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Solved
XR500 VPN Service not working
Dear all, Was recommended to post this issue here. XR500 firmware version V2.3.2.114. I have read several posts without a solution regarding the functionality failure of the VPN Service feature i...
Hi all,
Further investigation has identified that the culprit was Windows 10 Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.
After successful remote connection to the XR500 VPN Service via OpenVPN Connect I discovered I was able to ping other devices on the 192.168.1.X IP range and also browse shared folders thereon, but was still unable to do so on my Windows 10 machine.
I tried resetting the Windows 10 firewall to default settings but was still unable to access the machine via the OpenVPN connection. So, this blocking behaviour is by default.
The solution was to add an inbound rule to the firewall to permit access to the Windows 10 shared folders:
1. Open Windows Defender Firewall and Advanced Security in Windows 10
2. Select Inbound Rules in the left pane and then New Rule ... in the right pane.
3. Select Port as the Rule Type and click Next.
4. For Protocols and Ports select TCP and All local Ports and click Next.
5. For Action select Allow the connection and click Next.
6. For Profile select only Private and click Next.
7. Create a name for your rule and click Finish.
8. Double-click your new inbound rule to access the properties.
9. Select the Scope tab
10. Under Remote IP Address select These IP Addresses and click Add
11. On the IP Address form add the IP address that is assigned to your OpenVPN connection (in my case, 192.168.2.2) to the This IP address or subnet field.
12. Ok to add the IP Address, then OK to update the scope.
I found after adding the above I had difficulty accessing the Windows 10 machine from my home network, so added my home network's IP Range at step 11.
If you connect via OpenVPN to your XR500 using UDP protocol (or switch between dependent upon device) then follow the above steps to create a rule for UDP as well.
This might not be the optimal way to resolve this problem but at least now I can access my home network when I'm out and about.
I hope these steps assist others in avoiding the hours of frustration I experienced.
Cheers.
It works, I just did it, follow this tutorial: https://youtu.be/wVmBA5a0qqk
Setup ExpressVPN on the XR500. Although once thing pointed out in the tutorial is that the hybrid vpn manual setup is very picky.... as in it needs to be exactly the configuration file provided by your vpn service. Even the smallest space bar or extra character will break it.
Hope it helps!
Thanks for your reply.
Please note the issue I have described is with the VPN Service feature and not the Hybrid VPN feature of the router.
I am not trying to add my VPN Provider details to the router, rather to set up a VPN connection to my router via OPENVPN Connect in order to access my home network remotely.
Check under Settings >Advanced Settings>VPN Service for the functionality I'm trying to implement.
Awaiting a call from a tier 2 tech from Netgear (already an hour overdue). Will post back if any success.
Cheers
Please note the issue I have described is with the VPN Service feature and not the Hybrid VPN feature of the router.
I am not trying to add my VPN Provider details to the router, rather to set up a VPN connection to my router via OPENVPN Connect in order to access my home network remotely.
Check under Settings >Advanced Settings>VPN Service for the functionality I'm trying to implement.
Awaiting a call from a tier 2 tech from Netgear (already an hour overdue). Will post back if any success.
Cheers
Hi all,
Further investigation has identified that the culprit was Windows 10 Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.
After successful remote connection to the XR500 VPN Service via OpenVPN Connect I discovered I was able to ping other devices on the 192.168.1.X IP range and also browse shared folders thereon, but was still unable to do so on my Windows 10 machine.
I tried resetting the Windows 10 firewall to default settings but was still unable to access the machine via the OpenVPN connection. So, this blocking behaviour is by default.
The solution was to add an inbound rule to the firewall to permit access to the Windows 10 shared folders:
1. Open Windows Defender Firewall and Advanced Security in Windows 10
2. Select Inbound Rules in the left pane and then New Rule ... in the right pane.
3. Select Port as the Rule Type and click Next.
4. For Protocols and Ports select TCP and All local Ports and click Next.
5. For Action select Allow the connection and click Next.
6. For Profile select only Private and click Next.
7. Create a name for your rule and click Finish.
8. Double-click your new inbound rule to access the properties.
9. Select the Scope tab
10. Under Remote IP Address select These IP Addresses and click Add
11. On the IP Address form add the IP address that is assigned to your OpenVPN connection (in my case, 192.168.2.2) to the This IP address or subnet field.
12. Ok to add the IP Address, then OK to update the scope.
I found after adding the above I had difficulty accessing the Windows 10 machine from my home network, so added my home network's IP Range at step 11.
If you connect via OpenVPN to your XR500 using UDP protocol (or switch between dependent upon device) then follow the above steps to create a rule for UDP as well.
This might not be the optimal way to resolve this problem but at least now I can access my home network when I'm out and about.
I hope these steps assist others in avoiding the hours of frustration I experienced.
Cheers.
- Well done on figuring it out and thanks so much for posting the solution in detailed, easy to follow steps.
