Asus RT-AC3200 Router and VPN

[rmilyard]

Hello all,

First I am new to using an Asus router but today picked up an Asus RT-AC3200 router. My goal is to use this router with Torguard.net.

Being completely new to Asus and using VPN should I just use the stock firmware. It has newest installed right now or flash to Merlin?

Are there some guides as to how to config this? I will be running setup this way:

Cox Cable Modem --> Asus RT-AC3200 --> HP ProCurve Switch. All my Ethernet devices are connected to switch. And all WiFi to router. From what I am gathering doing this way all my devices will be protected by the VPN service.

 

[goldenegg]

Having a separate switch simply gives you more ports, nothing more.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "protected by the VPN service". VPN doesn't really provide any type of protection. It's the firewall in the router which provides the protection. VPN allows you to remotely connect to your network is a secure way, without needing to expose your systems directly to the internet.

There's not much to do in order to set it up. The VPN section of the admin page is pretty straight forward. I'd suggest using the OpenVPN server, as it's generally more secure and has greater device support. Simply turn the VPN Server on and create an account which you'll use to connect to the VPN.

In the advanced options, set "Username / Password Auth. Only" to yes. This forces the server to require the username and password for a connection.

That's about it. Once it's set up, you simply export the configuration file and import it in to the OpenVPN Client on the system you'll use to connect remotely.

 

[rmilyard]

Having a separate switch simply gives you more ports, nothing more.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "protected by the VPN service". VPN doesn't really provide any type of protection. It's the firewall in the router which provides the protection. VPN allows you to remotely connect to your network is a secure way, without needing to expose your systems directly to the internet.

There's not much to do in order to set it up. The VPN section of the admin page is pretty straight forward. I'd suggest using the OpenVPN server, as it's generally more secure and has greater device support. Simply turn the VPN Server on and create an account which you'll use to connect to the VPN.

In the advanced options, set "Username / Password Auth. Only" to yes. This forces the server to require the username and password for a connection.

That's about it. Once it's set up, you simply export the configuration file and import it in to the OpenVPN Client on the system you'll use to connect remotely.

I am looking at hiding my IP for my ISP. I use my FreeNAS server to store and download my media content.

 

[goldenegg]

It's not possible to hide your IP address from your ISP. They assign your IP and they definitely know who they assign what to.

What you're trying to do is hide your IP from other sites you visit. For that, you wouldn't host your own VPN. Instead, you need to sign up for a VPN service offered by another company. You would use their VPN to access sites on the Internet.

Keep in mind that having a VPN still doesn't guarantee anonymity.

 

[cosmoxl]

goldenegg, perhaps you passed over where the OP said he was planning to use torguard.net. That is a VPN service.

rmilyard, I would encourage you to flash with Merlin, for sure. since VPN is important to you I'm sure you'll appreciate the policy routing that Merlin firmware has for openvpn client. There you can specify which devices on your LAN go through the VPN tunnel.

 

[goldenegg]

goldenegg, perhaps you passed over where the OP said he was planning to use torguard.net. That is a VPN service.

You're correct. I did miss that part.

I'd urge the OP to really think about whether or not it's important for all systems on the network to go through the VPN. You should also make sure that the trackers you're accessing allow access through VPN. Many private trackers ban VPN access.

 

[cosmoxl]

You're correct. I did miss that part.

I'd urge the OP to really think about whether or not it's important for all systems on the network to go through the VPN.

perhaps you've also missed that merlin firmware 53 now has policy routing mode where the user can specify which LAN clients go through openvpn tunnel?

 

[goldenegg]

perhaps you've also missed that merlin firmware 53 now has policy routing mode where the user can specify which LAN clients go through openvpn tunnel?

I'm aware of that. That's pretty much why I asked the OP to give thought about which clients actually need access to the VPN. I never said it was all or nothing.

 

[Mee Mo]

Hello all,

First I am new to using an Asus router but today picked up an Asus RT-AC3200 router. My goal is to use this router with Torguard.net.

Being completely new to Asus and using VPN should I just use the stock firmware. It has newest installed right now or flash to Merlin?

Are there some guides as to how to config this? I will be running setup this way:

Cox Cable Modem --> Asus RT-AC3200 --> HP ProCurve Switch. All my Ethernet devices are connected to switch. And all WiFi to router. From what I am gathering doing this way all my devices will be protected by the VPN service.

Hi,
Looking to buy this router to use with Torguard for torrenting etc. Wondering how you got on with the VPN client that came with the software?
tks in advance
Mee mo