I need help here. I am hitting the wall. Please help a noob.

[Finger79]

@lovan6:

If I deleted ISAKMP rules, Is there any order on Mappings? or just leave it as is?

As is is fine.

[lovan6]

@Finger79:

@lovan6:

I was really scratching my head. Next is to check my firewall settings (see attachment). On Firewall rules expressvpn i noticed it was empty.

It should be empty.  The way pfSense firewall rules work is they apply to traffic coming into that interface.  So you probably do not want anyone coming into your home and pfSense router from the outside world through the ExpressVPN interface.

I would delete all firewall rules on the ExpressVPN interface and only use LAN rules.

Expressvpn firewall rules was originaly on Lan rules "Local_Subnets = Lan Traffic expressvpn" but I can not access websites. The only thing that work for me is to move it to Firewall/ Rules/ExpressVPN which resulted to no connection to VPN.

[Finger79]

@lovan6:

Expressvpn firewall rules was originaly on Lan rules "Local_Subnets = Lan Traffic expressvpn" but I can not access websites. The only thing that work for me is to move it to Firewall/ Rules/ExpressVPN which resulted to no connection to VPN.

I say again:  Your ExpressVPN interface rules should be completely empty, unless you want traffic coming INTO that interface, which I would guess is a solid "no."  Leave that whole interface rules blank.

Regarding the one rule you set up:  I thought you wanted to set up an alias for your three Roku devices.  It's unnecessary to really set up an alias for 192.168.1.0/24 since you can just put that directly in the firewall rule.

In fact, if you want your entire LAN subnet to go out through ExpressVPN, then it's not really necessary to have that rule in the first place.  Your ExpressVPN configuration should automatically pull routes.

[lovan6]

I followed your suggestions on the NAT outbound. I also deleted the Firewall/Rules/EXPRESSVPN and instead put back the Firewall/Rules/Lan.

I also change System/General /Setup as suggested. I was able to connect back to expressvpn but it resulted to a slow connections. some sites are not available. Is there a way to coorect this?

Also I am not in the process of setting up the Roku yet. I just want to make sure I won't have any problem with browsing. If connection is slow on browsing I think I can not be able to stream my Rokus.

I tinker on Interface/ExpressVPN. Under general Information, IPv4 Configuration Type = DHCP. this was the instruciotns by expressvpn. If I change from DHCP to NONE, I get faster browsing but I get disconnected from VPN.

I have not use any traffic shaper for the moment fyi.

I am providing some screenshots for your perusal.


[Finger79]

@lovan6:

I was able to connect back to expressvpn but it resulted to a slow connections. some sites are not available. Is there a way to coorect this?

Let's compare apples to apples.

1.  Is your OpenVPN configuration on pfSense identical to your OpenVPN configuration on your Asus router?
2.  On your Asus router, are you able to visit Amazon and other sites, or are you getting the same error message?  If so, why?
3.  On your Asus router (which I assume has much slower CPU than your pfSense box), is VPN throughput slow?
4.  On your Asus router, are you also connected to ExpressVPN - Los Angeles?
5.  Are you in Europe?  Asia?  Somewhere else?  You may want to try out different VPN servers and see if speed improves.
6.  Where did you get the config settings in "Custom options"?  Also, is everything else correct such as the SHA512 HMAC?

@lovan6:

I tinker on Interface/ExpressVPN. Under general Information, IPv4 Configuration Type = DHCP. this was the instruciotns by expressvpn. If I change from DHCP to NONE, I get faster browsing but I get disconnected from VPN.

FYI:  I have my VPN interfaces all set to "None."

[Finger79]

@lovan6:

I followed your suggestions on the NAT outbound.

Dude, you're tweaking mah OCD.  :P  I'd edit your Descriptions for sanity purposes as in my screenshot.  Just two edits.  "LAN to ExpressVPN" and "localhost to ExpressVPN"

[lovan6]

@Finger79:

@lovan6:

I was able to connect back to expressvpn but it resulted to a slow connections. some sites are not available. Is there a way to coorect this?

Let's compare apples to apples.

1.  Is your OpenVPN configuration on pfSense identical to your OpenVPN configuration on your Asus router?
2.  On your Asus router, are you able to visit Amazon and other sites, or are you getting the same error message?  If so, why?
3.  On your Asus router (which I assume has much slower CPU than your pfSense box), is VPN throughput slow?
4.  On your Asus router, are you also connected to ExpressVPN - Los Angeles?
5.  Are you in Europe?  Asia?  Somewhere else?  You may want to try out different VPN servers and see if speed improves.
6.  Where did you get the config settings in "Custom options"?  Also, is everything else correct such as the SHA512 HMAC?

@lovan6:

I tinker on Interface/ExpressVPN. Under general Information, IPv4 Configuration Type = DHCP. this was the instruciotns by expressvpn. If I change from DHCP to NONE, I get faster browsing but I get disconnected from VPN.

FYI:  I have my VPN interfaces all set to "None."

1.  Yes they are exactly the same as my Asus router.

2.  I don't have any problem on any website on Asus on Expressvpn. In fact 1 have 3 simultaneous connections in the US.

3.  Yes the throughput is slow 3 to 5 mpbs Up/down. That is the reason I want to migrate to Pfsense.

4.  On the Asus I have 2 connections to Los Angeles and 1 connection to New Jersey

5.  I am from SE Asia. I have tried to connect to different US servers they are almost all the same when it comes to speed. Not all  Expresss vpn servers are good for geolocation blocking. so far the 3 I mention works well on my Asus.

6  I followed expressvpn link provided.

https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/pfsense-with-expressvpn-openvpn/

This is the custom options provided on their website.

fast-io;persist-key;persist-tun;remote-random;pull;tls-client;verify-x509-name Server name-prefix;ns-cert-type server;key-direction 1;route-method exe;route-delay 2;tun-mtu 1500;fragment 1300;mssfix 1450;verb 3;sndbuf 524288;rcvbuf 524288

Its SHA512 bit. I am not sure if its HMAC.

[lovan6]

@Finger79:

@lovan6:

I followed your suggestions on the NAT outbound.

Dude, you're tweaking mah OCD.  :P  I'd edit your Descriptions for sanity purposes as in my screenshot.  Just two edits.  "LAN to ExpressVPN" and "localhost to ExpressVPN"

My apologies to you. I am thinking of taking some Xanax with these pfsense ordeal.

Anyway I am attaching some desktop screenshots.


[lovan6]

I finally able to solve my pfsense ordeal. It took me 15 hours to figure everything out. Geolocation blocking is finally fixed. Netflix and Hulu are working but at the moment I can not get access to Amazon website on OpenVPN.

I would like to thank Finger79 and kenjianshi for their resolute support.

I will post some instructions later the day but until I resolve Amazon DNS problem.

[kejianshi]

Yes - It is very odd that netflix would work but not amazon.  Its probably a simple fix.  We can see after you post your final configuration.

This could be a DNS issue.  You might want to find out if your VPN provider has their own dedicated reliable DNS IP and use that.

The problem I have with 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 is those can connect you to many different servers depending on your location.

In my laptop off the VPN from Manila when I ping 8.8.8.8, its 30ms

When in my vpn I use my remote pfsense LAN IP as my DNS server IP.  When I ping that IP, it shows about 250ms.  Far away as it should be.

When I ping 8.8.8.8 in the vpn, again over 250ms.  So, it is being tunneled properly.

We might want to do that test with you to be sure that the DNS servers you are connecting to are physically in the USA and not close by.

Could be something else though.  Not sure.  Its strange.

[wayne622]

I have a question because I have the same dilemma. If I am using 3 OpenVPN connections for my Outgoing DNS Resolver settings I would select all 3 for the Outgoing Interfaces.  But, when Unbound is doing the resolving will it send a query out to all 3 Interfaces or only 1?

I also have a Gateway Group that is setup for fail-over purposes for the OpenVPN not sure if that matters as to whether or not Unbound will send a query to all interfaces or just the one that traffic is suppose to be going out at that time.

[tagit446]

You can check your ExpressVPN IP and DNS here: https://www.expressvpn.com/dns-leak-test

[lovan6]

@kejianshi:

Yes - It is very odd that netflix would work but not amazon.  Its probably a simple fix.  We can see after you post your final configuration.

This could be a DNS issue.  You might want to find out if your VPN provider has their own dedicated reliable DNS IP and use that.

The problem I have with 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 is those can connect you to many different servers depending on your location.

In my laptop off the VPN from Manila when I ping 8.8.8.8, its 30ms

When in my vpn I use my remote pfsense LAN IP as my DNS server IP.  When I ping that IP, it shows about 250ms.  Far away as it should be.

When I ping 8.8.8.8 in the vpn, again over 250ms.  So, it is being tunneled properly.

We might want to do that test with you to be sure that the DNS servers you are connecting to are physically in the USA and not close by.

Could be something else though.  Not sure.  Its strange.

I talk to my local ISP and bought their decommissioned DNS server ($$$$) on a condition that I have a dedicated US DNS connection.

[kejianshi]

Swatting flies with cannons?

[Finger79]

@wayne622:

I have a question because I have the same dilemma. If I am using 3 OpenVPN connections for my Outgoing DNS Resolver settings I would select all 3 for the Outgoing Interfaces.  But, when Unbound is doing the resolving will it send a query out to all 3 Interfaces or only 1?

I also have a Gateway Group that is setup for fail-over purposes for the OpenVPN not sure if that matters as to whether or not Unbound will send a query to all interfaces or just the one that traffic is suppose to be going out at that time.

Unbound sends DNS queries out all interfaces.  You can verify this from a DNS Leak tester such as this one:  https://www.dnsleaktest.com/ and click on "Extended Test."  You'll see the IP addresses for all 3 of your OpenVPN connections.

[Finger79]

@kejianshi:

Yes - It is very odd that netflix would work but not amazon.  Its probably a simple fix.  We can see after you post your final configuration.

This could be a DNS issue.  You might want to find out if your VPN provider has their own dedicated reliable DNS IP and use that.

The problem I have with 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 is those can connect you to many different servers depending on your location.

In my laptop off the VPN from Manila when I ping 8.8.8.8, its 30ms

When in my vpn I use my remote pfsense LAN IP as my DNS server IP.  When I ping that IP, it shows about 250ms.  Far away as it should be.

When I ping 8.8.8.8 in the vpn, again over 250ms.  So, it is being tunneled properly.

We might want to do that test with you to be sure that the DNS servers you are connecting to are physically in the USA and not close by.

Could be something else though.  Not sure.  Its strange.

He's using unbound for DNS resolution though.  The Google 8.8.8.8/8.8.4.4 settings are only used by the pfSense box if the VPN tunnel goes down.  No LAN DNS queries should be forwarded to Google DNS.

[kejianshi]

Why should netflix work and amazon not?  That is fairly backwards

[Finger79]

@kejianshi:

Why should netflix work and amazon not?  That is fairly backwards

That's never made sense to me.  All else being equal, why would Amazon work when using the Asus router for OpenVPN but Amazon doesn't work when using pfSense for OpenVPN?  So weird.  lovan6 says the configurations are exactly the same, which means we should expect the same results.  shrug