Lightway - ExpressVPN’s proprietary VPN protocol ==================================================== .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What is Lightway?** Lightway is ExpressVPN’s proprietary VPN protocol, designed to be fast, secure, lightweight, and reliable. It replaces traditional protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard with a custom-built solution optimized for modern devices. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Why is Lightway important?** * Offers faster connection times and better battery efficiency. * Built using Rust, enhancing security and performance. * Open-source and auditable, increasing trust and transparency. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **How Lightway works (in simple steps):** * You connect to ExpressVPN using the Lightway protocol. * Lightway establishes a secure encrypted tunnel using wolfSSL. * Your internet traffic is routed through this tunnel to the VPN server. * The server forwards your traffic to its destination, masking your IP and encrypting your data. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Where is Lightway used?** * ExpressVPN apps on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and routers. * Ideal for mobile users, travelers, and privacy-conscious individuals who need fast and stable VPN connections. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Which OSI Layer does this protocol belong to?** Lightway operates at the **Application Layer (Layer 7)** because: * It interacts directly with user-level applications to establish secure communication. * It wraps and secures lower-layer protocols, providing encrypted transport for app data. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow Topics in this section, * :ref:`Learnings in this section ` * :ref:`Terminology ` * :ref:`Version Info ` * :ref:`Lightway Version&RFC Details ` * :ref:`Lightway Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 ` * :ref:`Lightway Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv6 ` * :ref:`Lightway Protocol Packet Details ` * :ref:`Lightway Usecases ` * :ref:`Lightway Basic Features ` * :ref:`Lightway Feature : Lightweight Design ` * :ref:`Lightway Feature : Fast Connection & Reconnect ` * :ref:`Lightway Feature : Modern Cryptography ` * :ref:`Lightway Feature : Cross-Platform Support ` * :ref:`Lightway Feature : Battery Efficiency ` * :ref:`Lightway Feature : Session Persistence ` * :ref:`Lightway Feature : Minimal Attack Surface ` * :ref:`Lightway Feature : Open Source Transparency ` * :ref:`Lightway Feature : Rust Implementation (v2+) ` * :ref:`Lightway Feature : Future-Ready Architecture ` * :ref:`Reference links ` .. _Lightway_step1: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Learnings in this section * In this section, you are going to learn .. _Lightway_step2: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Terminology * Terminology .. _Lightway_step3: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Version Info * Version Info .. _Lightway_step5: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Version&RFC Details .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_version_rfc_details.csv :widths: 10,10,10,30 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step20: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 **Setup** .. _Lightway_step21: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv6 **Setup** .. _Lightway_step6: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Protocol Packet Details **Handshake Packet** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_packetdetails1.csv :widths: 10,20,30,10 :header-rows: 1 **Data Packet** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_packetdetails2.csv :widths: 10,20,30,10 :header-rows: 1 **Keepalive Packet** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_packetdetails3.csv :widths: 10,20,30,10 :header-rows: 1 **Session Termination** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_packetdetails4.csv :widths: 10,20,30,10 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step7: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Usecases .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_use_cases.csv :widths: 10,20,30 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step8: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Basic Features .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_basic_features.csv :widths: 10,10,30 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step9: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Feature : Lightweight Design **Lightweight Design - Testcases** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_feature1_lightweight_design_testcases.csv :widths: 10,10,30,20 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step10: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Feature : Fast Connection & Reconnect **Fast Connection & Reconnect - Testcases** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_feature2_fast_connection_reconnect_testcases.csv :widths: 10,10,30,20 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step11: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Feature : Modern Cryptography **Modern Cryptography - Testcases** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_feature3_modern_cryptography_testcases.csv :widths: 10,10,30,20 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step12: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Feature : Cross-Platform Support **Cross-Platform Support - Testcases** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_feature4_cross_platform_support_testcases.csv :widths: 10,10,30,20 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step13: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Feature : Battery Efficiency **Battery Efficiency - Testcases** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_feature5_battery_efficiency_testcases.csv :widths: 10,10,30,20 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step14: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Feature : Session Persistence **Session Persistence - Testcases** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_feature6_session_persistence_testcases.csv :widths: 10,10,30,20 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step15: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Feature : Minimal Attack Surface **Minimal Attack Surface - Testcases** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_feature7_minimal_attack_surface_testcases.csv :widths: 10,10,30,20 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step16: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Feature : Open Source Transparency **Open Source Transparency - Testcases** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_feature8_open_source_transparency_testcases.csv :widths: 10,10,30,20 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step17: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Feature : Rust Implementation (v2+) **Rust Implementation (v2+) - Testcases** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_feature9_rust_implementation_v2plus_testcases.csv :widths: 10,10,30,20 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step18: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Lightway Feature : Future-Ready Architecture **Future-Ready Architecture - Testcases** .. csv-table:: :file: ./Lightway/lightway_feature10_future_ready_architecture_testcases.csv :widths: 10,10,30,20 :header-rows: 1 .. _Lightway_step19: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Reference links * Reference links