How to Configure and Use NordVPN on OPNsense

If your router runs on OPNsense firmware, you may have a hard time installing NordVPN on it as the process is quite complicated. But fret not! We've provided a complete step-by-step guide to help you easily configure NordVPN on OPNsense. And this guide is applicable for all the routers running OPNsense version 19.1 or newer. So have a look.

1. First, visit the NordVPN website.

2. Next, click the Grab the Deal button and choose a VPN subscription on the upcoming page.

3. Now, enter your payment details to complete the purchase.

4. Once done, wait for a confirmation on your subscription.

5. As soon as you get that, click here to find out the right hostname for the VPN server in your preferred location.

6. Then, access OPNsense via your browser.

7. Next, navigate to System: Trust: Authorities and hit the +Add button.

8. Now, fill in the details mentioned below.

Descriptive Name: The server hostname
Method: Choose Import an existing Certificate Authority
Certificate data: Copy the below content and paste it here-

Certificate Private Key: Leave it blank
Serial for next certificate: Set it as default

9. Press the Save button next.

10. Now, navigate to VPN> OpenVPN> Clients and click the +Add button.

11. Then, fill in the information mentioned below.

General Information

Disabled: Unchecked
Description: Enter any name
Server mode: Choose Peer to Peer (SSL/TLS)
Protocol: Select UDP4 (you can also use TCP4);
Device mode: Choose tun
Interface: Set as any
Remote server:
Host or address: The hostname of the server you're going to use
Port: 1194 (use 443 in case you use TCP)
Retry DNS resolution: Check the box
Proxy host or address: Leave it blank
Proxy port: Leave blank
Proxy authentication extra options: Choose None

User Authentication Settings

User name/pass:
Username: NordVPN service name
Password: NordVPN service password

Note

You've to enter your NordVPN service credentials here. You can find that in your NordVPN online account dashboard; under Advanced configuration.

Renegotiate time: Blank

User Authentication Settings for NordVPN on OPNsense

Cryptographic Settings

TLS Authentication: Enabled - Authentication only
TLS Shared Key: Copy the content below and paste in this field-

-----BEGIN OpenVPN Static key V1-----
e685bdaf659a25a200e2b9e39e51ff03
0fc72cf1ce07232bd8b2be5e6c670143
f51e937e670eee09d4f2ea5a6e4e6996
5db852c275351b86fc4ca892d78ae002
d6f70d029bd79c4d1c26cf14e9588033
cf639f8a74809f29f72b9d58f9b8f5fe
fc7938eade40e9fed6cb92184abb2cc1
0eb1a296df243b251df0643d53724cdb
5a92a1d6cb817804c4a9319b57d53be5
80815bcfcb2df55018cc83fc43bc7ff8
2d51f9b88364776ee9d12fc85cc7ea5b
9741c4f598c485316db066d52db4540e
212e1518a9bd4828219e24b20d88f598
a196c9de96012090e333519ae18d3509
9427e7b372d348d352dc4c85e18cd4b9
3f8a56ddb2e64eb67adfc9b337157ff4
-----END OpenVPN Static key V1-----

Peer Certificate Authority: Choose the CA file available for your NordVPN browser
Client Certificate: Select None (Username and Password required);
Encryption Algorithm: AES-256-GCM
Auth Digest Algorithm: SHA512

Cryptographic Settings for NordVPN on OPNsense

Tunnel Settings

IPv4 tunnel network: Blank
IPv6 tunnel network: Blank
IPv4 remote network: Blank
IPv6 remote network: Blank
Limit outgoing bandwidth: Blank
Compression: Legacy - Disabled LZO algorithm (--comp-lzo no)
Type-of-service: Unchecked
Don’t pull routes: Unchecked
Don’t add/remove routes: Check the box

Advanced Configuration

Advanced: Copy the below content and paste it into this section-

remote-random;
tun-mtu 1500;
tun-mtu-extra 32;
mssfix 1450;
persist-key;
persist-tun;
reneg-sec 0;
remote-cert-tls server;

Verbosity level: Set it to 3

Advanced configuration for NordVPN on OPNsense

12. Once done, click Save.

13. Navigate to Interfaces: Assignments and click the + button next to New Interface (It'll be ovpnc1 by default)

14. Click OPT1 now to edit the interface.

15. Next, click Enable Interface and make the following changes under General configuration:

Description: Anything you want
Block private networks: Unchecked
Block bogon networks: Unchecked
IPv4 Configuration Type: None
IPv6 Configuration Type: None
MAC address: Blank
MTU: Blank
MSS: Blank

16. No need to change the DHCP client configuration, so click Save.

17. Now, click the Apply changes button.

18. Navigate to Services; then click Unbound DNS, and go to General.

19. Next, fill in the details mentioned below.

Enable: Check
Listen port: 53
Network Interfaces: All
DNSSEC: Uncheck
DHCP Registration: Check
DHCP Domain Override: Blank
DHCP Static Mappings: Check
IPv6 Link-local: Unchecked
TXT Comment Support: Unchecked
DNS Query Forwarding: Check
Local Zone Type: Transparent
Custom options: Blank
Outgoing Network Interfaces: Name your OpenVPN interface
WPAD Records: Unchecked

20. Click the Save button next and choose Apply changes.

21. Navigate to Services> Unbound DNS> Advanced after that and check the following options:

Hide Identity
Hide Version
Prefetch Support
Prefetch DNS Key Support

22. Next, leave anything else at default and click Save, then Apply Settings.

23. Now, move to Firewall> NAT> Outbound and choose Hybrid outbound NAT rule generation (automatically generated rules are applied after manual rules).

24. Then, click Save and select Apply Changes.

25. You've to hit the +Add button at the top of the edit menu and choose Interface as NordVPN.

26. Leave everything else at default and click Save, then choose Apply Changes.

27. Now, you need to move to Firewall> Rules> LAN and delete the IPv6 rule.

28. Click the edit button right beside IPv4 and move down to Advanced features next.

29. You've to select the Gateway as the NordVPN server name next and click the Save button.

30. After that, click the +Add button and change the Source to LAN net and Destination to LAN Address.

31. You don't need to change anything else; click the Save button and choose Apply Changes.

32. Locate System> Settings> General next and make the following changes-

Under Networking, check the option, Prefer IPv4 over IPv6
DNS servers:
103.86.96.100, Use gateway: none
103.86.99.100, Use gateway: none

Networking set up to Use NordVPN on OPNsense

33. For DNS server options, uncheck the box next to Allow DNS server list to be overridden by DHCP/PPP on WAN.

34. Click the Save button next and choose Apply Changes.

35. Navigate to System> Gateways> Single next, edit the server name, and click Disabled.

36. Then, click Save and choose Apply Changes.

37. When done, navigate to VPN> OpenVPN> Connection Status; the service should be 'up.'

38. Now, restart the connection to assign OpenVPN Virtual Address to the interface.

39. You can confirm that NordVPN has an IP number by moving to Lobby>Dashboard.

That's all! Now you know how to configure and use NordVPN on OPNsense. If you have further queries, leave us a comment through the below button. Thanks for reading!