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    OpenVPN server static IP

    OpenVPN
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    • Y
      yummy909
      last edited by

      I would like to set a static IP of the OpenVPN server and select the range of IP for the client. Iv looked everywhere and don't see where I can set those settings. Can anyone help? Using PFsense V. 2.4.4-RELEASE-p2.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • RicoR
        Rico LAYER 8 Rebel Alliance
        last edited by

        The server gets the first IP of the tunnel network, remaining IPs is the range for clients.

        -Rico

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • Y
          yummy909
          last edited by

          I see that but my goal is to be on the same subnet as the lan side. Is there a way?

          JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • JKnottJ
            JKnott @yummy909
            last edited by

            @yummy909 said in OpenVPN server static IP:

            I see that but my goal is to be on the same subnet as the lan side. Is there a way?

            Set up a TAP VPN, instead of TUN.

            PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
            i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
            UniFi AC-Lite access point

            I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • Y
              yummy909
              last edited by

              Ill give that a try. Ill keep you posted.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • RicoR
                Rico LAYER 8 Rebel Alliance
                last edited by

                You should stay in standard tun mode, only switch to tap if you really need to.

                -Rico

                JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • Y
                  yummy909
                  last edited by

                  So I tried the TAP mode and now works great on my laptop. My phone is another issue. The OPENvpn IOS app will not accept TAP mode. TUN mode only. So I made two OPENvpns servers. One TUN for my phone and TAP for my laptop. Was really hoping to get both on TAP mode. So all in all, a success! Thanks for the help! Just a side note. I seem to be bottle necked with downloading or uploading. Bounces around 2 to 5 MB/s. I am on a gigabit network and my pfsense router cpu bearly cracks 2% load. Any way to speed up the VPN?

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • RicoR
                    Rico LAYER 8 Rebel Alliance
                    last edited by

                    Try with these options

                    fast-io
                    sndbuf 524288
                    rcvbuf 524288
                    

                    -Rico

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • Y
                      yummy909
                      last edited by

                      To the server or the client config file?

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • RicoR
                        Rico LAYER 8 Rebel Alliance
                        last edited by

                        Both sides.

                        -Rico

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • Y
                          yummy909
                          last edited by

                          Thanks for the tip but no improvement. I would have to run it again without the mod but I think it might have gotten worst.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • Y
                            yummy909
                            last edited by

                            Well going to try something. Ill report back later.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • RicoR
                              Rico LAYER 8 Rebel Alliance
                              last edited by

                              Maybe you need to play around a bit with those parameters.
                              Check https://forum.netgate.com/topic/115495/openvpn-fast-io-and-sndbuf-rcvbuf-options-in-the-gui and https://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/7507

                              -Rico

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • JKnottJ
                                JKnott @Rico
                                last edited by

                                @rico said in OpenVPN server static IP:

                                You should stay in standard tun mode, only switch to tap if you really need to.

                                -Rico

                                He said "I see that but my goal is to be on the same subnet as the lan side. Is there a way?". The only way that's going to happen is with TAP. Tun requires a separate subnet.

                                Here's some info on what he wants to do:

                                Bridged OpenVPN Connections

                                PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                                i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
                                UniFi AC-Lite access point

                                I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                • RicoR
                                  Rico LAYER 8 Rebel Alliance
                                  last edited by

                                  I know what he asked and what a bridge is.
                                  99% of people asking for this do not really need to carry layer 2 over VPN and just want to have the same subnet for some kind of cosmetic reason.
                                  For most scenarios to cover layer 3 is just fine, in OpenVPN it is widely supported, more stable, less overhead.
                                  If you really need to transfer layer 2 stuff...sure go for tap mode, but you need to live with the donwsides then.

                                  -Rico

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • Y
                                    yummy909
                                    last edited by

                                    Wanted to give an update. TAP VPN has been working great! Everything works and the speed issue was my connection where I was. Thank you for everyones help!! PFsense is awesome!!

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • Y
                                      yummy909
                                      last edited by

                                      By the way... What is the con of doing TAP vs TUN VPN?

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • RicoR
                                        Rico LAYER 8 Rebel Alliance
                                        last edited by

                                        TAP benefits:

                                        • behaves like a real network adapter (except it is a virtual network adapter)
                                        • can transport any network protocols (IPv4, IPv6, Netalk, IPX, etc, etc)
                                        • Works in layer 2, meaning Ethernet frames are passed over the VPN tunnel
                                        • Can be used in bridges

                                        TAP drawbacks

                                        • causes much more broadcast overhead on the VPN tunnel
                                        • adds the overhead of Ethernet headers on all packets transported over the VPN tunnel
                                        • scales poorly
                                        • can not be used with Android or iOS devices

                                        TUN benefits:

                                        • A lower traffic overhead, transports only traffic which is destined for the VPN client
                                        • Transports only layer 3 IP packets

                                        TUN drawbacks:

                                        • Broadcast traffic is not normally transported
                                        • Can only transport IPv4 (OpenVPN 2.3 adds IPv6)
                                        • Cannot be used in bridges

                                        -Rico

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • Y
                                          yummy909
                                          last edited by

                                          Awesome write up! Do you know or heard when the IOS app will be possibly updated to work on TAP? I have some programs I have written but being on TUN VPN break certain features.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • RicoR
                                            Rico LAYER 8 Rebel Alliance
                                            last edited by

                                            "The iOS VPN API supports only tun-style tunnels at the moment. This is a limitation of the iOS platform. If you try to connect a profile that uses a tap-based tunnel, you will get an error that only layer 3 tunnels are currently supported."
                                            (https://openvpn.net/faq/why-doesnt-the-app-support-tap-style-tunnels/)

                                            -Rico

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