So here is my problem:
I’ve been using SOCKS5 proxy for years because my torrent client (Deluge) runs on a Windows box which also runs a bunch of other services. As such, I can’t just run all traffic on it over the VPN. I have tried to bind my client to a unique IP and use my router to direct it over the VPN, but the speeds are too slow (I can possibly solve this by upgrading router, but don’t really want that cost and headache as I have a lot of custom stuff setup on the router).
I’ve been having a few problems with SOCKS5 and have been told multiple times that I really should not be using this for torrenting and should switch to VPN. My current provider (Nord) doesn’t support port forwarding over VPN, but if I can figure out how to do this I wouldn’t be adverse to switching providers. These are my criteria that up to this point no one has been able to assist me in getting to work:
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Must work on Windows 10/11 (I actually use Windows Server boxes, but shouldn’t be a problem if it works on 10/11).
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Must be able to route only my Deluge traffic over the VPN interface. The VPN client cannot be allowed to interfere with any other incoming/outgoing traffic from the system or other applications.
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Must not allow any torrent traffic if VPN isn’t routing (i.e. kill-switch type functionality)
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Ideally would be able to startup VPN connection on system boot/login and be able to reconnect automatically if disconnected.
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Ideally would use a VPN service that I can get a trial on so that I can test this works before I switch over.
From my history on this it seems that what I need to do is “split-tunneling” but I haven’t been able to get this working on Windows without it affecting things apart from the torrent client. TBH, I’m not entirely sure how “split-tunneling” is supposed to properly work as it seems to be implemented different ways depending on the VPN client the provider supplies. And, as of yet, I haven’t found one that seems to work.
All guidance and suggestions are welcome.
I use Proton app and split tunnel QBittorrent. Took a little rejiggering, but it’s working now. I would suggest you try QB instead.
I’m not running VMs, as I don’t want that overhead so this isn’t really a solution.
I have I think found a way to do this using a “bound” option (no thanks to the pinned post, because it doesn’t describe at all how to restrict *everything else* from using the VPN in this scenario).
Anyway, after testing this…or even just testing normal connectivity through my VPN it appears that my torrenting speeds are cut to less than half of what it is without them. So I need to figure out how to get closer to full speeds with my VPN before I even worry about how to only get my torrent client router through it.
Thanks. Doesn’t appear to be a torrent client issue, per-se. Both clients are libtorrent based and expose the option to bind to an interface. I think, based on what I’ve seen so far that anything QB can do in this regard, one can do with Deluge. This is basically the only method I have seen so far which appears to work when using the OpenVPN client and wanting to only route the torrent client:
https://airvpn.org/forums/topic/49461-the-guide-for-torrenting-split-tunneling-killswitch-and-all-the-other-buzzwords/
Have to adapt a bit if not on AirVPN, but got this to seemingly work with Deluge on Nord. Right now I’m trying to troubleshoot speeds though.
The other problem is that so far the providers I’ve seen require you to use their client to get a port forwarding. PIA seems to have some script option for using the OpenVPN client on linux. I haven’t looked at it, but it is possible I might be able to convert it to python or PS to work on Windows. The latest version of the PIA client isn’t horrible, and if I have to use it (or another vendor’s client) as long as it doesn’t interfere with other network issues, I’ll make do I suppose. Ideally I’d like to use OpenVPN or Wireguard client and be able to get a port forward. Also, I have seen that the vendor’s client usually gets a bit better speeds, this is likely due to some configuration tweaks or just optimal server selections. Hard to tell…
I see the point of the pinned post - it didn’t deal with my situation yet you still referenced it here re: “binding” to deal with the title of my OP which was “split tunneling”. So I’m not sure why you are on me because I called out that a post, which you are agreeing doesn’t have to do with my issue, doesn’t have anything to do with my issue.
Also, not sure why my environment classifies as “fragile” because using a VPN drastically cuts my speeds.
Guess I’ll await someone who wants to “parse” my actual questions first before attacking me about them.