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discountcoffee's avatar
Nov 13, 2023

Nighthawk R7000 openvpn Cannot load certificate file client.crt

Hello 

I have Nighthawk R7000 running firmware V1.0.11.136_10.2.120 and I was wanting to run a vpn.

 

I followed the instructions about how to turn on the vpn service and installing openvpn.

 

When I try to run openvpn I get this error in the log:
2023-11-10 14:19:55 us=703000 MANAGEMENT: Client disconnected
2023-11-10 14:19:55 us=703000 Cannot load certificate file client.crt
2023-11-10 14:19:55 us=703000 Exiting due to fatal error

 

Now searching here I found that this was a previous issue that was fixed in version 1.0.9.30 but that was back in 2018.

 

Is there any solution now for the latest firmware?

 

thanks

 

19 Replies


  • discountcoffee wrote:

    Hello 

    I have Nighthawk R7000 running firmware V1.0.11.136_10.2.120 and I was wanting to run a vpn.

     

    I followed the instructions about how to turn on the vpn service and installing openvpn.

     

    When I try to run openvpn I get this error in the log:
    2023-11-10 14:19:55 us=703000 MANAGEMENT: Client disconnected
    2023-11-10 14:19:55 us=703000 Cannot load certificate file client.crt
    2023-11-10 14:19:55 us=703000 Exiting due to fatal error

     

    Now searching here I found that this was a previous issue that was fixed in version 1.0.9.30 but that was back in 2018.

     

    Is there any solution now for the latest firmware?

     

    thanks

     


    When you run the OpenVPN client software and get these errors, how is your remote device connected to the internet?

     

    What device are you running the OpenVPN client software on?

     

     

    • discountcoffee's avatar
      discountcoffee
      Aspirant

      Kitsap 

      its a fiber connection on a orbi mesh network and its a windows 11 pc running the latest openvpn software.

      the nighthawk has a static ip.

       

      I've tried it on our local network on a windows 10 pc and have the same exact error.

       

      I believe the problem is with the certificate the Nighthawk R7000 is generating.

      I can open the cert myself and see that it is not blank and it looks valid.

       

       

       

      • Kitsap's avatar
        Kitsap
        Master

        You have significant network configuration issues to be worked out before attempting to run an Open VPN server on your R7000.

         

        The fiber connection to the internet comes through an Optical Network Terminal (ONT).  It is possibly a combination device of some type?  What is the brand name and model number of your ONT?

         

        From your ONT you connect to an Orbi mesh system.  The Orbi is possibly your router.  What is the model number of you Orbi system?

         

        Your R7000 connects via Ethernet to your Orbi system.  If your R7000 is configured in router mode it will be constantly in conflict with the router in your Orbi.  You cannot have both systems running as routers on the same network.

         

        If you configure your R7000 as an access point, one of the features that gets disabled is the Open VPN server.

         

         

  • michaelkenward's avatar
    michaelkenward
    Guru - Experienced User

    discountcoffee wrote:

    Hello 

    I have Nighthawk R7000 running firmware V1.0.11.136_10.2.120 and I was wanting to run a vpn.

     


    Which sort of VPN? One that lets you hide your location as you wander around the Internet? Or one that lets you access your own network when you are out and about?

     


    I followed the instructions about how to turn on the vpn service and installing openvpn.

     


    There have been several recent conversations about openvpn.

     

    Search - NETGEAR Communities – openvpn

     

    Did you check there?