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ConnectionBox with RaspberryPi

What is it:

This is a project to turn rPi into VPN bridge that would work everywhere, no matter the connection, firewall etc. At the same time it should use free software and not generate any costs for the user. This project started mainly to provide a reliable, cheap access to remote PLCs. To accomplish this, there is a redundancy in VPN connections.

  • Softether - free vpn software, that's easy to use and creates totally transparent bridge VPN connection. This is the main workhorse. It's disadvantage is that it cannot connect through routers and firewalls.
  • Zerotier - free vpn software. It allows to jump through firewalls etc.
  • Hamachi - similar to zerotier, just less free.

So this is just a convenience script to facilitate setting up already available tools.

Requirements:

  • RaspberryPi with Ethernet Port and WiFi
  • You need to install Softether VPN client and Hamachi Client and/or Zerotier Client on your PC

How to use:

If rPi has a connection, that has direct line to internet and it's own IP - then great, all you need is Softether. Softether automatically generates dynamicdns address and azure gateway address.

Some disadvantage is that connection is totally transparent (VPN server = rPI is invisible in the network), so there's no way to change rPi settings or diagnose connection.

Dynamic DNS allows you to connect if rPI has direct internet connection, but no static ip.

Azure DNS allows you to jump over firewall and connect if there's no direct connection. The disadvantage is that it is very slow. We can use it only in emergency.

The DDNS and Azure DNS addresses are available if you connect to rPI with Softether Server Manager.

To overcome the softether disadvantages I've added a redundant connection through Hamachi and Zerotier services.

Additionally, to facilitate using local WiFi networks, comitup is installed.

If it doesn't find any known network, it creates accesspoint (SSID: connectionBox-XX). When connected to this AP, on http://10.42.0.1 you will find website, that allows to easily connect to picked network.

So, if everything is configured the usage is as follows:

  1. Connect rPI with ethernet cable to destination network
  2. Use usb LTE modem, or use comitup to connect rPi to WiFi network
  3. Connect your PC to hamachi/zerotier network
  4. Connect your PC to VPN with Softether Client Manager. Use either DDNS address, hamachi/zerotier IP, azure address, or hostname (rPIConnectionBox).
  5. If you use virtual machine to connect to PLC, then bridge virtual machine network with softether vpn network.

Installation and configuration:

  1. Etch pure RASPBIAN on rPi and initialize system and SSH, connect to internet.

To initialize SSH create empty file "ssh" on boot partition

  1. Connect to rPI and execute in terminal

    wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dlugaz/RaspberryPiconnectBox/master/connectionBox.sh; chmod +x ./connectionBox.sh;sudo ./connectionBox.sh

  2. Follow the instructions.

  3. Turn on Raspberry. A new WiFi network should appear - connectionBox-XX.

  4. Connect to rPi via WiFi or Ethernet.

  5. Use Softether configuration tool to further configure/customize VPN on rPi.