As LoRaWAN is increasingly deployed in smart cities and industrial IoT applications, remote gateway maintenance has become a critical part of system architecture. Compared with port-forwarding tools such as NPS and FRP, VPN-based solutions provide stronger security, better scalability, and higher reliability for enterprise-grade LoRaWAN networks.
1. Network Architecture: Virtual LAN vs Port Forwarding
NPS and FRP rely on port forwarding mechanisms, exposing specific gateway services through a public server. Each service requires individual port configuration, which becomes cumbersome as gateway functionality increases.
VPN establishes an encrypted virtual private network between operators and gateways. Once connected, gateways can be accessed via internal IP addresses with full port transparency, which aligns better with real-world LoRaWAN gateway maintenance requirements.
2. Security Considerations
Port forwarding solutions expose gateway services to the public internet, increasing the attack surface and the risk of scanning, brute-force attacks, and service abuse.
VPN solutions isolate gateway access within a private network and require authenticated connections, significantly reducing security risks and meeting enterprise-level security expectations.
3. Scalability and Operational Efficiency
As the number of LoRaWAN gateways grows, managing individual port mappings becomes increasingly complex with NPS and FRP.
VPN allows all gateways to join a single virtual network, enabling centralized management, batch configuration, and efficient large-scale operations.
4. Stability and Reliability
NPS and FRP depend heavily on relay servers, creating a single point of failure.
VPN solutions designed for IoT environments typically offer persistent connections, automatic reconnection, and higher availability, making them more suitable for long-term commercial deployments.
5. Summary Comparison
| Dimension | VPN | NPS / FRP |
|---|---|---|
| Network Model | Virtual LAN | Port-based forwarding |
| Security | Encrypted and isolated | Public port exposure |
| Scalability | High | Limited |
| Management | Centralized | Fragmented |
| Reliability | High | Medium |
6. Manthink Engineering Practice
Manthink’s GDO51 outdoor and GDI51 indoor LoRaWAN gateways support multiple mainstream network servers and VPN-based remote management.
The ThinkLink LoRaWAN Network Server supports standard protocols, multi-vendor device compatibility, and integration with platforms such as Home Assistant and ThingsBoard. ThinkLink Cloud offers free access for up to 1000 devices, while ThinkLink Edge provides a localized, high-performance deployment option for enterprise users.