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Community ▶ Questions ▶ Can I improve the performance of my VPN?
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Can I improve the performance of my VPN?

performance

I am a Linux and netorking noob so please forgive me if I am asking a basic question.

I have a Linode that is under the 'Linode 512' plan that I don't think is available any more. It runs CentOS 6.6. I recently followed the instructions in the Linode library about setting up a VPN. When I got it all going I ran a test through speedtest.net to compare its download speed to when I access the net just through my normal ISP (Virgin Media). Over a period of time I observed that the upload speed was always around 11.6Mbps but the download speed fluctuated wildly between 6.4Mbps and 75.9Mbps. When I access the net through my ISP only the download speed is constantly around 157Mbps and the upload around 12.2Mbps.

I would like to know if there is anything I can do to improve the performance/stability of my Linode as a VPN?

BTW - There is a pending upgrade for the Linode that will upgrade it to a 'Linode 2GB' plan.

4 Replies

If your VPN is using TCP, and supports UDP, use that instead. It provides a substantial performance boost.

try adding values to your server.conf anf client.ovpm

server:

verb 0

sndbuf 393216

rcvbuf 393216

push "sndbuf 393216"

push "rcvbuf 393216"

mssfix 1360

tcp-nodelay

tun-mtu 1500

Client.ovpn

sndbuf 393216

rcvbuf 393216

these tweaks, maximizes my connection on my openvpn.

The first thing you can do to improve performance is to take the upgrade. Not only will it quadruple your RAM and improve other specs (including networking throughput), it will put you on newer hardware (SSD, KVM). The newer hardware also has better networking.

Virgin Media do ALL sorts of weird and wonderful Traffic Shaping, UNLESS of course you are on their top package.

I would HIGHLY recommend this script to setup an OpenVPN. Its ridiculously easy.

https://github.com/Nyr/openvpn-install

Try benchmarking the fastest DNS servers to your linode. That might help also.

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