# Gluetun VPN client
*Lightweight swiss-knife-like VPN client to tunnel to Private Internet Access,
Mullvad, Windscribe, Surfshark Cyberghost, VyprVPN and NordVPN VPN servers, using Go, OpenVPN,
iptables, DNS over TLS, ShadowSocks and Tinyproxy*
**ANNOUNCEMENT**: *[Video of the Git history of Gluetun](https://youtu.be/khipOYJtGJ0)*
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Click to show base components
- [Alpine 3.12](https://alpinelinux.org) for a tiny image (37MB of packages, 6.7MB of Go binary and 5.6MB for Alpine)
- [OpenVPN 2.4.9](https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/package/v3.11/main/x86_64/openvpn) to tunnel to your VPN provider servers
- [IPtables 1.8.4](https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/package/v3.11/main/x86_64/iptables) enforces the container to communicate only through the VPN or with other containers in its virtual network (acts as a killswitch)
- [Unbound 1.10.1](https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/package/v3.11/main/x86_64/unbound) configured with Cloudflare's [1.1.1.1](https://1.1.1.1) DNS over TLS (configurable with 5 different providers)
- [Files and blocking lists built periodically](https://github.com/qdm12/updated/tree/master/files) used with Unbound (see `BLOCK_MALICIOUS`, `BLOCK_SURVEILLANCE` and `BLOCK_ADS` environment variables)
- [TinyProxy 1.10.0](https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/package/v3.11/main/x86_64/tinyproxy)
- [Shadowsocks 3.3.4](https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/package/edge/testing/x86/shadowsocks-libev)
## Features
- Based on Alpine 3.12 for a small Docker image of 52MB
- Supports **Private Internet Access**, **Mullvad**, **Windscribe**, **Surfshark**, **Cyberghost**, **Vyprvpn** and **NordVPN** servers
- DNS over TLS baked in with service provider(s) of your choice
- DNS fine blocking of malicious/ads/surveillance hostnames and IP addresses, with live update every 24 hours
- Choose the vpn network protocol, `udp` or `tcp`
- Built in firewall kill switch to allow traffic only with needed the VPN servers and LAN devices
- Built in SOCKS5 proxy (Shadowsocks, tunnels TCP+UDP)
- Built in HTTP proxy (Tinyproxy, tunnels TCP)
- [Connect other containers to it](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker#connect-to-it)
- [Connect LAN devices to it](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker#connect-to-it)
- Compatible with amd64, i686 (32 bit), **ARM** 64 bit, ARM 32 bit v6 and v7 🎆
### VPN provider specifics
- **Private Internet Access**: pick the [region](https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/network/), the level of encryption and enable port forwarding
- **Mullvad**: Pick the [country, city and ISP](https://mullvad.net/en/servers/#openvpn) and optionally a custom port to use (i.e. `53` (udp) or `80` (tcp))
- **Windscribe**: Pick the [region](https://windscribe.com/status), and optionally a custom port to use
- **Surfshark**: Pick the [region](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/wiki/Surfshark) or a multi hop region name
- **Cyberghost**: Pick the [region](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/wiki/Cyberghost) and server group.
- **VyprVPN**: Pick the [region](https://www.vyprvpn.com/server-locations), port forwarding works by default
- **NordVPN**: Pick the region and optionally the server number
### Extra niche features
- Possibility of split horizon DNS by selecting multiple DNS over TLS providers
- Subprograms all drop root privileges once launched
- Subprograms output streams are all merged together
- Can work as a Kubernetes sidecar container, thanks @rorph
## Setup
1. Requirements
- A VPN account with one of the service providers:
- Private Internet Access: **username** and **password** ([sign up](https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/buy-vpn/))
- Mullvad: user ID ([sign up](https://mullvad.net/en/account/))
- Windscribe: **username** and **password** | Signup up using my affiliate link below
[](https://windscribe.com/?affid=mh7nyafu)
- Surfshark: **username** and **password** ([sign up](https://order.surfshark.com/))
- Cyberghost: **username**, **password** and **device client key file** ([sign up](https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_US/buy/cyberghost-vpn-4))
- Vyprvpn: **username** and **password**
- NordVPN: **username** and **password**
- If you have a host or router firewall, please refer [to the firewall documentation](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/blob/master/doc/firewall.md)
1. On some devices you may need to setup your tunnel kernel module on your host with `insmod /lib/modules/tun.ko` or `modprobe tun`
- *Synology users*: please read [this part of the Wiki](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/wiki/Common-issues#synology)
1. Launch the container with:
```bash
docker run -d --name gluetun --cap-add=NET_ADMIN \
-e REGION="CA Montreal" -e USER=js89ds7 -e PASSWORD=8fd9s239G \
qmcgaw/private-internet-access
```
or use [docker-compose.yml](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/blob/master/docker-compose.yml) with:
```bash
docker-compose up -d
```
Note that you can:
- Change the many [environment variables](#environment-variables) available
- Use `-p 8888:8888/tcp` to access the HTTP web proxy (and put your LAN in `EXTRA_SUBNETS` environment variable, in example `192.168.1.0/24`)
- Use `-p 8388:8388/tcp -p 8388:8388/udp` to access the SOCKS5 proxy (and put your LAN in `EXTRA_SUBNETS` environment variable, in example `192.168.1.0/24`)
- Use `-p 8000:8000/tcp` to access the [HTTP control server](#HTTP-control-server) built-in
**If you encounter an issue with the tun device not being available, see [the FAQ](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/blob/master/doc/faq.md#how-to-fix-openvpn-failing-to-start)**
1. You can update the image with `docker pull qmcgaw/private-internet-access:latest`. See the [wiki](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/wiki/Common-issues#use-a-release-tag) for more information on other tags available.
## Testing
Check the VPN IP address matches your expectations
```sh
docker run --rm --network=container:gluetun alpine:3.12 wget -qO- https://ipinfo.io
```
Want more testing? ▶ [see the Wiki](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/wiki/Testing)
## Environment variables
**TLDR**; only set the 🏁 marked environment variables to get started.
### VPN
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🏁 `VPNSP` | `private internet access` | `private internet access`, `mullvad`, `windscribe`, `surfshark`, `vyprvpn`, `nordvpn` | VPN Service Provider |
| `IP_STATUS_FILE` | `/ip` | Any filepath | Filepath to store the public IP address assigned |
| `PROTOCOL` | `udp` | `udp` or `tcp` | Network protocol to use |
| `OPENVPN_VERBOSITY` | `1` | `0` to `6` | Openvpn verbosity level |
| `OPENVPN_ROOT` | `no` | `yes` or `no` | Run OpenVPN as root |
| `OPENVPN_TARGET_IP` | | Valid IP address | Specify a target VPN server (or gateway) IP address to use |
| `OPENVPN_CIPHER` | | i.e. `aes-256-gcm` | Specify a custom cipher to use. It will also set `ncp-disable` if using AES GCM for PIA |
| `OPENVPN_AUTH` | | i.e. `sha256` | Specify a custom auth algorithm to use |
- Private Internet Access
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🏁 `USER` | | | Your username |
| 🏁 `PASSWORD` | | | Your password |
| `REGION` | `Austria` | One of the [PIA regions](https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/network/) | VPN server region |
| `PIA_ENCRYPTION` | `strong` | `normal`, `strong` | Encryption preset |
| `PORT_FORWARDING` | `off` | `on`, `off` | Enable port forwarding on the VPN server |
| `PORT_FORWARDING_STATUS_FILE` | `/forwarded_port` | Any filepath | Filepath to store the forwarded port number |
- Mullvad
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🏁 `USER` | | | Your user ID |
| `COUNTRY` | `Sweden` | One of the [Mullvad countries](https://mullvad.net/en/servers/#openvpn) | VPN server country |
| `CITY` | | One of the [Mullvad cities](https://mullvad.net/en/servers/#openvpn) | VPN server city |
| `ISP` | | One of the [Mullvad ISP](https://mullvad.net/en/servers/#openvpn) | VPN server ISP |
| `PORT` | | `80` or `443` for TCP; or `53` for UDP. Leave blank for default Mullvad server port | Custom VPN port to use |
- Windscribe
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🏁 `USER` | | | Your username |
| 🏁 `PASSWORD` | | | Your password |
| `REGION` | `Austria` | One of the [Windscribe regions](https://windscribe.com/status) | VPN server region |
| `PORT` | | One from the [this list of ports](https://windscribe.com/getconfig/openvpn) | Custom VPN port to use |
- Surfshark
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🏁 `USER` | | | Your **service** username, found at the bottom of the [manual setup page](https://account.surfshark.com/setup/manual) |
| 🏁 `PASSWORD` | | | Your **service** password |
| `REGION` | `Austria` | One of the [Surfshark regions (subdomains)](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/wiki/surfshark) | VPN server region |
- Cyberghost
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🏁 `USER` | | | Your username |
| 🏁 `PASSWORD` | | | Your password |
| 🏁 `CLIENT_KEY` | | | Your device client key content, **see below** |
| `REGION` | `Austria` | One of the [Cyberghost countries](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/wiki/Cyberghost#regions) | VPN server country |
| `CYBERGHOST_GROUP` | `Premium UDP Europe` | One of the [server groups](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/wiki/Cyberghost#server-groups) | Server group |
To specify your client key, you can either:
- Bind mount it at `/files/client.key`, for example with `-v /yourpath/client.key:/files/client.key:ro`
- Convert it to a single line value using:
```sh
docker run -it --rm -v /yourpath/client.key:/files/client.key:ro qmcgaw/private-internet-access clientkey
```
And use the line produced as the value for the environment variable `CLIENT_KEY`.
- Vyprvpn
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🏁 `USER` | | | Your username |
| 🏁 `PASSWORD` | | | Your password |
| `REGION` | `Austria` | One of the [VyprVPN regions](https://www.vyprvpn.com/server-locations) | VPN server region |
- NordVPN
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🏁 `USER` | | | Your username |
| 🏁 `PASSWORD` | | | Your password |
| 🏁 `REGION` | `Austria` (wrong) | One of the NordVPN server country, i.e. `Switzerland` | VPN server country |
| `SERVER_NUMBER` | | Server integer number | Optional server number. For example `251` for `Italy #251` |
### DNS over TLS
None of the following values are required.
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `DOT` | `on` | `on`, `off` | Activate DNS over TLS with Unbound |
| `DOT_PROVIDERS` | `cloudflare` | `cloudflare`, `google`, `quad9`, `quadrant`, `cleanbrowsing`, `securedns`, `libredns` | Comma delimited list of DNS over TLS providers |
| `DOT_CACHING` | `on` | `on`, `off` | Unbound caching |
| `DOT_IPV6` | `off` | `on`, `off` | DNS IPv6 resolution |
| `DOT_PRIVATE_ADDRESS` | All private CIDRs ranges | | Comma separated list of CIDRs or single IP addresses Unbound won't resolve to. Note that the default setting prevents DNS rebinding |
| `DOT_VERBOSITY` | `1` | `0` to `5` | Unbound verbosity level |
| `DOT_VERBOSITY_DETAILS` | `0` | `0` to `4` | Unbound details verbosity level |
| `DOT_VALIDATION_LOGLEVEL` | `0` | `0` to `2` | Unbound validation log level |
| `DNS_UPDATE_PERIOD` | `24h` | i.e. `0`, `30s`, `5m`, `24h` | Period to update block lists and cryptographic files and restart Unbound. Set to `0` to deactivate updates |
| `BLOCK_MALICIOUS` | `on` | `on`, `off` | Block malicious hostnames and IPs with Unbound |
| `BLOCK_SURVEILLANCE` | `off` | `on`, `off` | Block surveillance hostnames and IPs with Unbound |
| `BLOCK_ADS` | `off` | `on`, `off` | Block ads hostnames and IPs with Unbound |
| `UNBLOCK` | |i.e. `domain1.com,x.domain2.co.uk` | Comma separated list of domain names to leave unblocked with Unbound |
| `DNS_PLAINTEXT_ADDRESS` | `1.1.1.1` | Any IP address | IP address to use as DNS resolver if `DOT` is `off` |
| `DNS_KEEP_NAMESERVER` | `off` | `on` or `off` | Keep the nameservers in /etc/resolv.conf untouched, but disabled DNS blocking features |
### Firewall
That one is important if you want to connect to the container from your LAN for example, using Shadowsocks or Tinyproxy.
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `FIREWALL` | `on` | `on` or `off` | Turn on or off the container built-in firewall. You should use it for **debugging purposes** only. |
| `EXTRA_SUBNETS` | | i.e. `192.168.1.0/24,192.168.10.121,10.0.0.5/28` | Comma separated subnets allowed in the container firewall |
| `FIREWALL_DEBUG` | `off` | `on` or `off` | Prints every firewall related command. You should use it for **debugging purposes** only. |
### Shadowsocks
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `SHADOWSOCKS` | `off` | `on`, `off` | Enable the internal SOCKS5 proxy Shadowsocks |
| `SHADOWSOCKS_LOG` | `off` | `on`, `off` | Enable logging |
| `SHADOWSOCKS_PORT` | `8388` | `1024` to `65535` | Internal port number for Shadowsocks to listen on |
| `SHADOWSOCKS_PASSWORD` | | | Password to use to connect to Shadowsocks |
| `SHADOWSOCKS_METHOD` | `chacha20-ietf-poly1305` | One of [these ciphers](https://shadowsocks.org/en/config/quick-guide.html) | Method to use for Shadowsocks |
### Tinyproxy
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `TINYPROXY` | `off` | `on`, `off` | Enable the internal HTTP proxy tinyproxy |
| `TINYPROXY_LOG` | `Info` | `Info`, `Connect`, `Notice`, `Warning`, `Error`, `Critical` | Tinyproxy log level |
| `TINYPROXY_PORT` | `8888` | `1024` to `65535` | Internal port number for Tinyproxy to listen on |
| `TINYPROXY_USER` | | | Username to use to connect to Tinyproxy |
| `TINYPROXY_PASSWORD` | | | Password to use to connect to Tinyproxy |
### System
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `TZ` | | i.e. `Europe/London` | Specify a timezone to use to have correct log times |
| `UID` | `1000` | | User ID to run as non root and for ownership of files written |
| `GID` | `1000` | | Group ID to run as non root and for ownership of files written |
### Other
| Variable | Default | Choices | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `PUBLICIP_PERIOD` | `12h` | Valid duration | Period to check for public IP address. Set to `0` to disable. |
## Connect to it
There are various ways to achieve this, depending on your use case.
- Connect containers in the same docker-compose.yml as Gluetun
Add `network_mode: "service:gluetun"` to your *docker-compose.yml* (no need for `depends_on`)
- Connect other containers to Gluetun
Add `--network=container:gluetun` when launching the container, provided Gluetun is already running
- Connect containers from another docker-compose.yml
Add `network_mode: "container:gluetun"` to your *docker-compose.yml*, provided Gluetun is already running
- Connect LAN devices through the built-in HTTP proxy *Tinyproxy* (i.e. with Chrome, Kodi, etc.)
You might want to use Shadowsocks instead which tunnels UDP as well as TCP, whereas Tinyproxy only tunnels TCP.
1. Setup a HTTP proxy client, such as [SwitchyOmega for Chrome](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/proxy-switchyomega/padekgcemlokbadohgkifijomclgjgif?hl=en)
1. Ensure the Gluetun container is launched with:
- port `8888` published `-p 8888:8888/tcp`
- your LAN subnet, i.e. `192.168.1.0/24`, set as `-e EXTRA_SUBNETS=192.168.1.0/24`
1. With your HTTP proxy client, connect to the Docker host (i.e. `192.168.1.10`) on port `8888`. You need to enter your credentials if you set them with `TINYPROXY_USER` and `TINYPROXY_PASSWORD`.
1. If you set `TINYPROXY_LOG` to `Info`, more information will be logged in the Docker logs
- Connect LAN devices through the built-in SOCKS5 proxy *Shadowsocks* (per app, system wide, etc.)
1. Setup a SOCKS5 proxy client, there is a list of [ShadowSocks clients for **all platforms**](https://shadowsocks.org/en/download/clients.html)
- **note** some clients do not tunnel UDP so your DNS queries will be done locally and not through Gluetun and its built in DNS over TLS
- Clients that support such UDP tunneling are, as far as I know:
- iOS: Potatso Lite
- OSX: ShadowsocksX
- Android: Shadowsocks by Max Lv
1. Ensure the Gluetun container is launched with:
- port `8388` published `-p 8388:8388/tcp -p 8388:8388/udp`
- your LAN subnet, i.e. `192.168.1.0/24`, set as `-e EXTRA_SUBNETS=192.168.1.0/24`
1. With your SOCKS5 proxy client
- Enter the Docker host (i.e. `192.168.1.10`) as the server IP
- Enter port TCP (and UDP, if available) `8388` as the server port
- Use the password you have set with `SHADOWSOCKS_PASSWORD`
- Choose the encryption method/algorithm to the method you specified in `SHADOWSOCKS_METHOD`
1. If you set `SHADOWSOCKS_LOG` to `on`, (a lot) more information will be logged in the Docker logs
- Access ports of containers connected to Gluetun
In example, to access port `8000` of container `xyz` and `9000` of container `abc` connected to Gluetun,
publish ports `8000` and `9000` for the Gluetun container and access them as you would with any other container
- Access ports of containers connected to Gluetun, all in the same docker-compose.yml
In example, to access port `8000` of container `xyz` and `9000` of container `abc` connected to Gluetun, publish port `8000` and `9000` for the Gluetun container.
The docker-compose.yml file would look like:
```yml
version: '3.7'
services:
gluetun:
image: qmcgaw/private-internet-access
container_name: gluetun
cap_add:
- NET_ADMIN
environment:
- USER=js89ds7
- PASSWORD=8fd9s239G
ports:
- 8000:8000/tcp
- 9000:9000/tcp
abc:
image: abc
container_name: abc
network_mode: "service:gluetun"
xyz:
image: xyz
container_name: xyz
network_mode: "service:gluetun"
```
## Private Internet Access port forwarding
Note that [not all regions support port forwarding](https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/helpdesk/kb/articles/how-do-i-enable-port-forwarding-on-my-vpn).
When `PORT_FORWARDING=on`, a port will be forwarded on the VPN server side and written to the file specified by `PORT_FORWARDING_STATUS_FILE=/forwarded_port`.
It can be useful to mount this file as a volume to read it from other containers, for example to configure a torrenting client.
## HTTP control server
A built-in HTTP server listens on port `8000` to modify the state of the container. You have the following routes available:
- `http://:8000/openvpn/actions/restart` restarts the openvpn process
- `http://:8000/unbound/actions/restart` re-downloads the DNS files (crypto and block lists) and restarts the unbound process
## Development and contributing
- Contribute with code: see [the Wiki](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/wiki/Contributing).
- [The list of existing contributors 👍](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/blob/master/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md#Contributors)
- [Github workflows](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/actions) to know what's building
- [List of issues and feature requests](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/issues)
## License
This repository is under an [MIT license](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/master/license)
## Support
Sponsor me on [Github](https://github.com/sponsors/qdm12), donate to [paypal.me/qmcgaw](https://www.paypal.me/qmcgaw) or subscribe to a VPN provider through one of my affiliate links:
[](https://github.com/sponsors/qdm12)
[](https://www.paypal.me/qmcgaw)
[](https://windscribe.com/?affid=mh7nyafu)
Feel also free to have a look at [the Kanban board](https://github.com/qdm12/private-internet-access-docker/projects/1) and [contribute](#Development-and-contributing) to the code or the issues discussion.
Many thanks to @Frepke, @Ralph521, G. Mendez, M. Otmar Weber, J. Perez and A. Cooper for supporting me financially 🥇👍