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SpudMunky's avatar
SpudMunky
Aspirant
Oct 08, 2023
Solved

VPN host setup on RBK960 with BT SmartHub (UK)

Hi, Can anyone tell me how to configure the VPN host service to run on my RBK960 when connected through (or with) a BT SmartHub 2 router in the UK? I need to keep the SmartHub 2 router in the n...
  • FURRYe38's avatar
    FURRYe38
    Oct 08, 2023

    https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT

    https://kb.netgear.com/30187/How-to-fix-issues-with-Double-NAT

    Couple of options,

    1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge or modem only mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.

    2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ/ExposedHost or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.

    3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, configure AP mode on the Orbi router. https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7LOcJ8GdDo&app=desktop 

    Try option #2 first...

    SpudMunky wrote:

    Hi,

    Can anyone tell me how to configure the VPN host service to run on my RBK960 when connected through (or with) a BT SmartHub 2 router in the UK?

    I need to keep the SmartHub 2 router in the network to provide my BT Digital Voice telephone service. I need to know how to connect everything up and configure everything to allow use of the VPN host service on the RBK960. 

    Can anyone tell me how to connect everything? i.e. to use the VPN host service do I have to if I use the RBK960 as my main router, or can I somehow continue to use the BT SmartHub as my main router? If I can/must connect the BT SmartHub as a device on the network, will our BT Digital Voice service still work through it normally?

    Many thanks

     

SpudMunky's avatar
SpudMunky
Aspirant
Oct 09, 2023

Hi schumaku and FURRYe38,

 

I did some background research to clarify everything and had a go ...and it just works!

I followed your guides, I gave the RBK960 a static IP address in my SmartHub and set it up in the DMZ. I have turned off all the radios in the SmartHub whether necessary or not, and left the RBK960 as a router. Following my earlier question, after reading up about port 1194/UDP I came to understand that port 1194/UDP is for OpenVPN so I set up port forwarding on 1194/UDP to the RBK960's internal IP address.


On the RBK960 I enabled the VPN server and downloaded the VPN client config file but edited the config file to point at the assigned IP address of the SmartHub, instead of the one given to the RBK960 by the SmartHub. I downloaded and configured the Client VPN software on the client devices with the mod'ed config file. Now my remote devices have no issue getting onto my network for my NAS, printer, OctoPrint, etc. and BT Digital Voice and Hybrid Connect still work ...brilliant! I'd still like to set up a VPN login and password though and I yet can't see how to do that.

 

The only thing I have to keep an eye on will be the SmartHub's IP address because BT don't provide static IP addresses to residental broadband customers. We do already have our own domain so perhaps setting up a free Dynamic DNS service could handle that? I see that the BT SmartHub provides built-in compatibility with a few DDNS services. I'll investigate if it proves a problem.


Does anyone know how to get the Sky Go app to see my Sky Q box over VPN to view my recordings? It's the only thing that doesn't work.