Introduction
Netbird is an easy to use VPN-service, which can be installed directly on your SIA Connect device, with only a few easy steps. With the Netbird software installed on SIA Connect, the user is able to get easy and secure remote access to their network while also gaining easy access to the data from their network. Netbird comes with comprehensive user management and network segmentation, allowing organizations to assign different users varying levels of access to devices and networks.
This article will cover the following steps
- Setting up Netbird
- Setting up Netbird on SIA Connect
- Using SIA Connect as a VPN gateway to the rest of the subnet
- Accessing the subnet from your PC
Setting up Netbird
Start by logging on to your account at app.netbird.io
Navigate to “Setup Keys” and create a new setup key
Fill out the required information in the following popup and click “Create Setup Key”
Each of the parameters are explained in the table below
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Name |
The name of your setup key This can be used to distinguish between different installations of Netbird |
| Make this key reusable |
Choose whether this key can be used by more than one Peer A Peer is a device connected to Netbird - essentially one Setup Key could be used for multiple SIA Connect units |
| Usage limit | Limit the amount of Peers who can use the Setup Key Only applicable if turning on the above parameter |
| Expires in | Days until the key expires This will disconnect any connected devices when the time has elapsed |
| Ephemeral Peers | Choose whether inactive peers are to be deleted after being offline for 10 minuted |
| Allow extra DNS labels | Enable multiple sub-domains |
| Auto-assigned groups | Groups are used to distinguish different networks and sites. It will also be used to grant access to users, based on their group |
The next popup contains your Setup Key
Make sure to save your Setup Key, as it will not be shown again. However, you can create as many setup keys as you need and let them expire when no longer in use.
Setting up Netbird on SIA Connect
On the SIA Connect webinterface, navigate to the Remote Access menu. From here, fill out the Setup Key field and click “Configure & Install Netbird” - this installation will take a few minutes
After successfully installing Netbird and applying the key you will see the status and proceed to next steps if successfully on-boarded.
Verifying SIA Connect on Netbird
On the Netbird interface, navigate to the Peers-menu. Here you should see the SIA Connect added to the list of Peers
Everything set up until this point will only allow the user to access the SIA Connect gateway remotely
Using SIA Connect to access the entire network remotely
At this point, you have remote access to the SIA Connect unit.To access other devices on the same network, follow the guides in this section. If you only need remote access to SIA Connect, you can skip this step.
Navigate to the Networks menu and click Add Network
At the first popup, give the network a name and click Add Network
At the second popup, click Add resource
Fill out the boxes in the next popup and click Add Resource
For the whole network, input your subnet with .0/24 at the last octet
Click Create Policy at the next popup
Fill out the source and destination groups and click continue. Keep clicking continue and add the policy
At the next popup, click Add Routing Peer
At the next popup, use the drop-down menu to select the SIA Connect gateway and click Continue. On the next screen, click Add Routing Peer
Congratulations, SIA Connect is now acting as a gateway to your entire network!
Accessing the newly created network
Installing Netbird on your PC
You can follow this link to find information on how to install the Netbird client on your PC
After installing the Netbird Client on your PC, you will have Netbird in your system tray. Right click the icon and select Networks
Select the newly created network
You are now connected to the entire subnet