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OpenVPN without Static IP on WAN

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved OpenVPN
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  • T
    trikedik
    last edited by May 8, 2020, 4:32 PM

    Thank you for the help on this, I will look into using DynDNS. Seems like just the solution I am looking for! Thanks!

    J 1 Reply Last reply May 8, 2020, 6:29 PM Reply Quote 1
    • J
      JKnott @trikedik
      last edited by May 8, 2020, 6:29 PM

      @trikedik

      Also, you can see if your host name is permanent, even though the IP address changes. For example, I have a cable modem and a DHCP IPv4 address. The address is virtually static, but the host name, which is based on the firewall and modem MACs never changes, unless I change the hardware. It's a long host name, but perfectly suitable for configuring the VPN.

      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
      • J
        johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
        last edited by May 8, 2020, 6:33 PM

        That is odd, can you give say a template of your name your using..

        For example this is more normal
        d53-64-x-x.nap.wideopenwest.com.

        Where that take on the IP address..

        An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
        If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
        Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
        SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

        J 1 Reply Last reply May 8, 2020, 6:48 PM Reply Quote 0
        • J
          JKnott @johnpoz
          last edited by JKnott May 8, 2020, 6:49 PM May 8, 2020, 6:48 PM

          @johnpoz

          Here is my IPv4 host name. I've changed some of the characters, to protect the guilty. 😉

          CPE0014d12bedfb-CMbc4dfc82e5e0.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com

          The CPE is the firewall part of the host name and CM is the cable modem. So, my host name is CPE<firewall MAC>-CM<cable modem MAC>.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com. I get this by running the host command on my firewall IPv4 address.

          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 0
          • J
            johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
            last edited by johnpoz May 8, 2020, 6:50 PM May 8, 2020, 6:49 PM

            really that is odd ;) nifty! Yeah something like that would work.

            An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
            If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
            Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
            SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

            J 2 Replies Last reply May 8, 2020, 6:50 PM Reply Quote 0
            • J
              JKnott @johnpoz
              last edited by May 8, 2020, 6:50 PM

              @johnpoz

              Well, it's not that odd. Everyone on Rogers has the same and I've talked to people on other ISPs that have similar. The common factor appears to be cable modems.

              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 0
              • T
                trikedik
                last edited by May 9, 2020, 3:30 PM

                I've never heard of this, thank you for the tip!

                J 1 Reply Last reply May 9, 2020, 5:38 PM Reply Quote 0
                • J
                  JKnott @trikedik
                  last edited by May 9, 2020, 5:38 PM

                  @trikedik

                  So, all you have to do is open a command prompt in pfSense and use the host command, with your WAN address, to see what your host name is. You can do the same in Windows with nslookup.

                  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
                  • J
                    JKnott @johnpoz
                    last edited by May 9, 2020, 8:58 PM

                    @johnpoz

                    One thing I did was create a public DNS alias to that long name to something much shorter and in my own domain.

                    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 0
                    • J
                      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                      last edited by johnpoz May 9, 2020, 9:19 PM May 9, 2020, 9:19 PM

                      Never seen such a ptr setup..

                      I am on cable internet.. And mine comes back like I showed..

                      [2.4.5-RELEASE][admin@sg4860.local.lan]/root: host 64.53.x.x
                      x.x.53.64.in-addr.arpa domain name pointer d53-64-x-x.nap.wideopenwest.com.
                      

                      And every other cable provider I have ever used, for many many years ;)

                      An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                      If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                      Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                      SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                      J 1 Reply Last reply May 9, 2020, 9:20 PM Reply Quote 0
                      • J
                        JKnott @johnpoz
                        last edited by May 9, 2020, 9:20 PM

                        @johnpoz

                        I have seen the IP address included in the name, with ADSL in my area

                        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 0
                        • J
                          johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                          last edited by May 9, 2020, 9:21 PM

                          I mean the setup makes sense with use of the cpe mac, and its clients.. Just never seen it before - for sure could come in handy.. Since tied to your mac like that, even if your IP changes should be viable to use... Wonder why more cable isps don't set it up? Or maybe they do but its only internal?

                          An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                          If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                          Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                          SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                          J 1 Reply Last reply May 9, 2020, 9:35 PM Reply Quote 0
                          • J
                            JKnott @johnpoz
                            last edited by May 9, 2020, 9:35 PM

                            @johnpoz

                            I really don't know why some companies do certain things and sometimes I wonder if they do. 😉 However, as I said, Rogers is not alone in this, but it is a good idea. I recall people I know complaining how their ADSL address would change, right in the middle of them doing something. I get the impression some ISPs are nasty.

                            I discovered this feature at least 15 years ago. Of course, when I change hardware, I have to update the DNS alias. I'm not certain what will happen with my IPv6 host names, as I haven't changed any hardware in the 4 years I've been getting IPv6 from my ISP. I'm assuming the DUID will keep the prefix from changing.

                            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 0
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