How to Configure & Use NordVPN on pfSense 2.4.5

pfSense 2.4.5 offers unified threat management that keeps you safe online. But, any privacy-conscious user would couple it with the VPN security. NordVPN renders an advanced level of security services, and its OpenVPN client can be easily run on pfSense firmware-based routers. Here we've prepared a step-by-step guide to help you configure and use NordVPN on pfSense 2.4.5. Have a look.

Note

If you're using pfSense 2.4.4, check this guide. And, pfSense 2.5 users can follow this NordVPN installation guide.

1. First, visit the NordVPN website.

2. Then, hit the Grab the Deal button and pick a subscription on the next page.

3. You need to enter your payment information to complete the purchase.

4. Once done, you'll get a confirmation on your subscription.

5. Next, visit your pfSense router's web page and navigate to System> Certificate Manager> CAs and click the +Add button.

6. You need to note the server hostname to perform further steps; click here to find the dedicated IP for your preferred server location.

7. Next, fill in the details mentioned below-

Descriptive Name: Any name
Method: Import an existing Certificate Authority
Certificate data:

8. Now, click Save.

9. Move to VPN> OpenVPN> Clients after that and press +Add.

10. Then, enter the below-mentioned details-

Disable this client: Uncheck
Server mode: Peer to Peer (SSL/TLS)
Protocol: UDP on IPv4 only (Alternatively, you can use TCP)
Device mode: tun – Layer 3 Tunnel Mode
Interface: WAN
Local port: Blank
Server host or address: The hostname of your preferred server
Server port: 1194 (Select 443 for TCP)
Proxy host or address: Blank
Proxy port: Blank
Proxy Authentication: None
Description: Any name

User Authentication Settings

Username: Your NordVPN service name
Password: NordVPN service password

Note

You can find your NordVPN service credentials in your online account dashboard, right under the Advanced configuration tab.

Authentication Retry: Uncheck

Cryptographic Settings

TLS Configuration: Check Use a TLS Key; Uncheck Automatically generate a TLS key
TLS Key:

-----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-----

TLS Key Usage Mode: TLS Authentication
TLS keydir direction: Use default direction
Peer certificate authority: NordVPN_CA
Peer Certificate Revocation list: No need to define
Client certificate: Choose webConfigurator default (59f92214095d8) (Server: Yes, In Use)
Encryption Algorithm: AES-256-GCM
Enable NCP: Check
NCP Algorithms: AES-256-GCM and AES-256-CBC
Auth digest algorithm: SHA512 (512-bit)
Hardware Crypto: No Hardware Crypto Acceleration

Tunnel Settings

IPv4 tunnel network: Blank
IPv6 tunnel network: Blank
IPv4 remote network(s): Blank
IPv6 remote network(s): Blank
Limit outgoing bandwidth: Blank
Compression: No LZO Compression [Legacy style,comp-lzo no]
Topology: Subnet – One IP address per client in a common subnet
Type-of-Service: Uncheck
Don’t pull routes: Uncheck
Don’t add/remove routes: Check

Advanced Configuration

Custom Options:

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

UDP FAST I/O: Uncheck
Exit Notify: Disabled
Send/Receive Buffer: Default
Gateway creation: IPv4 only
Verbosity level: 3 (recommended)

11. Next, move on to Interfaces> Interface Assignments and hit the Add button to include the NordVPN interface.

12. After that, click the OPT1 option and fill the below information in the assigned interface-

Enable: Check
Description: NordVPN
Mac Address: Blank
MTU: Blank
MSS: Blank

13. No need to change anything else; just click Save.

14. Now, locate Services> DNS Resolver> General Settings.

15. Enter the below details now-

Enable: Check
Listen port: Leave unchanged
Enable SSL/TLS Service: Uncheck
SSL/TLS Certificate: webConfigurator default (59f92214095d8) (Server: Yes, In Use)
SSL/TLS Listen Port: Leave as is
Network Interfaces: All
Outgoing Network Interfaces: NORDVPN
System Domains Local Zone Type: Transparent
DNSSEC: Uncheck
Python Module: Uncheck
DNS Query Forwarding: Check Enable forwarding mode; Uncheck Use SSL/TLS for outgoing DNS Queries to Forwarding Servers
DHCP Registration: Check
Static DHCP: Check
OpenVPN Clients: Uncheck

16. Click Save once done.

17. Move to DNS Resolver next and select the Advanced Settings tab.

18. Fill this field with the below information-

Advanced Privacy Options

Hide Identity: Check
Hide Version: Check
Query Name Minimization: Uncheck
Strict Query Name Minimization: Uncheck

Advanced Resolver Options

Prefetch Support: Check
Prefetch DNS Key Support: Check
Harden DNSSEC Data: Uncheck

19. No need to change other options, just press Save.

20. Move to Firewall> NAT> Outbound and choose Manual Outbound NAT rule generation.

21. Click Save now, and all 6 rules of IPv6 will appear.

22. You need to delete all the rules and add a new one.

23. For the new rule, the Interface will be NordVPN, and the Source will be your LAN subnet, i.e., 192.168.2.0/24.

24. Click the Save button now and navigate to Firewall> Rules> LAN.

25. You've to delete the IPv6 rule now and edit the IPv4 rule.

26. To edit that, click Show Advanced Options and change the Gateway to NordVPN.

27. Next, click Save and move to System> General Setup.

28. Now, enter the primary and secondary server as follows-

DNS Server 1: 103.86.96.100; none
DNS Server 2: 103.86.99.100; NordVPN_VPNV4 - opt1 - ...

29. Then, hit the Save button.

30. Finally, move to Status> OpenVPN, and the VPN services should be up.

That’s all! Now you know how to configure and use NordVPN on pfSense 2.4.5. If you have further queries, drop us a comment through the below button. Thanks for reading!