NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Can't connect to the VPN Server Nighthawk AX2700
Hi,
I setup VPN server but for some reasons I can't access it
➜ Library nc -zvu my_ddns.ddns.net 12973
Connection to my_ddns.ddns.net port 12973 [udp/*] succeeded!
My IP is correctly resolved.
It looks like the port 12973 is not opened.
I tried to add 192.168.0.1 to Port forwarding but it's not allowed to use router internal IP.
Could someone suggest please what could be a reason. It's just wating for the server response.
here is my config
```
client
remote my_ddns.ddns.net 12973
dev tun
proto udp
resolv-retry infinite
nobind
persist-key
persist-tun
ca ca.crt
cert client.crt
key client.key
key-direction 1
tls-auth ta.key 1
remote-cert-tls server
cipher AES-256-CBC
verb 5
mute 5
comp-lzo
fast-io
route-delay 2
```
logs:
```
2025-01-29 16:01:32.199894 MANAGEMENT: >STATE:1738184492,RESOLVE,,,,,,
2025-01-29 16:01:32.266383 TCP/UDP: Preserving recently used remote address: [AF_INET]24.147.171.155:12973
2025-01-29 16:01:32.266477 Socket Buffers: R=[786896->786896] S=[9216->9216]
2025-01-29 16:01:32.266495 UDPv4 link local: (not bound)
2025-01-29 16:01:32.266510 UDPv4 link remote: [AF_INET]24.147.171.155:12973
2025-01-29 16:01:32.266547 MANAGEMENT: >STATE:1738184492,WAIT,,,,,,
2025-01-29 16:02:32.713570 TLS Error: TLS key negotiation failed to occur within 60 seconds (check your network connectivity)
2025-01-29 16:02:32.713875 NOTE: --mute triggered...
2025-01-29 16:02:32.714972 1 variation(s) on previous 5 message(s) suppressed by --mute
2025-01-29 16:02:32.715019 SIGUSR1[soft,tls-error] received, process restarting
2025-01-29 16:02:32.715054 MANAGEMENT: >STATE:1738184552,RECONNECTING,tls-error,,,,,
2025-01-29 16:02:32.720409 MANAGEMENT: CMD 'hold release'
2025-01-29 16:02:32.721260 NOTE: the current --script-security setting may allow this configuration to call user-defined scripts
2025-01-29 16:02:32.721721 MANAGEMENT: >STATE:1738184552,RESOLVE,,,,,,
2025-01-29 16:02:32.732800 TCP/UDP: Preserving recently used remote address: [AF_INET]24.147.171.155:12973
2025-01-29 16:02:32.733008 Socket Buffers: R=[786896->786896] S=[9216->9216]
2025-01-29 16:02:32.733028 UDPv4 link local: (not bound)
2025-01-29 16:02:32.733044 UDPv4 link remote: [AF_INET]24.147.171.155:12973
2025-01-29 16:02:32.733087 MANAGEMENT: >STATE:1738184552,WAIT,,,,,,
2025-01-29 16:02:32.733970 MANAGEMENT: CMD 'hold release'
```
7 Replies
What device are you using to try to make connection and where is it connecting to the internet from?
You cannot connect to a VPN server with a device that is connected to the same LAN where the server is running.
The device has to be connecting to the internet at a remote location or via a cell connection.
Hello,
I have NETGEAR Nighthawk Wifi Cable Modem Router Cable Gateway DOCSIS 3.1 AX2700.I tried to connect from my laptop using Tunnelblick from internal wifi and mobile hotspot.
I also tried to connect from my iPhone (cell data) using the OpebVpn Connect app.
Hello Kitsap
here is a log from openVpn Connect app (Iphone 15 pro) using cell data
```
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:44] START CONNECTION
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:44] ----- OpenVPN Start -----
OpenVPN core 3.10.5 ios arm64 64-bit
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:44] OpenVPN core 3.10.5 ios arm64 64-bit
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:44] Frame=512/2112/512 mssfix-ctrl=1250
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:44] NOTE: This configuration contains options that were not used:
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:44] Unsupported option (ignored)
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:44] 0 [resolv-retry] [infinite]
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:44] 1 [persist-key]
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:44] 2 [persist-tun]
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:44] 3 [mute] [5]
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:44] EVENT: RESOLVE
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:45] Contacting [2607:7700:0:34:0:1:1893:abad]:12973 via UDP
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:45] EVENT: WAIT
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:45] Connecting to [my_dddns.ddns.net]:12973 (2607:7700:0:34:0:1:1893:abad) via UDP
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:54] Server poll timeout, trying next remote entry...
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:54] EVENT: RECONNECTING
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:54] Contacting my_dddns24.147.171.155:12973 via UDP
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:54] EVENT: WAIT
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:33:54] Connecting to [my_dddns.ddns.net]:12973 (my_dddns24.147.171.155) via UDP
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:04] Server poll timeout, trying next remote entry...
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:05] EVENT: RECONNECTING
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:05] EVENT: RESOLVE
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:05] Contacting [2607:7700:0:34:0:1:1893:abad]:12973 via UDP
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:05] EVENT: WAIT
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:05] Connecting to [my_dddns.ddns.net]:12973 (2607:7700:0:34:0:1:1893:abad) via UDP
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:15] Server poll timeout, trying next remote entry...
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:15] EVENT: RECONNECTING
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:15] Contacting my_dddns24.147.171.155:12973 via UDP
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:15] EVENT: WAIT
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:15] Connecting to [my_dddns.ddns.net]:12973 (my_dddns24.147.171.155) via UDP
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:25] Server poll timeout, trying next remote entry...
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:25] EVENT: RECONNECTING
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:25] EVENT: RESOLVE
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:25] Contacting [2607:7700:0:34:0:1:1893:abad]:12973 via UDP
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:25] EVENT: WAIT
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:25] Connecting to [my_dddns.ddns.net]:12973 (2607:7700:0:34:0:1:1893:abad) via UDP
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:35] Server poll timeout, trying next remote entry...
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:35] EVENT: RECONNECTING
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:35] Contacting my_dddns24.147.171.155:12973 via UDP
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:35] EVENT: WAIT
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:35] Connecting to [my_dddns.ddns.net]:12973 (my_dddns24.147.171.155) via UDP
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:44] EVENT: CONNECTION_TIMEOUT [ERR]
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:45] EVENT: DISCONNECTED
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:45] EVENT: CORE_THREAD_DONE
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:45] EVENT: DISCONNECT_PENDING
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:45] Raw stats on disconnect:
BYTES_OUT : 2520
PACKETS_OUT : 60
CONNECTION_TIMEOUT : 1
N_RECONNECT : 5
[Jan 30, 2025, 09:34:45] Performance stats on disconnect:
CPU usage (microseconds): 86305
Network bytes per CPU second: 29198
Tunnel bytes per CPU second: 0```
I presume you have downloaded a new client.ovpn configuration file each time you have made changes to the configuration in the router and imported it into the mobile device?
A UDP connection, like you are using, results in less overhead for the connection as opposed to a TCP connection. You might try the TCP to see if it makes any difference.
Today, anytime someone is using an iOS device and there are connection problems, I wonder about the rotating MAC address security feature. Do you have yours enabled or disabled?
Have you had the opportunity to test the VPN connection from a regular Wi-Fi connection as opposed to a cell connection?
When you test from a cell connection, make sure the Wi-Fi connection in the mobile device is turned completely off as opposed to just disconnected.
When I look at the log, resolving the IP address through your DDNS pops up as a repeating issue.
All my Open VPN experience is with a variety of Windows 10 and 11 and Android devices.
