I’m having some issues with my router after converting the firmware to Tomato (though I’m confident the issue is mine, not the firmware). I tried DD-WRT but had basically the same issues, though they presented themselves immediately and it took about a week on Tomato before these started.
Basically I changed firmware because I wanted to run a VPN to spoof Netflix into allowing my wife to watch UK or German shows. Because she may be on an Xbox 360, WD Live, or laptop, using the router for VPN is fairly essential.
My setup is an Arris TM822 (default settings) which I’ve had no problems with. I can disconnect my desktop from my router in the midst of my problems, plug straight into the modem, and carry on like normal. My router is a Netgear Nighthawk R7000 running Tomato 1.28 by shibby. I had no connectivity issues with my router prior to the firmware change.
My problems:
1. At random intervals, my network will lose connection with the internet. I get the following log messages, which I hope I’m including enough.
a. After discovering the issues, I checked on my remaining lease time, which was 05:02:38.
i. I can ping nothing from the desktop or router.
b. I tried releasing and/or renewing. No change.
c. Told the VPN to Stop Now.
i. I am able to ping my modem from the router.
ii. I can ping 8.8.8.8 from my router.
iii. I cannot ping anything from my computer
d. Start the VPN.
i. I can ping from my computer, internet is returned.
2. I made a backup configuration when my router was first configured. After the router messed up the first time, I dumped the config in and everything was good when it rebooted. After I had problems the second time, I dumped the config back in, but noticed when it restarted that the config was not reconfiguring all of my settings (i.e. I changed my VPN server, keys, etc. in the meantime and the config did not return it to the previous settings.
Dec 17 15:36:51 unknown daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[1697]: DHCPINFORM(br0) 192.168.1.22 50:e5:49:9d:39:92
Dec 17 15:36:51 unknown daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[1697]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.22 50:e5:49:9d:39:92 MachineTwo
Dec 17 15:36:55 unknown daemon.notice openvpn[1655]: [server] Inactivity timeout (—ping-restart), restarting
Dec 17 15:36:55 unknown daemon.notice openvpn[1655]: SIGUSR1[soft,ping-restart] received, process restarting
Dec 17 15:36:55 unknown daemon.notice openvpn[1655]: Restart pause, 2 second(s)
Dec 17 15:36:57 unknown daemon.warn openvpn[1655]: WARNING: No server certificate verification method has been enabled. See ############## for more info.
Dec 17 15:36:57 unknown daemon.warn openvpn[1655]: NOTE: the current —script-security setting may allow this configuration to call user-defined scripts
Dec 17 15:36:57 unknown daemon.notice openvpn[1655]: Socket Buffers: R=[120832->131072] S=[120832->131072]
Dec 17 15:37:12 unknown daemon.err openvpn[1655]: RESOLVE: Cannot resolve host address: #######################: Name or service not known
Dec 17 15:37:27 unknown daemon.err openvpn[1655]: RESOLVE: Cannot resolve host address: #######################: Name or service not known
My questions:
1. Do the logs give a hint as to why I’m dropping connection?
2. Why am I unable to access the internet from my computer with the VPN off though I can ping from the router?
3. Am I doing something incorrect with my config restore or are VPN settings not restored?
My uninformed mind thinks the problem relates to the ‘[server] Inactivity timeout’ but I’m not sure why. Also I do not get the ‘Warning: No server certificate’ when the router is first starting and making its initial VPN connection, so I think it is due to the connectivity issue.
I’m fairly novice with network issues and tech talk, so please keep that in mind. Also, if my being unfamiliar with what I’m asking has lead me to ask a stupid question, post in the incorrect place, etc… please inform me gently.
Thanks.
