VPN router setup

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marmel

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#245341 30-Jan-2019 09:41

I’m trying to setup ExpressVPN on my home network. I have a Fritzbox 7490 and have attached a Linksys router running DD-WRT.

I have installled the VPN on the router following the instructions at ExpressVPN (with US ip) and I think it is set up correctly, however when I connect to the router I am still showing a NZ IP address.

There doesn’t seem to be an “on/off” switch in the router settings to turn the VPN on, the instructions basically advised to save and apply settings and it would be sorted.

I realise I will have to turn off the wifi on the Fritzbox as well.

Any suggestions as to what I am doing wrong?

chevrolux

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#2170057 30-Jan-2019 09:45

All you have done is add a VPN interface to your router. And no, there wouldn't be an "on/off" switch as a VPN to a router is generally just permanently connected.

Which router terminates your internet connection? And what is the end goal?

marmel

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#2170059 30-Jan-2019 09:48

The end goal is to have the router set up so it provides a US ip to any devices connected to it.

Obviously my network knowledge is fairly limited, I have a VDSL connection going into the Fritzbox and then the Linksys is connected to that via Ethernet cable.

nitro

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#2170105 30-Jan-2019 12:06

marmel: The end goal is to have the router set up so it provides a US IP to any devices connected to it.

It's not meant to do that (any devices connected to it). Devices connected to your router will still get whatever you set DHCP to allocate to them. Unless you have a multi-WAN setup, you only have one public IP address. This public IP address is what will change if you have VPN working.

Go to whatismyip.com and you will know if you have a US IP address, i.e. VPN is working.

chevrolux

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#2170156 30-Jan-2019 13:38

So you want your entire network to use the VPN for internet traffic? That would be a pretty rubbish idea as speeds will be very average, especially for the likes of YouTube, Netflix etc. And Sky Go, TVNZ all of them won't work.

The router won't "provide US IP addresses" to your devices, it just tells packets where to go.

Is the Linksys router on the same LAN as the Fritzbox (if Fritzbox is 192.168.178.1, then maybe the Linksys could be 192.168.178.2)? If so, set a default route (destination "0.0.0.0/0") in the Linksys to use the VPN interface as the gateway.

And then on your Fritzbox DHCP server settings, tell it to assign the local IP address of the Linksys router as the gateway for all your devices.

Again, this will give you quite an average experience though so beware.