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Cannot change VPN interface name to NETGEAR-VPN
Hello, I enabled VPN on router RAX45 and installed the openVPN client and VPN configuration files on my laptop. Per instruction, I need to change the VPN interface name to NETGEAR-VPN on the network setting for TAP-Windows Adapter V9. However, when I clicked the "rename" item for the network, the pulldown window disappeared and nothing happened. What can I do and how to change the name of the VPN interface? Thanks in advance.
Update:
I resolved the issue. I changed the service type from UDP to TCP. Then everything works fine. I can access local network, internet and the router through the Netgear VPN over Spectrum. Obviously, there is some compatibility issue between Netgear VPN setting and Spectrum service.
I experienced multiple issues in the process of setting up VPN server on RAX45.
Problem 1: Cannot change VPN interface name by clicking "rename" in the popup window on the Network Connections page in Windows (Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections).
Solution: Click on the name of the network interface to show up a box with editable name in it. This is similar to change file name in file explorer by clicking on the file name.
Problem 2: Cannot connect to the Netgear VPN after enabling VPN service and OpenVPN client installing and setting up.
Solution: Reboot the router after VPN setup on the router.
Problem 3: Cannot access anything with Netgear VPN over Spectrum connection (no access to local network, internet or router itself).
Solution: Change the service type from UDP to TCP in the VPN setting on the router.
I'd like to share this with the group. Hope this helps the others who might experience the similar issue to mine.
12 Replies
GoldenJ wrote:Hello, I enabled VPN on router RAX45 and installed the openVPN client and VPN configuration files on my laptop. Per instruction, I need to change the VPN interface name to NETGEAR-VPN on the network setting for TAP-Windows Adapter V9. However, when I clicked the "rename" item for the network, the pulldown window disappeared and nothing happened. What can I do and how to change the name of the VPN interface? Thanks in advance.
More of a Windows issue. You running Windows 10 or 11?
Are your Windows updates current?
Were you logged in with an account with administrative authority?
Perform a restart before trying next time and make sure the Open VPN application is not running.
I use Windows 11. Yes, I logged in with an admin acct, windows has been updated to present. Also, I restarted the computer and exited OpenVPN completely. I also tried on a different laptop, giving me the same issue.
I eventually figured that I could change the name by clicking on the name itself. In my case, I clicked on "Local Area Connection" (associated with TAP-Windows Adaptor V9) and changed it to "NETGEAR-VPN".
But now I encountered a connection problem. During connection to the router VPN, the connecting process stuck at the step "management waiting ....". It just repeated several times and then the connecting window closed by itself. I checked the log file and saw the following lines:
.....WWWWW2025-02-21 09:56:11 us=218000 TLS Error: TLS key negotiation failed to occur within 60 seconds (check your network connectivity)
2025-02-21 09:56:11 us=218000 TLS Error: TLS handshake failed
2025-02-21 09:56:11 us=218000 TCP/UDP: Closing socket
2025-02-21 09:56:11 us=218000 SIGUSR1[soft,tls-error] received, process restarting
2025-02-21 09:56:11 us=218000 MANAGEMENT: >STATE:1740149771,RECONNECTING,tls-error,,,,,
2025-02-21 09:56:11 us=218000 Restart pause, 1 second(s)
......
I checked connectivity and did not see the problem. I could access my router using DDNS host name. I was able to access the network using the VPN on the NAS which is connected to the same router.
My VPN settings on the router are default settings as follows:- Enable VPN Service: checked
- TUN mode: UDP
- TUN mode Service Port: 12973
- TAP mode service type: UDP
I downloaded and copied the configuration files multiple times to the folder C:\Users\{userID}\OpenVPN\config (my openVPN configuration folder) to make sure the configuration files are current. The configuration files are:
- client1.opvn
- ca.crt
- client.crt
- client.key
I noticed there is another "TAP-Windows Adapter V9 #2" for McAfee VPN on PC's network. But I was running the McAfee VPN when connecting Netgear VPN. Could that interfere with NETGEAR-VPN?
What could be wrong leading to connection failure? What do I need to check and change?
GoldenJ wrote:I noticed there is another "TAP-Windows Adapter V9 #2" for McAfee VPN on PC's network. But I was running the McAfee VPN when connecting Netgear VPN. Could that interfere with NETGEAR-VPN?
Yes, any Open VPN setups I have used or been around would only allow one connection at a time.
