Post #2730119
2026-05-09 19:50 UTC
Sounds like you're talking about a Mesh VPN.
Syncthing doesn't need a VPN to function - in fact you're better off not using a VPN as it's own rules will see the VPN as a LAN connection and sync data across it when your Syncthing rules exclude using your data connection. Maybe that's what you saw with Netbird's data usage. I'd be really surprised if Netbird itself used any significant data.
I have about 20 sync jobs per phone - some are allowed to use cell data (photos), others aren't. When I enable Tailscale on my phone, Syncthing will try to sync all the jobs because it sees the VPN as a LAN.
I run rooted and use a firewall and block VPN there for Syncthing to prevent this.
Replies (1)
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@eightys3v3n@lemmy.ca 2026-05-10 19:41
Syncthing actually isn't running over VPN usually; it's open to the internet. But the dozen or more other things I host are not open to the internet. Immich for example. And in some cases when Synctding can't connect I appreciate having the VPN as a backup. Yes, mesh because I don't want to have to setup routes through a single device when I add a new one and I don't want to be dependent on one IP.