vpn ipsec sa to verify security associations
If you don’t see an SA, double-check PSK, peer IP, and network prefixes

Configure routing to send remote-network traffic through the VPN

Add static routes for the remote subnet via the tunnel
- set protocols static route 192.168.2.0/24 next-hop ipsec0
Also ensure you don’t have conflicting NAT rules that would alter VPN traffic

Firewall rules to permit VPN traffic

Allow IPsec UDP 500, UDP 4500, IPsec ESP and the tunnel traffic
Example basic:
- set firewall name WAN_LOCAL to permit 500,4500,50,51
- set firewall name WAN_LOCAL rule 10 action accept
Attach the firewall to the WAN interface if needed

Optional: enable multiple tunnels for redundancy

You can configure a second peer and second tunnel for failover
Repeat the steps for the second peer with a different local/remote subnet
Use policy-based routing or route-maps to prefer primary over backup

Test connectivity

Ping from Site A to a host on Site B
Verify routes show via the VPN interface ipsec0
Check that traffic that should go through the VPN actually does

Note: The exact command syntax may differ by EdgeOS version. If you’re using a GUI approach, you’ll find the same settings under VPN -> IPsec -> Site-to-site, and you’ll still fill in peers, subnets, and PSK, just via forms instead of CLI.

Testing the VPN connection and performance

Basic checks: ping internal hosts on the remote side, check ARP on the remote network if needed.
Route validation: on Site A, confirm that the route to the remote subnet points to the ipsec0 interface.
Tunneling health: monitor the IPsec SA status and look for rekey events. Excessive rekeys can indicate aggressive lifetimes or misconfiguration.
Throughput tests: run file transfers or a VPN-focused speed test to gauge actual throughput. Expect some drop from pure WAN speed due to encryption overhead and CPU.

Tips F5 vpn client version: A Practical Guide to Updates, Compatibility, and Troubleshooting for the F5 VPN Client

If the tunnel doesn’t come up, verify PSK consistency and ensure both sides agree on the same IKE group, encryption algorithms, and lifetimes.
If you’re behind NAT, ensure NAT-T is enabled on both sides.
For dynamic IPs, use a dynamic DNS service on both ends and keep the IPs updated.

Common pitfalls and troubleshooting

Mismatched subnets: ensure the local/remote networks don’t overlap and are correctly defined on both ends.
PSK mismatch: a lot of tunnel failures come from the pre-shared secret not matching on both devices.
IKE/ESP mismatches: confirm both sides support the same encryption, hash, and DH group.
Firewall blocks: don’t forget to allow VPN-related ports and ensure the VPN traffic isn’t blocked by other firewall rules.
NAT issues: if you’re using NAT on the LAN side, ensure VPN traffic isn’t being NAT’d in ways that break remote addressing.
DNS leaks: if you rely on DNS over VPN, make sure DNS requests go through the tunnel or use internal DNS servers.

Security considerations

Use strong PSKs and, if possible, move to IKEv2 with robust encryption AES-256, SHA-2 and appropriate DH groups.
Limit tunnel access to the required subnets only. avoid wide-open remote networks.
Regularly review firewall rules to ensure only legitimate VPN traffic is allowed.
Keep EdgeRouter firmware up to date to mitigate vulnerabilities in VPN stacks.
Consider monitoring and alerting for tunnel down events and unusual traffic patterns.

Performance optimization tips

Choose a stronger EdgeRouter model if you expect multiple tunnels or high-speed requirements.
Tune SA lifetimes: longer lifetimes reduce rekey overhead but could risk longer exposure if a key is compromised.
Prefer hardware-accelerated encryption where available. AES-NI-capable devices typically perform better.
Offload VPN processing by splitting traffic or using dedicated appliances if you hit CPU limits.

NAT, routing, and more advanced topics

Static routes for remote subnets are essential if you’re not using a full dynamic routing protocol.
If you have multiple subnets on each side, plan for route summarization where possible to simplify routing tables.
For multi-site deployments, use dynamic routing OSPF/BGP inside your networks and IPsec between sites to simplify route propagation.
Consider split-tunneling if you want only specific traffic to go over the VPN instead of all traffic.

Real-world usage scenarios

Small multi-site offices connecting to a central data center
Remote branch offices linking to a corporate network for secure access to apps
Data backup and replication networks across sites with restricted exposure to the internet

Automation, backup, and monitoring

Script common tasks: back up configuration after a successful IPsec setup, automate health checks, and trigger alerts on tunnel down events.
Regularly export and store configurations so you can recover quickly after a failed update.
Use logging to monitor VPN activity, and set up alerts for failed rekeys or tunnel failures.

Monitoring and logging

Check IPsec SA status regularly via the EdgeRouter UI or CLI.
Enable logs for VPN events and review them for anomalies or frequent tunnel resets.
Use network monitoring tools to verify latency, jitter, and uptime for the VPN path.

Backup and restore

Back up EdgeRouter configurations before making major changes.
Document the exact IPs, subnets, PSKs, and peer details in a safe place.

Frequently asked questions

What is EdgeRouter and IPsec VPN?

EdgeRouter is a line of routers from Ubiquiti that runs EdgeOS, a Linux-based router operating system. IPsec VPN is a secure tunnel technology that encrypts traffic between two networks over the public internet.

Can I connect more than one remote site with a single EdgeRouter?

Yes. You can configure multiple IPsec site-to-site tunnels on an EdgeRouter, each pointing to a different remote network. You’ll manage them with separate peers and policies and can use routing to determine which tunnels handle specific subnets.

Should I use IKEv1 or IKEv2 for EdgeRouter site-to-site VPN?

IKEv2 is generally preferred for its robustness, faster rekeying, and better NAT traversal. Some legacy devices on the other end may require IKEv1. Check both sides’ capabilities and pick the common option.

How do I choose encryption and hashing settings?

Aim for strong, standard crypto like AES-256 for encryption and SHA-256 or stronger for hashing. Your DH group should balance security and performance. In practice, AES-256 with a solid SHA-2 hash and a reasonable DH group is a solid starting point.

How can I verify the tunnel is up and traffic is flowing through it?

Check the IPsec SA status on EdgeRouter
Ping hosts on the remote side and verify routes point to the VPN interface e.g., ipsec0
Look for tunnel-related firewall logs if traffic isn’t passing

Can EdgeRouter handle dynamic IP addresses on the remote site?

Yes, with dynamic DNS on the remote site and a method to update the peer’s address, you can maintain the tunnel. Some setups use a second tunnel as a fallback when the primary IP changes. How to turn off vpn on edge

How many tunnels should I use for redundancy?

Many admins configure at least two tunnels to the same remote site active/standby or load-balanced. This increases reliability in case one tunnel or ISP path fails.

What about DNS and name resolution over the VPN?

If you need private name resolution, point your remote site’s DNS to internal DNS servers reachable via the VPN. You can also configure DNS over VPN endpoints to resolve internal names across sites.

How do I troubleshoot if the tunnel won’t come up?

Double-check PSK and IKE group compatibility
Confirm that the remote IP address is reachable and not blocked
Inspect firewall rules to ensure VPN traffic is allowed
Verify that local/remote subnets don’t overlap
Rebooting or reapplying the VPN configuration can help in some corner cases

Is there a performance impact I should expect?

Yes, VPN encryption adds overhead. EdgeRouter performance depends on the model, CPU, and encryption settings. Expect some CPU overhead and potentially reduced throughput compared to unencrypted traffic, but modern edges handle most small-to-midsize business needs adequately.

Do I need to backup VPN configs separately?

Backing up your entire EdgeRouter config is standard practice, but it’s a good idea to keep notes on the IPs, subnets, PSKs, and peer details used for VPNs in a separate, secure location.

Can I use VPNs for failover with my WAN connections?

Absolutely. You can set up VPN failover with a secondary WAN path to ensure the tunnel remains active if the primary link drops. This usually involves monitoring WAN health and failover policies in EdgeOS. Does edge has a vpn and how to use a vpn with microsoft edge for privacy, security, and faster browsing

How often should I rotate IPsec keys?

Rotate keys on a defined schedule that fits your security policy. A common approach is every 6–12 months, or sooner if you suspect a leak or if you have a security incident.

Quick recap

EdgeRouter site-to-site VPN via IPsec is a solid, flexible solution for linking two networks securely over the internet.
Plan subnets, PSKs, and encryption settings carefully, and test the tunnel thoroughly before putting it into production.
Use strong security practices, monitor the VPN, and keep the EdgeRouter firmware up to date.
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If you’re ready to start, pull up your EdgeRouter’s configuration page or CLI and begin with a simple two-site tunnel using a strong IKE policy. You can always expand later with more sites, backup tunnels, and enhanced routing rules. The important thing is to get a secure, reliable tunnel up first, then optimize.

Sources and further reading

EdgeRouter IPsec site-to-site documentation EdgeOS
IPsec best practices and routing concepts for small businesses
Community guides and shareable configs for EdgeOS VPNs

Remember: the exact commands you’ll use depend on your EdgeOS version and the hardware you’re running. Use this as a solid blueprint, adapt to your environment, and you’ll have a reliable Edgerouter vpn site to site solution in no time.

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