How to Enable or Disable the VPN Relay Function on VPN Gate Client?

As described on How to Provide Your Computer as a VPN Server for VPN Gate, you can activate the VPN Gate Public VPN Relay Server Function on the VPN Gate Client. VPN Gate Public VPN Relay Server Function is disabled by default, however the user can activate it by explicit operations as the followings. You don't need to install SoftEther VPN Server if you want to host your computer as a Public VPN Server as a volunteer.

You must understand the risks and the behaviors of VPN Gate Public VPN Relay Server before activate it. There are total four warning screens before you activate the function: a warning on the "Important Notices" screen on the installer and other three warnings before you activate the function, for your safety.

Important Notice

When you are attempting to enable the VPN Gate Relaying Function, you will see the four warning messages. Please read every warning messages very carefully before activating the VPN Gate Relaying Function. Do not enable the VPN Gate Relaying Function unless you fully understood and agreed all the warnings and risks about running the relay.

When you are running the VPN Gate Relaying Function on your company's network, then any person's communication to Internet hosts will be relayed via your company's network. If you company's network has a policy which prohibits to run such a relaying program, you have a risk to violate the policy. Therefore, you have better to take an explicit permission from the network administrator of your company in advance to enabling the VPN Gate Relaying Function.

After you checked "Enable the VPN Gate Relay Service and Join the VPN Gate Research as a Volunteer" manually (which is disabled by default)
and press OK, then the VPN Gate Relaying Function will start to run on your computer as one of the VPN Gate volunteers.

This means that any VPN Gate client users will be able to communicate with Internet servers via your volunteer VPN server.
You must enable the function after fully understanding. If your company or campus doesn't permit users to run such
a relaying program, DO NOT enable the VPN Gate Relaying Function.

Notice: About background services

The notes in this section are not specific to SoftEther VPN or VPN Gate, but apply to general system software.

SoftEther VPN Client, SoftEther VPN Server, SoftEther VPN Bridge, and VPN Gate Relay Service will be installed on your computer as system services. System services always run in the background. System services usually do not appear on the computer display. Then your computer system is booted, system services automatically start in the background even before you or other users log in. To check whether SoftEther-related system service is running, check the process list or the background service list of your OS (called as "Services" in Windows, or "Daemons" in UNIX.) You can activate, deactivate, start, or stop system services using the functions of the OS anytime. SoftEther-related GUI tools for managing system services communicate with these system services. After you terminate these management GUI tools, SoftEther-related system services will continue to run in the background. System services consume CPU time, computer power, memory and disk space. Because system services consume power, your electricity charges and amount of thermal of your computer increase as result. In addition, there is a possibility that the mechanical parts of the life of your computer is reduced.

How to enable VPN Gate Relay Service?

Install VPN Gate Client and double-click the VPN Gate Plug-in icon on the Client Manager.

At the first time you use VPN Gate Client, the following screen appears. This screen asks you whether or not you want to enable the VPN Gate Relay Service and join the VPN Gate Research as a volunteer.

At the second time this screen doesn't appear. If you want to open the screen, click the "Switch Operation Mode" in the "Tools" menu.

You must read the notices on the screen. Check the "Enable the VPN Gate Relay Service and join the VPN Gate Research as a Volunteer." check-box and click the "OK" button only if you understand and agree the notice.

VPN Gate functions are very strong, and you might be under the risks. So the following warning message will appear. Read the message and click the "Agree" button only if you agree the notices.

Again, the final confirmation message-box will appear. Read the message and click the "OK" button only if you understand the message.

Congratulations! Your VPN Gate Relay Service is activated.

You can view the current VPN sessions on your service, or disable the service, by using the "VPN Gate Service Settings" control panel in the "Switch Operation Mode" in the "Tools" menu.

How to disable VPN Gate Relay Service?

You can disable the VPN Gate Relay Service at any time.
To disable it, open the "Switch Operation Mode" in the "Tools" menu.

Click the "VPN Gate Service Settings" button the "Switch SoftEther VPN Client Operation Mode" screen.

The "VPN Gate Service Control Panel" will appear. Uncheck the "Enable the VPN Gate Relay Service and join the VPN Gate Research as a Volunteer." and click the "OK" button.

Your VPN Gate Relay Service is deactivated.

Details and behaviors about VPN Gate Public VPN Relay Service

You can read the more-detailed behaviors and warnings about VPN Gate Public VPN Relay Service on the "Important Notices" screen in the installer.

If you have already installed the program, you can read the "Important Notices" at any time. Open the "About" box in the SoftEther VPN Client Manager, and click the "Important Notices" button.