How to Set Up WireGuard VPN on Ubuntu 20.04

In this tutorial, we will guide you on how to set up a WireGuard VPN on Ubuntu 20.04. WireGuard is a modern and fast VPN protocol that is designed to be secure, efficient, and easy to configure. It offers better performance compared to other VPN protocols, such as OpenVPN and IPSec, and it is quickly becoming the preferred VPN solution for many.

Step 1: Update Ubuntu 20.04

The first step is to make sure that your Ubuntu 20.04 system is up to date. You can do this by running the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

This command will update the package lists and install any available updates for your system. Once the update process is complete, you can move on to the next step.

Step 2: Install WireGuard

The next step is to install the WireGuard package. You can do this by running the following command:

sudo apt install wireguard

This command will install the WireGuard package along with any required dependencies. Once the installation is complete, you can move on to the next step.

Step 3: Generate Public and Private Keys

Before we can start configuring the WireGuard VPN, we need to generate a pair of public and private keys. You can do this by running the following command:

umask 077

wg genkey | tee privatekey | wg pubkey > publickey

This command will generate a private key and write it to a file called “privatekey” and a public key and write it to a file called “publickey”. Make sure to store the private key in a safe place, as it will be used to encrypt and decrypt the VPN traffic.

Step 4: Configure WireGuard

The next step is to configure the WireGuard VPN. You can do this by creating a configuration file. You can use any text editor of your choice to create the file. In this example, we will use nano:

sudo nano /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf

Once the text editor opens, copy and paste the following configuration:

[Interface]
Address = 10.0.0.1/24
PrivateKey = paste the private key generated in Step 3 here

[Peer]
PublicKey = paste the public key generated in Step 3 here
AllowedIPs = 10.0.0.2/32

Make sure to replace the highlighted parts with the appropriate values. The “Address” field specifies the IP address of the VPN server, while the “PrivateKey” field specifies the private key generated in Step 3. The “PublicKey” field specifies the public key of the client that will connect to the VPN, while the “AllowedIPs” field specifies the IP address of the client.

Step 5: Start WireGuard

The final step is to start the WireGuard VPN. You can do this by running the following command:

sudo wg-quick up wg0

This command will start the WireGuard VPN with the configuration specified in the wg0.conf
file. You can verify that the VPN is running by running the following command:

sudo wg

This command will display the current configuration of the WireGuard VPN. If everything is set up correctly, you should see the configuration that you created in Step 4.

Connecting to the WireGuard VPN

Now that the WireGuard VPN is set up and running, you can connect to it from a client device. To do this, you will need the public key of the VPN server and the private key of the client device.

On the client device, follow Steps 1 and 2 to install WireGuard and update the system. Then, generate a pair of public and private keys by running the following command:

umask 077

wg genkey | tee privatekey | wg pubkey > publickey

Once you have generated the keys, copy the public key and paste it into the “PublicKey” field of the wg0.conf file on the VPN server. Then, copy the private key and save it on the client device in a safe location.

To connect to the VPN from the client device, run the following command:

sudo nano /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf

Then, add the following configuration to the file:

[Interface]
Address = 10.0.0.2/24
PrivateKey = paste the private key generated on the client device here

[Peer]
PublicKey = paste the public key of the VPN server here
Endpoint = insert the IP address of the VPN server here:51820
AllowedIPs = 0.0.0.0/0

Make sure to replace the highlighted parts with the appropriate values. The “Address” field specifies the IP address of the client device, while the “PrivateKey” field specifies the private key generated on the client device. The “PublicKey” field specifies the public key of the VPN server, while the “Endpoint” field specifies the IP address and port of the VPN server. The “AllowedIPs” field specifies the IP addresses that are allowed to use the VPN.

Save the file and start the WireGuard VPN on the client device by running the following command:

sudo wg-quick up wg0

You should now be able to access the internet through the WireGuard VPN.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have shown you how to set up a WireGuard VPN on Ubuntu 20.04. WireGuard is a fast and secure VPN protocol that is becoming increasingly popular. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can easily set up your own VPN server and connect to it from client devices.

Remember to keep your private keys safe, as they are essential for encrypting and decrypting the VPN traffic. Also, make sure to keep your system and packages up to date to ensure that you are using the latest and most secure software.

FAQs

Q: Is WireGuard VPN secure?

A: Yes, WireGuard VPN is secure. It uses state-of-the-art cryptography to encrypt and authenticate traffic, and its small codebase makes it easier to audit for security vulnerabilities.

Q: Can I use WireGuard VPN on other operating systems?

A: Yes, WireGuard VPN is available for a variety of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Q: How many clients can connect to a WireGuard VPN server?

A: WireGuard VPN can handle a large number of clients, depending on the hardware and network bandwidth available on the server. However, it is recommended to limit the number of clients to ensure optimal performance and security.

References

WireGuard VPN Official Website

How To Set Up WireGuard VPN on Ubuntu 18.04 – DigitalOcean

How to Set Up WireGuard VPN on Ubuntu 20.04 – Linode

Conclusion

In conclusion, setting up a WireGuard VPN on Ubuntu 20.04 is a straightforward process that can provide you with a fast and secure VPN solution. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can set up your own VPN server and connect to it from client devices. Remember to keep your private keys safe and to update your system and packages regularly to ensure that you are using the latest and most secure software.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.