vpn/PROJECT_SUMMARY.md

# Project Summary

## Overview

This project implements a split-tunnel VPN network for bypassing internet restrictions in Russia while maintaining optimal performance for domestic traffic.

## Architecture

**3-node setup:**
- Client devices (users in Russia)
- RU VDS (176.124.216.197) - Gateway with selective routing
- DE VDS (194.31.173.178) - Exit node in Germany

**Key feature:** IP-based selective routing
- Russian IP ranges (from RIPE database) → Direct routing (fast, no proxy)
- All other IPs → Routed through Germany (bypass blocks)

## Technology Stack

| Component | Purpose |
|-----------|---------|
| WireGuard | VPN tunnels (lightweight, fast) |
| dnsmasq | DNS server for VPN clients |
| nftables | Firewall, NAT, and packet marking (pure nftables, no iptables) |
| iproute2 | Policy-based routing |

## What's Included

### Documentation (5 files)

1. **README.md** - Architecture overview and reference
2. **QUICKSTART.md** - 30-minute setup guide
3. **IMPLEMENTATION.md** - Detailed step-by-step implementation
4. **DEPLOYMENT.md** - Production deployment guide
5. **TESTING.md** - Comprehensive testing checklist

### Configuration Files (11 files)

**DE VDS configs:**
- `wg0.conf` - WireGuard interface config
- `nftables.conf` - Firewall rules (NAT)
- `99-vpn.conf` - Kernel parameters (IP forwarding)

**RU VDS configs:**
- `wg0.conf` - User-facing VPN interface
- `wg1.conf` - DE tunnel interface
- `postup.sh` - Routing setup script
- `postdown.sh` - Routing cleanup script
- `nftables.conf` - Firewall and packet marking rules
- `vpn-routing.conf` - dnsmasq config
- `update-direct-routes.sh` - Russian IP ranges loader
- `rt_tables` - Custom routing table definitions
- `99-vpn.conf` - Kernel parameters

**Client template:**
- `example-client.conf` - Template for client configs

### Management Scripts (7 files)

**Setup:**
- `setup-de-vds.sh` - Automated DE VDS setup
- `setup-ru-vds.sh` - Automated RU VDS setup

**Client management:**
- `add-client.sh` - Add new VPN client (with QR code)
- `remove-client.sh` - Permanently remove client
- `disable-client.sh` - Temporarily disable client
- `enable-client.sh` - Re-enable disabled client
- `list-clients.sh` - List all clients with status

## Key Features

### Automated Setup
- One-command server deployment
- Automatic key generation
- Automatic package installation
- Automatic service configuration

### Easy Client Management
- Simple CLI commands
- Automatic IP assignment
- QR code generation for mobile
- Enable/disable without key regeneration

### Smart Routing
- IP-based routing using RIPE database
- Automatic weekly updates of Russian IP ranges
- Pure nftables implementation (no iptables/ipset mixing)
- Optimal performance for local traffic

### Security
- WireGuard modern cryptography
- Restricted firewall rules
- Key-based authentication
- Isolated VPN network

### Scalability
- Support for 253 concurrent clients
- Low resource usage
- Efficient packet routing
- No bottlenecks

## Network Topology

```
                                Internet
                                    ▲
                                    │
                    ┌───────────────┼───────────────┐
                    │               │               │
                    │           Direct (fast)       │
                    │           .ru/.рф domains     │
                    │                               │
    ┌──────────┐    │    ┌──────────────┐          │    ┌──────────┐
    │  Client  │◄───┼───►│   RU VDS     │◄─────────┼───►│  DE VDS  │
    │  Device  │    │    │   Gateway    │          │    │Exit Node │
    └──────────┘    │    └──────────────┘          │    └──────────┘
                    │            │                  │
                    │            │                  │
                    │            ▼                  │
                    │    Routing Decision           │
                    │    (nftables + RIPE data)     │
                    │                               │
                    │        WireGuard tunnel       │
                    │        (all other domains)    │
                    └───────────────────────────────┘
```

## IP Addressing

- **User VPN:** 10.10.0.0/24 (clients ↔ RU VDS)
  - 10.10.0.1 - RU VDS gateway
  - 10.10.0.2-254 - Client IPs

- **Server VPN:** 10.20.0.0/30 (RU ↔ DE tunnel)
  - 10.20.0.1 - RU VDS
  - 10.20.0.2 - DE VDS

## Deployment Workflow

1. **Prepare** (5 min)
   - Verify server access
   - Copy setup scripts

2. **Deploy DE VDS** (5 min)
   - Run setup script
   - Save public key

3. **Deploy RU VDS** (5 min)
   - Run setup script
   - Save public keys

4. **Exchange Keys** (3 min)
   - Update DE config with RU key
   - Update RU config with DE key

5. **Start Services** (2 min)
   - Start DE services
   - Start RU services

6. **Verify** (5 min)
   - Test tunnel connectivity
   - Check routing tables

7. **Add Clients** (5 min each)
   - Run add-client script
   - Transfer config to device

**Total time: ~30-40 minutes**

## Testing Coverage

Comprehensive testing checklist covers:
- Pre-deployment verification
- Post-setup validation
- Tunnel connectivity
- DNS resolution
- Routing logic
- Client management
- Performance benchmarks
- Security verification
- Failure recovery

## Maintenance

### Regular Tasks
- Monitor logs for errors
- Check client list for inactive users
- Review bandwidth usage
- Update system packages

### Backup Strategy
- Backup `/etc/wireguard/` directory
- Store keys securely offline
- Document client assignments

### Monitoring
- WireGuard handshake status
- DNS query logs (optional)
- System resource usage
- Network traffic patterns

## Troubleshooting Quick Reference

| Issue | Check | Fix |
|-------|-------|-----|
| Tunnel down | `wg show` | Restart wg-quick services |
| DNS not working | `systemctl status dnsmasq` | Restart dnsmasq |
| Routing wrong | `nft list set ip vpn-routing direct` | Run update-direct-routes.sh |
| Client can't connect | `wg show wg0 peers` | Verify peer added |
| Slow performance | `ping` tests | Check MTU settings |

## Security Considerations

- Keys stored with 600 permissions
- Firewall restricts access by IP
- DNS only accessible from VPN clients
- Separate interfaces for users/tunnel
- No logging of DNS queries (configurable)

## Future Enhancements (Optional)

Potential additions:
- Web UI for client management
- Prometheus metrics export
- Automated key rotation
- Fail-over to secondary DE server
- IPv6 support
- Traffic statistics dashboard

## Repository Structure

```
vpn.git/
├── README.md              # Architecture and reference
├── QUICKSTART.md         # Fast setup guide
├── IMPLEMENTATION.md     # Detailed implementation
├── DEPLOYMENT.md         # Production deployment
├── TESTING.md           # Testing checklist
├── PROJECT_SUMMARY.md   # This file
├── .gitignore           # Git ignore rules
├── configs/             # All configuration files
│   ├── de-vds/         # DE VDS configs
│   ├── ru-vds/         # RU VDS configs
│   └── client-templates/ # Client config templates
└── scripts/            # Management scripts
    ├── setup-*.sh      # Server setup
    └── *-client.sh     # Client management
```

## Success Metrics

After deployment, you should have:
- ✓ Stable VPN tunnel between RU and DE
- ✓ Working client connections
- ✓ Correct routing for .ru vs other domains
- ✓ Simple client management via CLI
- ✓ No errors in service logs
- ✓ Acceptable performance (latency, bandwidth)

## Support and Documentation

All information needed is in this repository:
- Architecture → README.md
- Quick setup → QUICKSTART.md
- Detailed steps → IMPLEMENTATION.md
- Deployment → DEPLOYMENT.md
- Testing → TESTING.md

## License

This is a personal project. Use at your own discretion.

## Credits

Built with:
- WireGuard - Jason A. Donenfeld
- dnsmasq - Simon Kelley
- nftables - Netfilter Project