Skip to content

Peers in the same LAN are using public internet to connect. #3777

Open
@Youwenqwq

Description

@Youwenqwq

Update May, 4 2025:
I found that while tailscale uses UPnP, PCP and NAT-PMP to try to open ports, NetBird doesn't. This means that in my network below, testserver isn't able to directly access the host laptop that is under the NAT of the router openwrt. I guess this is the main reason why it uses public IP to communicate.

Describe the problem

Recently I have switched my VPN software from tailscale to netbird. I am amazed by the Networks and powerful web panel Netbird is producing. However, I found that when using Netbird, two peers with different VLANs might build P2P connections through public Internet instead of connecting directly in LAN address, while this won't happen in tailscale.

Expected behavior

Two peers would create P2P connections using LAN IP.

Are you using NetBird Cloud?

No, I'm using self-hosted NetBird service.

NetBird version

0.43.1

Is any other VPN software installed?

Yes, Tailscale. But they aren't running when testing netbird.

Debug output

Peers detail:
 aws.anon-szr8O.domain:
  NetBird IP: 100.75.62.188
  Public key: R9k1i3+mhdiXvJBGWD0cMxh1U8NVAVCxUjxFH3+Ezm4=
  Status: Connected
  -- detail --
  Connection type: P2P
  ICE candidate (Local/Remote): srflx/srflx
  ICE candidate endpoints (Local/Remote): 198.51.100.0:2503/198.51.100.1:51820
  Relay server address: rel://vpn.anon-wQzkR.domain:33080
  Last connection update: 1 minute, 28 seconds ago
  Last WireGuard handshake: 1 minute, 29 seconds ago
  Transfer status (received/sent) 92 B/276 B
  Quantum resistance: false
  Networks: -
  Latency: 34.3508ms

 openwrt.anon-szr8O.domain:
  NetBird IP: 100.75.71.12
  Public key: gzFExSImZUjbZiiQEeRTm8NfamuZTpAjokEeiLMit2k=
  Status: Connected
  -- detail --
  Connection type: P2P
  ICE candidate (Local/Remote): host/srflx
  ICE candidate endpoints (Local/Remote): 127.0.0.1:51820/198.51.100.0:2586
  Relay server address: rel://vpn.anon-wQzkR.domain:33080
  Last connection update: 1 minute, 27 seconds ago
  Last WireGuard handshake: 1 minute, 29 seconds ago
  Transfer status (received/sent) 156 B/244 B
  Quantum resistance: false
  Networks: -
  Latency: 8.0082ms

 kirakira.anon-szr8O.domain:
  NetBird IP: 100.75.74.196
  Public key: +8UMb8RWhTYpv23jTOGgN+CsbN9OOTOgOk1h9OkGAi0=
  Status: Connected
  -- detail --
  Connection type: Relayed
  ICE candidate (Local/Remote): -/-
  ICE candidate endpoints (Local/Remote): -/-
  Relay server address: rel://vpn.anon-wQzkR.domain:33080
  Last connection update: 1 minute, 29 seconds ago
  Last WireGuard handshake: 1 minute, 29 seconds ago
  Transfer status (received/sent) 188 B/276 B
  Quantum resistance: false
  Networks: -
  Latency: 0s

 mobile.anon-szr8O.domain:
  NetBird IP: 100.75.93.92
  Public key: I2d+YhyLIDJ039d2m2K5nHt8pb+UE637A+CnzeqFQWo=
  Status: Connected
  -- detail --
  Connection type: P2P
  ICE candidate (Local/Remote): host/host
  ICE candidate endpoints (Local/Remote): 169.254.226.220:51820/192.168.10.39:51820
  Relay server address: rel://vpn.anon-wQzkR.domain:33080
  Last connection update: 1 minute, 27 seconds ago
  Last WireGuard handshake: 1 minute, 28 seconds ago
  Transfer status (received/sent) 92 B/276 B
  Quantum resistance: false
  Networks: -
  Latency: 82.0498ms

 debiannet.anon-szr8O.domain:
  NetBird IP: 100.75.99.152
  Public key: U5ovfyRBXMf3LDwpneDUwIDyHWFSJFzOgL+aNgzl8hM=
  Status: Connected
  -- detail --
  Connection type: P2P
  ICE candidate (Local/Remote): srflx/srflx
  ICE candidate endpoints (Local/Remote): 198.51.100.0:2503/198.51.100.2:36243
  Relay server address: rel://vpn.anon-wQzkR.domain:33080
  Last connection update: 1 minute, 27 seconds ago
  Last WireGuard handshake: 1 minute, 29 seconds ago
  Transfer status (received/sent) 252 B/372 B
  Quantum resistance: false
  Networks: 192.168.9.0/24
  Latency: 42.8368ms

 testserver.anon-szr8O.domain:
  NetBird IP: 100.75.140.14
  Public key: LBonNnujgCfjIsCcDCwdVbnCubzPxZ49lThlkaXI5iM=
  Status: Connected
  -- detail --
  Connection type: P2P
  ICE candidate (Local/Remote): host/srflx
  ICE candidate endpoints (Local/Remote): 192.168.10.205:51820/198.51.100.3:11865
  Relay server address: rel://vpn.anon-wQzkR.domain:33080
  Last connection update: 1 minute, 27 seconds ago
  Last WireGuard handshake: 1 minute, 29 seconds ago
  Transfer status (received/sent) 92 B/276 B
  Quantum resistance: false
  Networks: 192.168.0.0/24, 198.51.100.4/16
  Latency: 26.5328ms

Events:
  [INFO] SYSTEM (57004cb9-069a-46b1-95ed-d2925c7ca30f)
    Message: Network map updated
    Time: 10 minutes, 22 seconds ago
  [INFO] SYSTEM (0d927b75-c71d-47e3-b4fb-3f5047e0cea3)
    Message: Network map updated
    Time: 9 minutes, 6 seconds ago
  [INFO] SYSTEM (5088c485-5026-4ffb-a68a-0abad87cb633)
    Message: Network map updated
    Time: 7 minutes, 54 seconds ago
  [INFO] SYSTEM (c966f37d-8a7d-45dc-b2d6-392614f8295e)
    Message: Network map updated
    Time: 6 minutes, 44 seconds ago
  [INFO] SYSTEM (e7dcdb20-9b00-4758-a96d-c5c450fe1e21)
    Message: Network map updated
    Time: 5 minutes, 30 seconds ago
  [INFO] SYSTEM (3adc1913-8678-4c22-a49d-6642c26a19ab)
    Message: Network map updated
    Time: 4 minutes, 14 seconds ago
  [INFO] SYSTEM (d79a23fb-0508-4db8-b091-4a696c14b7a1)
    Message: Network map updated
    Time: 2 minutes, 58 seconds ago
  [INFO] SYSTEM (3a2935ca-714e-4148-b677-d8834f67cc32)
    Message: Network map updated
    Time: 1 minute, 43 seconds ago
  [INFO] SYSTEM (96b6e4af-1f17-44f3-9ec0-86e2d13001ed)
    Message: Network map updated
    Time: 1 minute, 29 seconds ago
  [INFO] SYSTEM (f17ab421-466a-4383-bedf-cd2d7fc8b561)
    Message: Network map updated
    Time: 28 seconds ago
OS: windows/amd64
Daemon version: 0.43.1
CLI version: 0.43.1
Management: Connected to https://vpn.anon-wQzkR.domain:443
Signal: Connected to https://vpn.anon-wQzkR.domain:443
Relays:
  [stun:turn.anon-wQzkR.domain:3478] is Available
  [turn:turn.anon-wQzkR.domain:3478?transport=udp] is Available
  [rel://vpn.anon-wQzkR.domain:33080] is Available
Nameservers:
  [192.168.9.4:53] for [anon-88hTz.domain] is Available
FQDN: laptop.anon-szr8O.domain
NetBird IP: 100.75.11.17/16
Interface type: Userspace
Quantum resistance: false
Networks: -
Forwarding rules: 0
Peers count: 6/6 Connected

As well as the file created by

netbird debug for 1m -AS

netbird.debug.1648260844.zip

Additional context

In the Debug output above,openwrt(LAN IP 192.168.10.1) is the router of a LAN, my device currently outputing these logs is also under this router, named laptop. The openwrt and the testserver have diffferent public IP address and ISP due to some network policy, but they can access each other directly using local IP. In this situation,host/srflx is causing unnecessary latency and bandwidth limit.

My local network might be a little complex, so I will provide a description generated by AI for you to better understand.

[ Local Network (192.168.10.0/24) ]
│
├── [phone]       IP: 192.168.10.39
├── [laptop]      IP: 192.168.10.205
└── [openwrt]      LAN IP: 192.168.10.1 (Gateway)
                              WAN IP: 10.136.141.0
│
[ Connected via intermediate network infrastructure in a same building ]
│
[ Remote Network (10.20.72.0/24) ]
│
└── [testserver]  IP: 10.20.72.25
                  Gateway: 10.20.72.1
Key Notes:
​​Local Network​​:
Devices phone and laptop connect to the router (192.168.10.1) via LAN.
The router's WAN interface is configured with 10.136.141.25 (gateway: 10.136.141.0).
​​Cross-Network Communication​​:
The router's WAN IP (10.136.141.25) and testserver (10.20.72.25) can directly communicate via intermediate infrastructure (e.g., routers, firewalls, or dedicated links) in the same building, they are in a larger LAN.
Mutual ping and service access confirm proper routing/NAT configuration.
​​IP Addressing​​:
Local network uses private IP range 192.168.10.0/24.
Remote network uses 10.20.72.0/24, distinct from the router's WAN subnet (10.136.141.0/24).

Have you tried these troubleshooting steps?

  • [√] Checked for newer NetBird versions
  • [√] Searched for similar issues on GitHub (including closed ones)
  • [√] Restarted the NetBird client
  • [√] Disabled other VPN software
  • [√] Checked firewall settings

Metadata

Metadata

Assignees

Type

No type

Projects

No projects

Milestone

No milestone

Relationships

None yet

Development

No branches or pull requests

Issue actions