Two Routers - VPN and Regular Connection

[Nashy]

Alright, so when it comes to networking, if it doesn't work when I plug it in, I'm on struggle street.

Basically, I am using ExpressVPN.  I have a wireless modem/router, which is a crappy ISP issued thing, and a Netgear N300, capable of using PPTP.

 

How do I go about connecting to the VPN, only when I want to?  Is it possible to run them both side by side and connect to router 1 when I want my regular non VPN connecting, and router two when I want VPN access?

[SaltLife]

of course you can connect to one or the other

or put your modem in bridged mode temporarily (if it supports it, if not its a little more cumbersome)

or phone up your ISP and have them disable the wireless/router capabilities on their device so it acts like a traditional modem

of course there may be better options

[SaltLife]

if its Comcast or a cable based I know the should be able too on those arris/technicolor devices they use.. if its like uverse or DSL I don't know..

[Nashy]

It is a technicolor device, but issued by Telstra Australia.

I know it can be done.  But I don't know how.  If I disable to the modem, I have no Internet?

[SaltLife]

no, you're disabling the router aspect of the modem. your isp can disable it so it acts like a traditional modem. if they are reluctant to do so or you can't persuade them let them know that you want a standard DOCSIS 3.0 modem because of your network requirement and not a residential gateway...

[SaltLife]

FYI it's not user definable so you won't see the option. they block settings but it can be done.

[Nashy]

Don't I still need that to work though?

I want to be able to use PC with no VPN, while using xbox with VPN.

[SaltLife]

no.. you have your own personal router that you are using on top of the TC, no?..

okay looked up that router but that model number suggest that it is for DSL? If you are running a double NAT you will run into issues

what is your current setup? even with just the TC only your VPN software should work. are you trying to connect to an external resource or have something connect to your network?

[Nashy]

I don't know what half of that message means, but here's what I have.



Technicolor providing Internet, and Wifi to devices around the house.  Australian connection

Netgear WNR2200 with DDWRT

 

The problem I'm running into, I need OpenVPN.  But all the guides I'm looking at are either too old and no relevant, or I'm just way too stupid.  DDWRT's guide is a pain, because it tells you to check about 4 other websites for guides for other things that confuses me even more.

 

If I can get openVPN working on this stupid thing, I should be able to sort the rest. 

[Nashy]

Can someone suggest a service that doesn't suck, and can help me make this work. 

Really learning to appreciate people who know their ###### with networks, cause this stuff sucks.

[+BudMan MVC]

The correct way to do with would be policy routing..

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Policy_Based_Routing

Does you netgear support dd-wrt? Do you have a box you can run a routing distro with, pfsense can do this very simple. Be in a VM or native on the box?

If you want to do with with netgear and dd-wrt, I would suggest you contact your isp and have them bridge your device, no reason to double nat. But can work with it if needed.

If you can put dd-wrt on your netgear let me know and we can walk through that option, or if you can run say pfsense as your router that too works.

Or other options - does your xbox need to talk to the rest of your network.. Or can it just be accessing just the internet through the vpn connection?

with policy based routing everything would be on 1 network, with another way to do actually be easier with another router and you would double nat to different routers - if you don't care if xbox is on your current network can do fairly simple with what you have.

[riahc3]

Hello,

Does you netgear support dd-wrt?

Since you have helped me countless times, I looked up his Netgear N300 and it seems to support DD-WRT.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Netgear_WNR3500L

From this page: http://synacl.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/running-dd-wrt-and-openvpn-client-on-a-netgear-n300-wnr3500l/ It seems the N300 and the WNR35001 are the same so it should support it.

I highly suggest sticking with your DD-WRT router and then from then on, read and do BudMan's advice :p

[Nashy]

I have DDWRT on the netgear router, and it's working great.  It doesn't have OpenVPN however.

[Nashy]

The correct way to do with would be policy routing..

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Policy_Based_Routing

Does you netgear support dd-wrt? Do you have a box you can run a routing distro with, pfsense can do this very simple. Be in a VM or native on the box?

If you want to do with with netgear and dd-wrt, I would suggest you contact your isp and have them bridge your device, no reason to double nat. But can work with it if needed.

If you can put dd-wrt on your netgear let me know and we can walk through that option, or if you can run say pfsense as your router that too works.

Or other options - does your xbox need to talk to the rest of your network.. Or can it just be accessing just the internet through the vpn connection?

with policy based routing everything would be on 1 network, with another way to do actually be easier with another router and you would double nat to different routers - if you don't care if xbox is on your current network can do fairly simple with what you have.

notgoodway.png

 

 

Just on that.  I don't have a way of connecting by computer via ethernet to the router, unless the router is connected via wireless.

[Marshall Veteran]

The correct way to do with would be policy routing..

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Policy_Based_Routing

Does you netgear support dd-wrt? Do you have a box you can run a routing distro with, pfsense can do this very simple. Be in a VM or native on the box?

If you want to do with with netgear and dd-wrt, I would suggest you contact your isp and have them bridge your device, no reason to double nat. But can work with it if needed.

If you can put dd-wrt on your netgear let me know and we can walk through that option, or if you can run say pfsense as your router that too works.

Or other options - does your xbox need to talk to the rest of your network.. Or can it just be accessing just the internet through the vpn connection?

with policy based routing everything would be on 1 network, with another way to do actually be easier with another router and you would double nat to different routers - if you don't care if xbox is on your current network can do fairly simple with what you have.

notgoodway.png

 

What software do you use for you diagrams?

[+BudMan MVC]

that is just gliffy for that picture.

Who said anything about openvpn?? If you have dd-wrt on your netgear then set it up as a vpn client and setup policy based routing..

What vpn connection are you using - how do you expect it to work if your router does not support it? I would pick a vpn provider that supports what client you want to use.

Personally I would just a get a lowend vps and run whatever I wanted on it for $15 a year or so ;)

As to "I don't have a way of connecting by computer via ethernet to the router"

No clue to what your thinking your issue with not having wire is? It was a simple picture trying to show how it could be setup with different networks? And not have to use policy routing. You could be wired or wireless in any setup as a client.

As to dd-wrt setup for openvpn?? What version of firmware did you install - click click you can setup client

Also where are you looking that info is on other pages, outdated? Are you not on the wiki?

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/OpenVPN

[Nashy]

 

that is just gliffy for that picture.

Who said anything about openvpn?? If you have dd-wrt on your netgear then set it up as a vpn client and setup policy based routing..

What vpn connection are you using - how do you expect it to work if your router does not support it? I would pick a vpn provider that supports what client you want to use.

Personally I would just a get a lowend vps and run whatever I wanted on it for $15 a year or so  ;)

As to "I don't have a way of connecting by computer via ethernet to the router"

No clue to what your thinking your issue with not having wire is? It was a simple picture trying to show how it could be setup with different networks? And not have to use policy routing. You could be wired or wireless in any setup as a client.

As to dd-wrt setup for openvpn?? What version of firmware did you install - click click you can setup client

 clientsvpnpptp.png

Also where are you looking that info is on other pages, outdated? Are you not on the wiki?
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/OpenVPN

 

I'm glad you found this thread, I was really hoping you did, because I've seen you are crazy smart with this stuff.  I'm the complete opposite.  I did look at that wiki, but I can't make sense of it in anyway.  I simply don't understand it.

As for the wifi/ethernet comment, I was just throwing that out there, because I didn't know if it mattered or not.  So I should be looking for a VPN solution that uses PPTP?  Or should I be trying to get OpenVPN installed.  The reason that came up, is that the couple I have spoken to, including the VPN service I purchased, said I needed OpenVPN to connect via the router.

Appreciate any help you can give, I'm a little out of my element here.

[+BudMan MVC]

Ok if your using opevpn - then what version of dd-wrt did you install, as you can see its right there in the gui how to connect it as a client.

But to be honest and you looked at the wiki and can not understand any of it - then maybe a router based vpn is just beyond your current skills.

Why don't you just install a client on your machine - and use a vpn that way.

I have to be honest - for what possible reason do you think you need a vpn for your xbox for in the first place?

[Nashy]

Netflix.

That's the problem, It's Version 24 Beta 2 installed on the router, but it didn't come with openVPN.  If I had openVPN, I wouldn't have an issue, but the steps to get it installed aren't exactly noob friendly.

[+BudMan MVC]

What build -- this is the current build

ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/others/eko/BrainSlayer-V24-preSP2/2013/07-24-2013-r22118/netgear-wnr2200/

And your saying it does not have openvpn on it?

What are you looking at to install openvpn on it - your saying you don't see the tab in the my screenshot?

[Nashy]

[+BudMan MVC]

Well I can see from the date 3/25/13 your not running the current build.

Update the firmware to current. Does that fix the missing openvpn?

AH -- here is your problem

In this section, it is assumed that you already have the DD-WRT installed in your router and that its a current build (newer than 01/2011). OpenVPN is only available on units with at least 8mb flash (except the Broadcom VPN build.)

I show your model as only having 4mb of flash.. So would explain lack of it, just use a pptp vpn then.

edit: from looking at http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices#Netgear

if you have v1 it should have 8mb flash, version 2 and 3 only have 4.. So what exact version of the wnr2200 do you have?

[Nashy]

I will check it tonight when I get home and get back to you.  Thanks for looking into it.

So I went to the router database, and this was the only software available, can I just throw a generic firmware on there can I?

[+BudMan MVC]

Dude I gave you the link to the current version..

Lets find out exactly what version you have v1, v2, v3? Before we go talking about generic builds.. And why can you not just use pptp? Pretty sure most every vpn provider out there supports that.

[Nashy]

I've just installed DD-WRT from the link provided.  It's still the same version I was running earlier when I posted the screenshot above, but the OpenVPN option is now available.

I've been told PPTP is not as good, and that OpenVPN with the way to go.  I don't learn anything I just taking the easy option.