Build your own VPN server with WireGuard on a VPS

In this tutorial we walk you through setting up a VPN server with WireGuard on your VPS.

A virtual private network (VPN) offers significant advantages: it encrypts the information transmitted over public networks (even if someone intercepts the communication, the data remains unreadable) and lets you browse with the server's IP, for example to access geo-restricted content.

WireGuard is a state-of-the-art VPN technology that stands out for its simplicity, security and speed. Let's get started!

Step 1: Order the VPS

Head to ginernet.com/es/vps and choose the plan that best fits your needs. For this tutorial you can pick the cheapest plan: CPU and RAM are not critical for a VPN server.

Keep the monthly transfer limit in mind when selecting your plan. In general, 1 TB per month is enough for most users.

Once the order is complete, you will receive the access details of your VPS by e-mail: the IP address and the login credentials.

Step 2: Connect over SSH

To connect over SSH from Windows you can use PuTTY (on macOS and Linux, simply run ssh root@your-VPS-IP in a terminal).

Open PuTTY, enter your VPS IP and click "Open". You can save the session so you do not have to type the IP every time.

PuTTY: enter the VPS IP and click Open

The first time you connect, PuTTY will show the server's fingerprint. Accept it by clicking Yes.

Server fingerprint prompt on first connection

You will then be asked for the credentials: user root and the password you received by e-mail when the server was installed.

If you copied the password, paste it by right-clicking on the PuTTY window and pressing Enter. It is normal not to see anything on screen while typing the password.

Logging in as root in the PuTTY console

If the details are correct, you are in and can start running commands. To end the session, type exit.

Here is a cheat sheet of useful SSH commands:

Cheat sheet of common SSH commands

Step 3: Install the WireGuard server

While connected over SSH, run this command to download and launch the WireGuard install script:

wget https://git.io/wireguard -O wireguard-install.sh && bash wireguard-install.sh

Follow the on-screen instructions to configure WireGuard. When the installation finishes, you will see the connection details (and you can generate a configuration file or QR code for each client).

Step 4: Connect to the VPN

With the server ready, it is time to connect from your devices. Download the official WireGuard client for your operating system from wireguard.com/install and follow the platform-specific instructions.

Import the configuration generated in the previous step, start the VPN connection and that's it! You can now enjoy a secure, private connection through your own WireGuard VPN server.