Adam Networks - AsusWrt Merlin

[BadWolfe]

I'm confused about "Adam Network" tool. It claims to be built into the ASUS router but I can't find it.
Configuration: AX86U Pro, AsusWRT Merlin Firmware: 3004.388.8_4

Goal: Set up OpenVPN. Instructions say to log into Adam Networks and copy my "Dynamic DNS URL", then inside the client configuration file replace "remote IP address" with the dyndns name.

I created an Adam Network account but cannot find the "Box ID" of my Asus Router. This lead me down a path where they state that ADAM is built into ASUS routers, but I can't find anything about that inside of the Router UI.

Am I headed down the wrong path?

 

[dave14305]

Never heard of this before, but this is the closest thing I could find. Requires USB installation. What are you reading?

Install adam:ONE (v4+) on Asus Routers via USB storage

ASUS routers can now run adam:ONE® on most of the stable build of Merlin Supported Models, plus a few additional models, specifically this list: RT-AC66U_B1 (same firmware as the RT-AC68U) RT-AC68U (including revisions C1 and E1) RT-AC68P (same firmware as RT-AC68U) RT-AC68UF (same...

support.adamnet.works

 

[BadWolfe]

Never heard of this before, but this is the closest thing I could find. Requires USB installation. What are you reading?

Install adam:ONE (v4+) on Asus Routers via USB storage

ASUS routers can now run adam:ONE® on most of the stable build of Merlin Supported Models, plus a few additional models, specifically this list: RT-AC66U_B1 (same firmware as the RT-AC68U) RT-AC68U (including revisions C1 and E1) RT-AC68P (same firmware as RT-AC68U) RT-AC68UF (same...

support.adamnet.works

Here are the instructions for setting up OpenVPN on an Asus Router.

ASUS Router OpenVPN Server

Scope of this article OpenVPN has the highest degree of flexibility of VPN server and clients, and is available on all modern platforms. Setting it up can range from easy-as-defaults, to super complicated. In this how-to, we are opting for simplicity and simple setup that relies on a username...

support.adamnet.works

Here is where I read that AdamOne comes pre-installed on ASUS routers. (due to your response, I am sure that I am misinterpreting it though).

"adam:ONETM comes pre-installed on ASUS® routers" Source: Page 5 of AdamOne Quick Start Guide

adamONE Quick Start Guide.pdf

drive.google.com

I will look into the USB installation process. Thank you!
Note: I am struggling to get OpenVPN set up and working.

 

[ColinTaylor]

Here are the instructions for setting up OpenVPN on an Asus Router.

ASUS Router OpenVPN Server

Scope of this article OpenVPN has the highest degree of flexibility of VPN server and clients, and is available on all modern platforms. Setting it up can range from easy-as-defaults, to super complicated. In this how-to, we are opting for simplicity and simple setup that relies on a username...

support.adamnet.works

Here is where I read that AdamOne comes pre-installed on ASUS routers. (due to your response, I am sure that I am misinterpreting it though).

"adam:ONETM comes pre-installed on ASUS® routers" Source: Page 5 of AdamOne Quick Start Guide

adamONE Quick Start Guide.pdf

drive.google.com

I will look into the USB installation process. Thank you!
Note: I am struggling to get OpenVPN set up and working.

Yeah, this is like what some other companies do. They're saying that if you buy an Asus router from them they will preinstall Merlin's firmware and their software on it for you. So this is their addition and not something that is endorsed by Asus/Merlin or part of the normal Asus/Merlin firmware.

Products

ADAMnetworks

shop.adamnet.works

So the question is, have you actually purchased some device or service from this company? If so, what exactly?

 

[Viktor Jaep]

What kind of a shady website is this Adam thing... jeez. Stay away.

 

[Tech9]

30-30-30 and forget about it...

 

[RMerlin]

30-30-30 and forget about it...

View attachment 64481

This must have been written by someone still running DD-WRT on an WRT54G or something...

 

[BadWolfe]

Yeah, this is like what some other companies do. They're saying that if you buy an Asus router from them they will preinstall Merlin's firmware and their software on it for you. So this is their addition and not something that is endorsed by Asus/Merlin or part of the normal Asus/Merlin firmware.

Products

ADAMnetworks

shop.adamnet.works

So the question is, have you actually purchased some device or service from this company? If so, what exactly?

Thank you for responding.

No, I purchased a stock AX86U Pro and installed Merlin's latest firmware, so I am good there.

I'm just trying to get OpenVPN working and searched for instructions. This ADAM Network was simply from a Post I found.

I have OpenVPN working as a Server, exported and down loaded the client created on the Router, installed it on the client side OpenVPN (on iPhone) will not connect. I know this should be easy but I'm missing something simple.

 

[bits]

Maybe your Asus router is behind cgnat.
Is the wan IP address on the Asus router a private IP address?

 

[BadWolfe]

Maybe your Asus router is behind cgnat.
Is the wan IP address on the Asus router a private IP address?

I have DDNS set up using my DNS Host address. I've tried multiple iterations but the client cannot reach my OpenVPN Server.

Looking into the Client config file I see that the IP address displays my DNS server address: xxxxxxx.org
Once it was:
@xxxxxxx.org

After disabling DDNS the exported Client config file was:
172.172.172.172@xxxxxxx.org (IP address and hostname are examples).
This front IP address was the correct current address from my ISP.

Does any of this make sense as to why my Client won't reach home?

 

[bits]

If your server is behind cgnat your client won't be able to reach it.
Is you wan IP in one of these ranges?
10.x.x.x
172.16.x.x - 172.31.x.x
192.168.x.x
100.64.x.x - 100.127.x.x

If your wan IP is in those ranges you almost certainly are behind cgnat and will need to either contact your provider to have that removed which they may charge for or not allow at all. Or change to a provider that doesn't use cgnat or will allow you to disable it.

Or you could open a server that will respond eg (microsip, qtorrent or something on your router), port forward to its port and then check a site such as canyouseeme.org for that port.
If you get a success you may need to wait a further 5-10 minutes and try again to prove the port remains open.
If the port is not open, you are likely behind cgnat and you will not be able to host something like a VPN server.

 

[BadWolfe]

If your server is behind cgnat your client won't be able to reach it.
Is you wan IP in one of these ranges?
10.x.x.x
172.16.x.x - 172.31.x.x
192.168.x.x
100.64.x.x - 100.127.x.x

If your wan IP is in those ranges you almost certainly are behind cgnat and will need to either contact your provider to have that removed which they may charge for or not allow at all. Or change to a provider that doesn't use cgnat or will allow you to disable it.

Or you could open a server that will respond eg (microsip, qtorrent or something on your router), port forward to its port and then check a site such as canyouseeme.org for that port.
If you get a success you may need to wait a further 5-10 minutes and try again to prove the port remains open.
If the port is not open, you are likely behind cgnat and you will not be able to host something like a VPN server.

Thank you for this information. I was completely lost on what was happening.

 

[jksmurf]

Thank you for this information. I was completely lost on what was happening.

Until I changed provider, I had CGNAT on a remote router I need access to.

@bits is absolutely correct, if your provider uses CGNAT (it saves them IP addresses apparently) you can’t get through it without one of a few options. I list two of them below, ones I am familiar with through personal experience.

You can pay for a static IP address or you can do what I did (still do), set up and use Tailscale.

If you already know about tailscale ignore what follows, if not then for this you can either:

• Set up and configure any device attached to your network and always on, as a subnet router. This device will ‘advertise’ itself outside CGNAT and you can then connect to your LAN, including your router e.g. you can use a Raspberry Pi (my first foray into Tailscale) or if it’s always on, an AppleTV HD or 4K (a very simple option, see pics attached) or literally any other device you can install tailscale on (and there are multiple OS platforms and literally hundreds of Device types to choose from).
• If you’re on RMerlin FW, set up Tailscale on the Router. A very easy way to do this is to install TAILMON, an amazing Addon from @Viktor Jaep, this is what I now use, as the router is always on and I don’t need a separate device, although I do keep my Apple TV as a backup subnet router, which I can just enable if I need to, although I never have.

 

[Martinski]

...
I have OpenVPN working as a Server, exported and down loaded the client created on the Router, installed it on the client side OpenVPN (on iPhone) will not connect. I know this should be easy but I'm missing something simple.

The root cause of the problem may also be on the OpenVPN client application being used, but since you have not provided details about which client app you have installed/used to connect, and not posted any logs from both the server *and* client sides indicating if any specific error messages are generated, it's impossible to tell what the actual problem is to be able to narrow down the real cause.