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?"

What is the correct way to handle mass OpenVPN reconnect storms on pfSense?
Copyright 2026 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.