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Hello. I'm hoping to get some advice on what router I could purchase for my home network. Here's what it needs to be able to do:
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Have bridged mode (using non-bridged is a huge pain in the a**
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Be able to download and use the ExpressVPN app (the only VPN I have and, for some reason, they can't install onto my pfSense.
I've heard that NetGear and good and could do this but I can't find a link and don't know if it supports bridged mode. Could someone please link me to a router that will both be compatible with the ExpressVPN app and 100% have bridged mode?
Thanks in advance.
John
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Looks like ExpressVPN uses OpenVPN, pfSense supports OpenVPN and I've used it to connect to NordVPN, you'll just need to set it up by hand :-
https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/manual-config-for-asus-router-with-openvpn/
Why bridged mode ?
You know you can install pfSense on most Intel hardware with dual network cards.
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Looks like ExpressVPN uses OpenVPN, pfSense supports OpenVPN and I've used it to connect to NordVPN, you'll just need to set it up by hand :-
https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/manual-config-for-asus-router-with-openvpn/
Why bridged mode ?
You know you can install pfSense on most Intel hardware with dual network cards.
Yeah but there was a huge problem because my BT Home Hub router was assigning pfSense a private IP and nothing could connect to the internet. I managed to get it working but I feel that it may impede me later on in pfSense.
Also I spend a good 2 hours with ExpressVPN support trying to get it working but in the end they just said that it's not guaranteed to work.
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I'm in the UK and have VDSL with Zen Internet, can't you just swap out your BT router with a Modem, that will avoid the double NAT.
Loads of cheap ones on ebay :-
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2053587.m570.l1313.TR7.TRC1.A0.H0.XOpenreach+Modem.TRS0&_nkw=Openreach+Modem&_sacat=0
It's more than likely the double NAT was causing an issue with OpenVPN.
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I'm in the UK and have VDSL with Zen Internet, can't you just swap out your BT router with a Modem, that will avoid the double NAT.
Loads of cheap ones on ebay :-
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2053587.m570.l1313.TR7.TRC1.A0.H0.XOpenreach+Modem.TRS0&_nkw=Openreach+Modem&_sacat=0
It's more than likely the double NAT was causing an issue with OpenVPN.
Yeah I think it was something to do with NAT.
I do have that modem, is there some way I could configure bridged with that? all the BT support materials say that bridged mode can't be done on their routers.
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Set the WAN interface to PPPoE under IPv4 Configuration Type and in the PPPoE Configuration pop in your BT details.
Your pfSense WAN will then get your BT public IP address.
Use the modem to replace the BT router.
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Set the WAN interface to PPPoE under IPv4 Configuration Type and in the PPPoE Configuration pop in your BT details.
Your pfSense WAN will then get your BT public IP address.
Use the modem to replace the BT router.
Do you happen to know where I would get those details from BT?
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"I do have that modem, is there some way I could configure bridged with that? all the BT support materials say that bridged mode can't be done on their routers."
If there is they may not want you to know. Mine had the setting hidden by the CSS file setting. Search around and see if someone has found a way or has discovered a hidden page. Try firefox in developer mode if you want and dig down and check any relevant settings page. ;) -
Set the WAN interface to PPPoE under IPv4 Configuration Type and in the PPPoE Configuration pop in your BT details.
Your pfSense WAN will then get your BT public IP address.
Use the modem to replace the BT router.
Do you happen to know where I would get those details from BT?
Not sure TBH, maybe have a poke about the BT forums.
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Set the WAN interface to PPPoE under IPv4 Configuration Type and in the PPPoE Configuration pop in your BT details.
Your pfSense WAN will then get your BT public IP address.
Use the modem to replace the BT router.
Do you happen to know where I would get those details from BT?
Not sure TBH.
I do have an openreach modem next to me but I don't know what to do with it, does anyone know how I would be able to configure bridged with it?
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You don't do anything with the modem apart from disconnecting your home hub and connect the modem in its place.
Then change the pfSense WAN connection to PPPoE, but I think you'll need a BT ID & password.
https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=136545.msg747008#msg747008 << maybe look at this for the userid & password.