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High CPU usage after turning off Wireguard/VPN

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Ubimo

Very Senior Member
Hello
I noticed a strange behaviour when tinkering around with Wireguard/VPN on my AX88U.
I tried free ProtonVPN with a preconfigured Wireguard profile, which one can download from the ProtonVPN account.
Importing the profile and setup in VPN settings was easy. I knew, that Wireguard uses a lot of CPU when downloading at high speeds. (~300Mbit).
I have an 800Mbit fiber connection.
So I tested various speedtests and monitored the CPU load.

When I was done speedtesting, I turned off the Wireguard client and rule in VPN Director (see screenshot). I verified this by looking up my IP-address.
Now, I did another speedtest and noticed, that I don't achieve high download speeds like usually 800Mbit.
I also saw high CPU load during speedtests. Then I looked at htop, saw also high CPU load, but no process that uses high CPU, see screenshot.
It was like I was still in Wireguard mode but without VPN. I thought that turning off the Wireguard client and rule would return my router to normal operating mode.
Only a router reboot solves this problem.
Without Wireguard, in normal "router operating" mode, I get ~800Mbit download speed and 2-3% CPU load.

Can someone confirm this behaviour?

TLDR:
Turn on Wireguard, see high CPU load during high speed downloads -> is expected and OK
Turn off Wireguard, still see high CPU load during high speed downloads -> Why?

P.S.: I also tried Cloudflare Warp Wireguard profile, same behaviour.
 

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Last edited:
free proton account limits your speed , you want speed you pay
 
It's not about the speed, it's about the high cpu load after stopping the Wireguard tunnel.
As if the router is not properly exiting Wireguard mode.
 
Last edited:

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