Hello I am wondering if there is increased network/packet security by connecting to a server over ssh through a VPN hosted by that same server as opposed to without first tunneling by VPN. I imagine with or without tunneling through a VPN there would be latency/speed differences too?
Yes.
Using a VPN for all your traffic obscures your usage and hinders surveillance by your internet provider. If you ssh directly to your server, that’s one extra bit of information (that you’re ssh’ing into the server) your internet provider has about you. Whether this is significant or useful to the provider is questionable, but the short answer is “yes, it provides more security.” That said, AI is probably being already used to do pattern analysis on traffic, and they might still be able to tell you’re making an ssh connection, unless you’re also constantly streaming through the VPN, too.
I’m going to get heat for this, but running a bitcoin wallet on your home computer - whether or not you actually have any coins or are mining - is a great way to generate a variable amount of constant traffic to an endpoint. Hosting a public IPFS, web site, torrent seeds, or Freenet node are also good ways, although some of those require opening ports to inbound connections and could invite attacks.
Thank you for this excellent answer
