Introduction
This guide will create a virtual VPN router appliance using virtualisation software (such as VMware, VirtualBox, Parallels, anything that can run VMDK or RAW disk image files) that runs on a server/desktop/laptop computer. Devices such as IPTV boxes, Fire TV, Fire Sticks, Media Streamers etc can then be configured to use the virtualised router, so that all of their traffic goes over the VPN.

We STRONGLY recommend that the host computer is cabled with ethernet to your router, whilst this method can work over wifi for stability it is NOT recommended.

YOU WILL NEED

• Computer with virtualisation software
• The appropriate StreamVia disk image
• Some experience with running virtual machines
• An ethernet/network cable

This works similar to our Raspberry Pi router, in that it runs OpenWRT/LEDE, however the same performance limitations of using a Pi are NOT present here.

Overview of the process in a YouTube video below:

If you use this, we would very much appreciate some feedback, comments, etc

Step 1
Download the StreamVia custom LEDE/OpenWRT disk image for your virtualisation software:

Step 2
Configure your chosen virtualisation software, with the following minimum requirements and attach your downloaded Disk Image (above):

CPU: 1
RAM: 128MB
Network: 1 interface, bridged to the host interface, Intel type probably works best.
Disk: IDE type, not SCSI/SATA

Step 3
Boot the virtual machine


Step 4
After the VM has booted, press enter/return on the console window.


Step 5
Run the below command, make sure it has an IP address (inet addr: x.x.x.x) in the same subnet as the rest of your devices, i.e 192.168.0.x, or 192.168.1.x etc. If not, check that the virtual interface is BRIDGED (not Host only, Shared, etc) to your main host interface on the computer.

ifconfig br-lan

Step 6
Now, configure the VPN by running the below

vpnupdate

Step 7
Answer 'yes' to the question 'Do you want to update your VPN username/password?'


Step 8
You will be prompted for your StreamVia VPN username/password, available in the Client Area

Step 9
Answer 'yes' to the question 'Do you want to update your VPN server address?'


Step 10
When prompted, enter the server address you want to connect to, full list below:

Step 11
VPN will restart


Step 12
Now, to adjust your devices to use the virtual router that we have running:

• Connect a device to your existing/original wifi network
• Edit the gateway/router and DNS settings, to both point to the VM routers IP address (run ifconfig br-lan, inet addr: x.x.x.x, same as Step 5). But do NOT change the device IP nor subnet mask.
• This will cause the devices to use the virtual router for their internet gateway instead of your main broadband router, whilst still connected to your original wifi network
• Open the tester below on the device you adjusted, to make sure it is routing through the VPN

http://test.streamvia.com


Step 13
The virtual router also has a web interface, OpenWRT/LEDE LUCI for those familiar with it, you can access this by putting the 'br-lan' IP address of the VM router into your web browser. It is also possible to SSH to the same IP address. Default credentials are below:

Username: root
Password: streamvia