VPN Certain Applications on Windows

[suzerain_00]

Whats poppin everyone. So basically I was wondering if, on Windows (in my case Windows 10) you can select certain applications to connect to the internet through a VPN, while others not. For example, I could be running a P2P client through Private Internet Access, but my Steam library is connected straight to my local connection. I ask because I've been running a workflow where I've needed to switch PIA on and off while gaming/torrenting. Despite PIA's actually fairly responsive service, it still sometimes messes with my in game ping to the point of certain games being unplayable. Is there any way to configure my VPN such that I can run certain applications in "VPN mode" and others not, simultaneously? My current solution is just to torrent and game on and off, and that's fine, but I'm interested to see if the forum has any solutions. Thanks for time! Love ya lots  

[Windows7ge]

All I can say is if there's a program like that which works in conjunction with a VPN service I have yet to hear about it. Could it exist? Yes. However I think there's a reason it's not nearly as well known as VPN's themselves.

[Blake]

Sounds like a routing issue, I believe Nginx (or possibly iptables/whatever the default routing stack in linux) will be able to do it. Not a Linux guy past the basics of CLI/setting up a docker image/swam, so someone else would want to chime in.

 

Create a virtual interface on your router/gateway, which points to your VPN. then you need to 'tag' packets so your network knows where to forward them, untagged goes out the normal connection, tagged out via the VPN.

 

[suzerain_00]

5 hours ago, Windows7ge said:

All I can say is if there's a program like that which works in conjunction with a VPN service I have yet to hear about it. Could it exist? Yes. However I think there's a reason it's not nearly as well known as VPN's themselves.

I'd seriously love someone to implement this sort of a feature. PIA or otherwise...

[suzerain_00]

3 hours ago, Blake said:

Sounds like a routing issue, I believe Nginx (or possibly iptables/whatever the default routing stack in linux) will be able to do it. Not a Linux guy past the basics of CLI/setting up a docker image/swam, so someone else would want to chime in.

 

Create a virtual interface on your router/gateway, which points to your VPN. then you need to 'tag' packets so your network knows where to forward them, untagged goes out the normal connection, tagged out via the VPN.

 

damn son I appreciate the answer but I am far from a networking expert. Tagging packets?... I think I'll do a little research on what you're referring to just for the sake of learning something new, but this seems a little out of my league to be honest... Thanks for your response though, appreciate ya  

[Windows7ge]

7 hours ago, ExodusR said:

damn son I appreciate the answer but I am far from a networking expert. Tagging packets?... I think I'll do a little research on what you're referring to just for the sake of learning something new, but this seems a little out of my league to be honest... Thanks for your response though, appreciate ya  

This is why I don't think I've heard of an application like you're asking. Since the VPN sends all your network data down the encrypted tunnel it would have to toggle on/off rapidly for things on and off the list. Not to mention it'd have to be told every network communication to encrypt which would be very tedious and have to be constantly updated by a developer. While at the router if it handled the VPN you'd still have to identify the individual communications to either VPN or not VPN the router can tag the packets and send them down a different path across the internet without flipping the VPN service on/off constantly.