DNS issues when OpenVPN client is connected to PIA

[Sky1111]

Folks who are using VPN client on Merlin or ASUS firmware - have you noticed any DNS issues with the latest firmwares?

Steps to reproduce
- flash the latest .501 ASUS or Merlin .36_Beta1
- confirm that internet is working fine
- setup up OpenVPN client on the router to connect to Private Internet Access VPNl, leave DNS server connection automatic
- confirm that still connected to internet
- try to browse or do google searches. suddenly, you cannot resolve half of the pages - for example, try to google tracemyip
- go back to the router DNS configuration page, set DNS servers to 8.8.8.8 - for example, and now you can actually browse while VPN is connected!

The problem occurs ONLY if you are connected to VPN.
I do not think that 35.4 Merlin has this issue, as well as pre .454 ASUS firmwares.

I already reported the problem to ASUS, but they have difficulties reproducing it - and I do not know how help to investigate this problem.

Merlin - have you ever seen or heard the issue above?

 

[RMerlin]

Folks who are using VPN client on Merlin or ASUS firmware - have you noticed any DNS issues with the latest firmwares?

Steps to reproduce
- flash the latest .501 ASUS or Merlin .36_Beta1
- confirm that internet is working fine
- setup up OpenVPN client on the router to connect to Private Internet Access VPNl, leave DNS server connection automatic
- confirm that still connected to internet
- try to browse or do google searches. suddenly, you cannot resolve half of the pages - for example, try to google tracemyip
- go back to the router DNS configuration page, set DNS servers to 8.8.8.8 - for example, and now you can actually browse while VPN is connected!

The problem occurs ONLY if you are connected to VPN.
I do not think that 35.4 Merlin has this issue, as well as pre .454 ASUS firmwares.

I already reported the problem to ASUS, but they have difficulties reproducing it - and I do not know how help to investigate this problem.

Merlin - have you ever seen or heard the issue above?

I've seen a few ISPs (Vidéotron does it here) that will prevent using their DNS from a different ISP - this could be what is affecting you.

If it were a firmware issue, then Google's DNS would also generate the same problem.

There has been no change related to VPN routing or DNS between 35.4 and 36 beta 1, so it could just coincide with the moment your ISP also applied this policy.

 

[montr]

I have a RT-N66U and I am using the Asus firmware. I have the same problem, no DNS on the client VPN after connection. This started after I upgraded to version 3.0.0.4.374_979 from 3.0.0.4.372_1393.

To solve it, I had to enter manually the DNS server address (AT&T Uverse or OpenDNS 208.67.222.222) in the client VPN (MAC OSX) software. Before the upgrade, I did not have to do that.

 

[Sky1111]

I have a RT-N66U and I am using the Asus firmware. I have the same problem, no DNS on the client VPN after connection. This started after I upgraded to version 3.0.0.4.374_979 from 3.0.0.4.372_1393.

To solve it, I had to enter manually the DNS server address (AT&T Uverse or OpenDNS 208.67.222.222) in the client VPN (MAC OSX) software. Before the upgrade, I did not have to do that.

thanks - that's proves that I am not crazy and the problem does exist with very different ISPs...

 

[Sky1111]

Folks, looks like I found the root cause of the problem - many thanks to Merlin for a hint!:

- There is a setting called 'Accept DNS Configuration" on this page: http://192.168.0.1/Advanced_OpenVPNClient_Content.asp
- By default, it is set to "Disabled"
- Switch it to "Strict", save.
- Go to WAN DNS configuration page http://192.168.0.1/Advanced_WAN_Content.asp and set "Connect to DNS Server Automatically" to Yes
- Save and reboot

Now I can browse internet again without manually setting DNS servers!

 

[montr]

Folks, looks like I found the root cause of the problem - many thanks to Merlin for a hint!:

- There is a setting called 'Accept DNS Configuration" on this page: http://192.168.0.1/Advanced_OpenVPNClient_Content.asp
- By default, it is set to "Disabled"
- Switch it to "Strict", save.
- Go to WAN DNS configuration page http://192.168.0.1/Advanced_WAN_Content.asp and set "Connect to DNS Server Automatically" to Yes
- Save and reboot

Now I can browse internet again without manually setting DNS servers!

Good that you solved the problem.
As for the ASUS firmware, the only setting is "Connect to DNS Server automatically" on http://192.168.1.1/Advanced_PPTPAdvanced_Content.asp . It is set to "Yes" but no DNS service unless I enter the DNS address manually.

 

[RMerlin]

Good that you solved the problem.
As for the ASUS firmware, the only setting is "Connect to DNS Server automatically" on http://192.168.1.1/Advanced_PPTPAdvanced_Content.asp . It is set to "Yes" but no DNS service unless I enter the DNS address manually.

You two are talking two totally different things (which also got me confused at first). You are talking about the server, while Sky is talking about the client.

(and you're also talking about two different VPN protocols as well)