VPNMON VPNMON-R2 v2.52 -Mar 27, 2023- Monitor your VPN connection's Health (Thread locked/closed)

[Viktor Jaep]

Haha, I didn't realize how much of a pain Turkey would be. Using the recommended list from Nord works marginally better. Maybe an additional config option to use that for people that are in countries that limit VPN API access?

I just ran this and it took 1m 44s from the router:
curl --silent "https://api.nordvpn.com/v1/servers/recommendations?filters\[country_id\]=228&limit=3" | jq --raw-output '.[].hostname'

228 is the country id for the US.

Using the recommended servers feature in VPNMON-R2 yields the top 5 servers... have you tried it, under option 6 in setup?

This is from the code...

curl --silent --retry 3 "https://api.nordvpn.com/v1/servers/recommendations?filters\[country_id\]=$NordCountryID&limit=5

 

[iTyPsIDg]

Using the recommended servers feature in VPNMON-R2 yields the top 5 servers... have you tried it, under option 6 in setup?

This is from the code...

curl --silent --retry 3 "https://api.nordvpn.com/v1/servers/recommendations?filters\[country_id\]=$NordCountryID&limit=5

I do have that set. Here is my config:

 

[iTyPsIDg]

If the VPN is already connected, the script loads and runs fine with option 10 set to No until a reset.
If the VPN is already connected, the script fails when checking server load with option 10 set to Yes. <- This can probably be fixed using the faster query method with the server description.

If I reset the VPN, then it times out when it trys to set NORDLINES. Is there a filter option for https://api.nordvpn.com/v1/servers, similar to the filter option for recommended servers?

 

[Viktor Jaep]

If the VPN is already connected, the script loads and runs fine with option 10 set to No until a reset.
If the VPN is already connected, the script fails when checking server load with option 10 set to Yes. <- This can probably be fixed using the faster query method with the server description.

If I reset the VPN, then it times out when it trys to set NORDLINES. Is there a filter option for https://api.nordvpn.com/v1/servers, similar to the filter option for recommended servers?

Give v2.45b2 a try? I sent you a mention from that thread? I've changed the API calls over to the "optimized" versions... to see if that helped your cause!

VPNMON - [BETA] VPNMON-R2 BETA is currently OPEN... New: AirVPN has been added!

So I have not been able to find a way around this obstacle... because it's circular logic... It confirms what I suspected right from the start - it detects the session it has just started and then complains about itself! :p The weird thing is why it never showed that same behavior for me...

www.snbforums.com

 

[iTyPsIDg]

Results from nordvpn.com/api/server:

time curl --silent --retry 3 https://nordvpn.com/api/server | jq '.[] | select(.ip_address == "185.202.220.154") | .domain'
Command exited with non-zero status 28
real    20m 7.73s
user    0m 0.21s
sys     0m 0.02s

 

[Viktor Jaep]

Results from nordvpn.com/api/server:

time curl --silent --retry 3 https://nordvpn.com/api/server | jq '.[] | select(.ip_address == "185.202.220.154") | .domain'
Command exited with non-zero status 28
real    20m 7.73s
user    0m 0.21s
sys     0m 0.02s

Was that over the VPN? Here's my results:

time curl --silent --retry 3 https://nordvpn.com/api/server | jq '.[] | select(.ip_address == "185.202.220.154") | .domain'
real    0m 3.77s
user    0m 0.06s
sys     0m 0.02s
"us9360.nordvpn.com"

 

[iTyPsIDg]

Was that over the VPN? Here's my results:

time curl --silent --retry 3 https://nordvpn.com/api/server | jq '.[] | select(.ip_address == "185.202.220.154") | .domain'
real    0m 3.77s
user    0m 0.06s
sys     0m 0.02s
"us9360.nordvpn.com"

Wow, what a difference. Twenty minutes and it didn't even return a result for me. The others are still running.

 

[Viktor Jaep]

Wow, what a difference. Twenty minutes and it didn't even return a result for me. The others are still running.

You should have brought a Starlink dish with you... I'm not sure if I could survive long with an internet connection like that! LOL I'd have NO hair left.

 

[iTyPsIDg]

You should have brought a Starlink dish with you... I'm not sure if I could survive long with an internet connection like that! LOL I'd have NO hair left.

The thing is, the speed isn't bad. I have 100Mbps down. They're just throttling the speed for API calls to Nord.

 

[iTyPsIDg]

Wait, this is weird, the speed drops at night!

 

[Viktor Jaep]

The thing is, the speed isn't bad. I have 100Mbps down. They're just throttling the speed for API calls to Nord.

Well, that sounds about right. Most articles I was reading pointed to Turkey hobbling or blocking VPN providers... and is a crime to try to get to servers that may be blocked. <sigh> Not a free and open internet unfortunately.

Censorship in Turkey - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Viktor Jaep]

Happy weekend! VPNMON-R2 v2.48 is out, with lots of new additions and features! Thanks to those participating in the Beta, and giving valuable feedback!

Please NOTE: As of v2.48, if you're a NordVPN user, please make sure you initiate a VPN Reset using VPNMON-R2... it will need to write new information in a new format to your VPN Client Slot Description field, and will be keeping track of the server host name in this manner,:

What's new?:
v2.48 - (March 25, 2023)
- MAJOR: We added another major VPN Provider -- AirVPN -- to the mix of compatible VPN services that play well with APIs, giving us the ability to use these for SuperRandom(r) functionality in the country (or countries) of your choice. Also, provides us with the ability to use the AirVPN Recommended Servers feature, for those who want their servers to stay closer or more optimized for speed. AirVPN gives us the same range of capabilities that NordVPN gives, including reporting on the current server Load, or resetting the connection if the load exceeds your specified amount... Also, the ability to whitelist your AirVPN servers in Skynet so they don't get blocked (as they so frequently do).... so, really happy to get this one added. Note: This assumes you have all (up to) 5 VPN slots configured and working with AirVPN config, using OpenVPN, TLS authentication & encryption - which is pretty much the standard out there. Thanks to @machinist for the ask!
- MAJOR: Added the capability to reset your VPN connection or reboot your router using an external file! I find myself in a pickle at times, unable to access my devices on a subnet, and unable to control my router from remote due to a misconfiguration or because the VPN tunnel got borked up, preventing all our devices from getting out to the internet. I wanted to (selfishly) find a way to externally cause the router to reset its VPN connection, and in a worst-case scenario, reboot the router! Well, that is all now possible. Simply host a file off an internet accessible server, having one of the words "RESET", "REBOOT" or "NORMAL" on the first line of the file. With options on the 2nd page in the config, you can specify if you want to enable this feature, what the full URL path to this file is (example: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ViktorJp/VPNMON-R2/main/event.txt), and what kind of interval you want to use to check on this file. The next time VPNMON-R2 checks the file, it will act on one of these commands! I've added an indicator to the top of the UI if this feature is enabled, showing the interval seconds as well.
-MAJOR: Added the capability for VPNMON-R2 to auto-start after a reboot. By popular demand, I'm not sure how many times this was asked, so it's finally in there! Config menu item #16 will ask if you want VPNMON-R2 to auto-start. It inserts the command 'vpnmon-r2.sh -screen' into your /jffs/scripts/post-mount file. An indicator at the top of the UI shows if this feature is enabled, and intact in your post-mount file. If for some reason it's different than what was originally added, it will indicate that there's an issue.
- ADDED: A second page of config options! Currently with 14 options, the list is getting too large, and expanded it out onto a second page for future growth!
- FIXED: Made some modifications to the NordVPN API calls in order to hopefully provide a faster response for those dealing with bandwidth or other possible throttling limitations in other countries, like Turkey. Thanks to @iTyPsIDg for helping troubleshoot while out there!
- FIXED: Minor code improvements and optimizations.

Download (or update directly from within AMTM itself!):

curl --retry 3 "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ViktorJp/VPNMON-R2/master/vpnmon-r2-2.48.sh" -o "/jffs/scripts/vpnmon-r2.sh" && chmod 755 "/jffs/scripts/vpnmon-r2.sh"

Significant Screenshots

Main UI now showing the optional remote reset and auto start status...

The config menu now has a second page to handle additional features like remote reset/auto start...

Remote VPN reset or router reboot can now be accomplished using a file hosted on the internet! VPNMON-R2 will check that file every so often (based on your parameters) and act on that command. This can come in very handy when you are locked out of your environment from remote for some reason or another... hey - it happens!

Instructions: The external file needs to have that single command at the top on line 1... (example https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ViktorJp/VPNMON-R2/main/event.txt)

NORMAL

# Valid options for remotely controlling your VPN connection or router resets are as follows. Command MUST be entered on line 1.
#
# RESET  -- This will cause VPNMON-R2 to intiate a VPN connection reset
# REBOOT -- This will cause VPNMON-R2 to intiate a reboot of your router
# NORMAL -- This will allow VPNMON-R2 to continue normal operations

Any questions on usage? Feel free to drop a line...

 

[Viktor Jaep]

Fixed a small unterminated quoted string error, thanks to Gesa out on github... I appreciate you letting me know.

What's new?:
v2.49 - (March 25, 2023)
- FIXED: Fixed a terminated quoted string error where I forgot to close a sting for one of the new options that writes itself to the config file. Thanks Gesa!

Download link (or update within AMTM)

curl --retry 3 "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ViktorJp/VPNMON-R2/master/vpnmon-r2-2.49.sh" -o "/jffs/scripts/vpnmon-r2.sh" && chmod 755 "/jffs/scripts/vpnmon-r2.sh"

 

[iTyPsIDg]

Fixed a small unterminated quoted string error, thanks to Gesa out on github... I appreciate you letting me know.

What's new?:
v2.49 - (March 25, 2023)
- FIXED: Fixed a terminated quoted string error where I forgot to close a sting for one of the new options that writes itself to the config file. Thanks Gesa!

Download link (or update within AMTM)

curl --retry 3 "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ViktorJp/VPNMON-R2/master/vpnmon-r2-2.49.sh" -o "/jffs/scripts/vpnmon-r2.sh" && chmod 755 "/jffs/scripts/vpnmon-r2.sh"

I'm getting very strange output now:

Spoiler: output

 

[Viktor Jaep]

I'm getting very strange output now:

Spoiler: output

View attachment 48878

Sorry... download it again. I accidentally left the debug switches on. You are TOOOOO quick!!

 

[iTyPsIDg]

Sorry... download it again. I accidentally left the debug switches on. You are TOOOOO quick!!

Back to working as expected. It's 3 AM here, my fiance is asleep, and I can make changes without upsetting anyone. This is prime time if you post something!

 

[Viktor Jaep]

Back to working as expected. It's 3 AM here, my fiance is asleep, and I can make changes without upsetting anyone. This is prime time if you post something!

Man, you are watching this stuff like a HAWK... I didn't expect such quick feedback! LOL

 

[kuki68ster]

Hi guys, i am on version 2.49 and i am unable to select Recommended Server(s) when using NordVPN has default vpn...

I choose the option, but when i go to save it, it still says no.

Thanks

 

[Viktor Jaep]

Hi guys, i am on version 2.49 and i am unable to select Recommended Server(s) when using NordVPN has default vpn...

I choose the option, but when i go to save it, it still says no.

Thanks

Thanks for the heads-up, @kuki68ster ... I got this fixed in v2.50, available now. This had to do with the introduction of AirVPN's recommended servers feature.

 

[Viktor Jaep]

Fixed a small issue with variables keeping track of the recommended servers option, in part due to the introduction of AirVPN's similar feature... thanks to @kuki68ster... I appreciate the heads-up! Going to have to start going to minor version numbers if this keeps up - LOL!

What's new?:
v2.50 - (March 26, 2023)
- FIXED: Fixed a recommended servers variable tracking issue in part due to the introduction of AirVPN's similar feature, and getting it to co-exist with NordVPN. Thanks to @kuki68ster for flagging this!

Download link (or update within AMTM)

curl --retry 3 "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ViktorJp/VPNMON-R2/master/vpnmon-r2-2.50.sh" -o "/jffs/scripts/vpnmon-r2.sh" && chmod 755 "/jffs/scripts/vpnmon-r2.sh"