<![CDATA[pfSense OpenVPN multiple servers crash]]>I am running pfSense with multiple OpenVPN servers configured (several instances on different interfaces).

Total number of connected users is around ~200.

Authentication is done via:

  • RADIUS (FreeRADIUS)
  • 2FA (OTP / push-based)

When the main WAN link briefly goes down (even for a few seconds), all VPN clients disconnect.
After the link is restored, all clients attempt to reconnect simultaneously (reconnect storm).
At that moment pfSense becomes unstable and starts behaving incorrectly:
OpenVPN clients fail to reconnect properly
OpenVPN see "Unable to contact daemon
Service not running?"
e81d9bf9-2773-4ab2-a666-f76b00032fad-image.png

What is the correct way to handle mass OpenVPN reconnect storms on pfSense?

]]>https://forum.netgate.com/topic/200543/pfsense-openvpn-multiple-servers-crashRSS for NodeTue, 16 Jun 2026 09:02:40 GMTThu, 16 Apr 2026 20:10:05 GMT60