I would like to use my favourite torrent client, Transmission, over a VPN service but at the same time I do not want to direct any other traffic therethrough. That is, I want to use my VPN service only for torrenting with the Transmission client.
I intend to use NordVPN service and I am coming across 2 problems:
- NordVPN offers IKEv2 and OpenVPN protocols on Mac and I'm not sure
whether and how I can connect to this VPN so that NOT all traffic is
directed therethrough. As for the IKEv2 settings in Mac's Network
Preferences, there is no "Send all traffic over VPN connection"
option to keep unchecked, like it is for L2TP VPN protocol on Mac.
As for the OpenVPN protocol, I'm not sure if this is possible with
Tunnelblick for example or other client. - Let's say I solve the first
problem and I'm connected to the VPN service without sending all the
traffic therethrough. How can I now make Transmission to use
that specific network interface whereon I'm connected to the VPN?
I searched Google and I have found some procedures/methods but I am none the wiser thereon.
E.g.:
-
Transmission Interface Binder – this one seems outdated
-
docker-transmission-openvpn – could be working but I am totally lost
hereon. -
For Ubuntu, but perhaps could be employed on Mac too but I
have no idea on what they talk about there
I should appreciate
some advice from the more experienced or knowledgeable
hereabout.
Best Answer
Are you prepared to change VPN provider?
Private Internet Access (PIA) has a 'split tunnel' feature. The settings have a preference pane to enable and configure split tunnel. Here is how it should look to send just Transmission traffic via the VPN.
My own experience with PIA's split tunnel is that it has been difficult to implement for macOS 11 but is now working reliably. I had system hangs with the first beta versions of PIA for macOS 11. I have used PIA's split tunnel the other way round - sending most traffic via the VPN and just specific apps bypassing the VPN.