Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 22:14 Post subject: DD-WRT VPN feature versus Open VPN on Linksys WRT3200ACM
Hi guys,
I just bought a Linksys WRT3200ACM, and I plan to set it up to run a VPN service.
My question is: What are the upsides and downsides of using the Open VPN feature of the stock firmware versus flashing the router with DD-WRT and using its VPN feature?
I'm open to flashing my router but I'm not sure if DD-WRT is yet stable enough for the Linksys WRT3200ACM. Since downgrading to stock firmware requires quite some work from what I've read, I'm hesitant to flash it, and I just rather use the Open VPN feature from the stock firmware.
What would you do? Flash and hope for stability? Run the stock firmware with Open VPN?
Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 15:33 Post subject: Re: DD-WRT VPN feature versus Open VPN on Linksys WRT3200ACM
Tolerator wrote:
... What are the upsides and downsides of using the Open VPN feature of the stock firmware versus flashing the router with DD-WRT and using its VPN feature?...
I'am a proud Linksys WRT3200 owner, since Tuesday and new in this forum, too.
I flashed the latest beta firmware (DD-WRT v3.0-r33345 std (09/11/17)) to get the OpenVPN "Client" feature to use a VPN-Privacy-Service.
Let's share my experiences with this custom firmware:
upsides (pro's) of custom (DD-WRT firmware):
- router able to use as VPN-Client and VPN-Server
- tons of customizable settings
Thanks for sharing your experience. I decided to flash my router as well, using the same DD-WRT version dating from 09/11/2017. So far, everything seems to work fine. In the Setup/Basic Setup tab, I have entered my VPN settings and it seems to work.
However, I have one more question: Under Services/VPN I can set up an Open VPN client. Is that something you would rescommend to do? What is the difference between setting up an VPN connection in the Setup/Basic Setup tab, and setting up an additional (?) Open VPN client?
Under Services/VPN I can set up an Open VPN client. Is that something you would rescommend to do?
This option you need to configure only, if you connect to an existing Open VPN-Server. This function is useful to connect all your clients connected to the router to the same VPN tunnel. (= the router is sharing the VPN connection it is connected to)
For example, you want to protect your IP-Adress for privacy purpose and all your wireless/cabled devices (connected to the DD-WRT router) should be protected you should use this function. (You need a VPN service for this example)
Tolerator wrote:
What is the difference between setting up an VPN connection in the Setup/Basic Setup tab, and setting up an additional (?) Open VPN client?
Setup/Basic Setup:
I found this article: "https://www.cactusvpn.com/tutorials/how-to-set-up-l2tp-vpn-on-dd-wrt-routers/"
In my case the DD-WRT router is not my primary router. The OpenVPN "Client" option works like charm. My IP is protected.
I'm not quite sure if I understand the whole concept...
I subscribed to a VPN provider and entered my credentials into the "WAN Connection Type" section choosing a PPTP as connection type. If I visit the homepage of my VPN provider, it tells me I'm protected. If I check my IP address, I'm located somewhere in new Jersey (which is not my actual location). So far, so good.
But I wonder why would you set up an additional Open VPN connection in the Services/VPN tab? Does an Open VPN client gives you additional protection?
O.k.
I just set up the Open VPN client and I get a "Client: CONNECTED SUCCESS" message. Since in the Setup/Basic Setup tag PPTP is still enabled, I hope that my router rather uses the Open VPN connection now. But I can't be really sure, right?
I found out that it works after I set the connection type to "Automatic Configuration - DHCP". With PPTP enabled it did not use the Open VPN connection but the one I specified for PPTP. But now that I changed the WAN setting, it works beautifully! Thanks for your help...