VPN services are tools widely used by users to browse the Internet. They offer the possibility of encrypting the connection and thus avoid problems when, for example, we connect to a public network that we do not know if it could be dangerous. However, sometimes there are problems with the operation and we must take action. In this article we talk about the need to open ports for the VPN .
Do you need to open ports to use the VPN?
In many cases it is essential to open certain ports for some tools to work properly. We are talking, for example, of download applications, online games or other programs that need a connection. Without those ports open, there can be communication problems and you can’t make the most of your resources or even make it impossible to use a service.
Routers generally have most ports closed for security. In this way they could not be used by potential hackers to access the network. Only some ports necessary for basic operation are open as standard. However we may need to open some for certain programs, as we have seen.
VPNs sometimes don’t work well. We can notice that the speed is not the best, that there are cuts and that we cannot even access certain services. This does not mean that it is due to having the ports closed, since it will generally depend on the server to which we connect and the type of service we are using. However, we can say that sometimes it will be necessary to open the ports.
You can see an article where we explain what to consider when installing a VPN. Some basic aspects that come in handy to make them work as well as possible and not have problems.
VPN protocols
It should be noted that there are different VPN protocols . They are the ones used by the service to be able to connect and allow other computers to connect to the network. Each of these protocols uses a different port, which can be UDP or TCP.
One of the most popular is the OpenVPN protocol. In this case, the port it uses, and therefore we should have it open to maximize performance, is UDP 1194.
Other popular protocols are L2TP and IPSec / IKEv2 . The former uses TCP port 1701, while IPSec / IKEv2 uses UDP ports 500 and 1500.
There are other protocols such as Wireguard , which uses UDP port 51820, SSTP, which uses TCP 443, and PPTP, which uses TCP port 1723.
As we can see, there are different types of protocols depending on the VPN we are using, and also each of these protocols uses a different port. It is interesting to know which one you use to, when the time comes, open them. In this way we will be able to achieve a better functioning of our connection when we navigate through this type of services.
You can see a tutorial where we explain how to check the open ports of the router. This way we will know at all times which ones we have open and to be able to close them if necessary or to improve network security.