Linux Gaming Network Setup
System Requirements
- •64-bit Linux distribution (Ubuntu 20.04+, Fedora 38+, Arch, or similar)
- •Internet connection
- •Root/sudo access (for network adapter setup)
Installation Methods
Choose the method that matches your distribution, or use the universal AppImage for any Linux system.
Ubuntu / Debian
Add the MoleTun Repository
Open a terminal and run:
curl -fsSL https://moletun.net/linux/gpg.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/moletun.gpg
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/moletun.gpg] https://moletun.net/linux/apt stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/moletun.list
Install MoleTun
sudo apt update
sudo apt install moletun
Launch MoleTun
Find MoleTun in your applications menu or run moletun in the terminal.
Fedora / RHEL
Add the MoleTun Repository
sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo https://moletun.net/linux/rpm/moletun.repo
Install MoleTun
sudo dnf install moletun
Launch MoleTun
Find MoleTun in your applications menu or run moletun in the terminal.
Arch Linux / Manjaro
Install from AUR
Using an AUR helper like yay:
yay -S moletun
Or manually:
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/moletun.git
cd moletun
makepkg -si
Launch MoleTun
Find MoleTun in your applications menu or run moletun in the terminal.
Universal AppImage Method
The AppImage works on any Linux distribution without installation.
Download the AppImage
Download the Linux AppImage from the MoleTun website.
Make It Executable
chmod +x MoleTun-*.AppImage
Run MoleTun
./MoleTun-*.AppImage
Or double-click the file in your file manager.
The AppImage is self-contained and requires no installation. Keep it anywhere convenient, like your home folder or a dedicated apps directory.
Proton and Wine Gaming Compatibility
MoleTun works seamlessly with Windows games running through Proton or Wine because it operates at the network layer of your Linux system.
Steam with Proton
- •Launch MoleTun and connect to your room
- •Open Steam and launch your game with Proton
- •The game sees the MoleTun network interface automatically
- •Use in-game LAN or direct IP features as normal
Wine / Lutris Games
- •Start MoleTun and join or create a room
- •Launch your game through Wine, Lutris, or Bottles
- •Windows games running in Wine use your Linux network stack
- •MoleTun's virtual network is available to all Wine applications
Compatibility Notes
- •Native Linux games: Work perfectly with MoleTun
- •Proton games: Full compatibility through Steam's Proton layer
- •Wine games: Compatible when running through Wine, Lutris, or Bottles
- •Flatpak games: May need network permissions enabled in Flatseal
Firewall Configuration
Most Linux distributions have a firewall that may block MoleTun connections.
UFW (Ubuntu/Debian)
# Allow MoleTun traffic
sudo ufw allow from 10.0.0.0/8
# Allow specific game ports (example: Minecraft)
sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp
sudo ufw allow 25565/udp
# Reload firewall
sudo ufw reload
firewalld (Fedora/RHEL)
# Create a zone for MoleTun
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --new-zone=moletun
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=moletun --add-source=10.0.0.0/8
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=moletun --set-target=ACCEPT
# Reload firewall
sudo firewall-cmd --reload
iptables (Manual)
# Allow all traffic from MoleTun subnet
sudo iptables -A INPUT -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A OUTPUT -d 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
# Save rules (varies by distribution)
sudo iptables-save > /etc/iptables/rules.v4
If you're unsure which firewall your system uses, run sudo systemctl status ufw or sudo systemctl status firewalld to check.
Verifying the Connection
After connecting to a room, verify MoleTun is working:
# Check for MoleTun network interface
ip addr show | grep -A 2 "tun"
# Ping another room member (replace with their MoleTun IP)
ping 10.64.0.2
You should see a tun interface with an IP address in the 10.x.x.x range.
Performance Tips
- •Use Ethernet when possible: Wired connections provide lower latency
- •Disable IPv6 for games: Some older games work better with IPv6 disabled
- •Check your MTU: Default MTU usually works, but some networks benefit from adjustment
- •Close bandwidth-heavy applications: Streaming or downloads affect game latency
Troubleshooting
MoleTun Won't Start
- •Check if you have sufficient permissions:
sudo moletun - •Look for error messages: run from terminal to see output
- •Verify no other tunnel software is running
Permission Denied Errors
MoleTun needs to create a network interface, which requires elevated privileges:
# Run with sudo if needed
sudo moletun
# Or set capabilities (package installers do this automatically)
sudo setcap cap_net_admin+ep /usr/bin/moletun
Game Can't Find Other Players
- •Confirm all players are in the same MoleTun room
- •Check that your firewall allows traffic from 10.0.0.0/8
- •Verify the game's LAN discovery is enabled
- •Try direct IP connection using MoleTun IP addresses
AppImage Issues
- •Ensure FUSE is installed:
sudo apt install fuse libfuse2(Ubuntu/Debian) - •Try extracting the AppImage:
./MoleTun-*.AppImage --appimage-extract - •Run the extracted version:
./squashfs-root/AppRun
Does MoleTun work with all Linux distributions?▼
Yes. The AppImage works on any modern 64-bit Linux distribution. Native packages are available for Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and Arch-based systems.
Can I play with friends on Windows or Mac?▼
Absolutely. MoleTun creates a cross-platform virtual network. Linux, Windows, and macOS users can all join the same room.
Do Proton games work with MoleTun?▼
Yes. Proton games use your Linux network stack, so they see the MoleTun interface just like native games. No special configuration needed.
What about Flatpak or Snap versions of games?▼
Sandboxed applications may need additional network permissions. For Flatpak, use Flatseal to grant network access. Snap games usually work without changes.
Is there a command-line only version?▼
MoleTun includes a CLI mode. Run moletun --help to see available commands for headless operation or scripting.