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[HardenedSoul]

Recently, I've been encountering difficulties with True Online insofar as using StrongVPN's OpenVPN program is concerned.

As you know most Trueonline customers are on Dynamic IPs which change all the time. In practice we never notice because it all happens so seamlessly with no interruption in access to the internet. However, when I use OpenVPN, the change in the IP from True online throws me off the internet for a minute or more at a time while it changes from say, 58.xx.xx.x to 61.xx.xx.x.

Of course this means I've got to sit there twiddling my thumbs while the OpenVPN program waits for Trueonline to assign me an IP.

When I'm NOT using the OpenVPN program, the Dynamic IP changes seamlessly like it's supposed to do as seen from the status page of my router. No interruption of service whatsoever. It's only when I use OpenVPN that I get these long outages in service.

Would Trueonline rather I just didn't use a VPN?

[necronx99]

Most isp's use dynamic ip assignment of some sort.
Most also offer the option of paying extra for a static ip.
500 baht pm for true i think. (there is a recent thread)

[bobl]

Sometimes it's better to have a fixed IP, which you can "buy" from True. Yours, case in point. With a dynamic IP you might get stuck with the IP of some recent client with an infected machine or whatever, which has caused the IP to be (temporarily or otherwise) blacklisted.

Although on the "modern" internet a fixed IP isn't nearly as necessary or useful as it used to be, I always advise clients such as yourself to consider getting a fixed IP to avoid headaches such as these...

[Pib]

I use StrongVPN (PPTP VPN) with my TrueOnline DOCSIS/cable 20Mb/2Mb internet plan. Although I don't use VPN that often I've never experienced above problem.  However, I have experienced the inability/instability in logging onto StrongVPN....but I figured out that problem...it was a router setup issue.  I only use my True-provided Wifi router in Wifi mode; not an ethernet connection.   Basically when I had my router Wifi mode set to "54G Performance" I would have the problems but when set to "54G LRS" the VPN problem went away.   Since being on this plan I've had two True-provided Wifi routers...a Cisco model and my current Thomson model...both presented the same VPN issue and both times the issue went away when using the 54LRS setting and it did not slow down my Wifi connection speed...in fact it made it more stable.

[lopburi3]

Believe Dynamic IPs means you get a new IP when making a new connection - not that they are changing it at random.  Are you sure your connection is not being reset with this happens?  I have changes all day but it is because every phone call disconnects my ADSL so a new IP has to be assigned when new contact made.

[kawaiimomo]

Lopburi3 is quite right in his comment. The IP is assigned when connection starts, and it is usually retained for 24 hours. I would take a look on your router logs to see if the connection is interrupted for some reason.

[HardenedSoul]

necronx99, on 2012-04-13 11:28:55, said:

Most isp's use dynamic ip assignment of some sort.
Most also offer the option of paying extra for a static ip.
500 baht pm for true i think. (there is a recent thread)

Oh I wish that were the case, sir.

I've asked them twice and, on both occasions, they swear blind that 12Mbps with a static IP costs like THB8,000 per month compared to the THB1,899 per month I'm currently paying for 14Mbps.

[HardenedSoul]

Thanks for the responses, gents. I've reset my router (Linksys E4200) to factory settings and configured from scratch. VPN connection's been solid for well over an hour so my fingers are crossed so the problem may have been some aspect of the previous setup.

[Dork]

HardenedSoul, on 2012-04-13 17:33:54, said:

Thanks for the responses, gents. I've reset my router (Linksys E4200) to factory settings and configured from scratch. VPN connection's been solid for well over an hour so my fingers are crossed so the problem may have been some aspect of the previous setup.

Sounds to me like an ADSL problem. Since the E4200 is a router only (no ADSL built in) I presume that you have another ADSL modem/router connected in bridge mode. Is that right? If so, the problem likely lies with the ADSL modem (or the phone line connecting to TRUE's DSLAM) and has nothing to do with your Linksys router.

What brand/model ADSL modem are you using?

[HardenedSoul]

TP-Link TD-8816

[Dork]

HardenedSoul, on 2012-04-14 18:54:50, said:

TP-Link TD-8816

I don't have any experience with that brand. I only asked because from my experience the brand/model of ADSL modem has a big impact on stability and it doesn't seem to be related to how cheap or expensive the modem is. I have 2 TRUE ADSL lines in 2 different locations and each reacts differently to the same ADSL modem. I think it is because TRUE's DSLAM is not the same in each area. One of them doesn't like Linksys modems (I have tried several) but is rock solid with a cheap DLINK. The other line is fine with a Linksys.

I often VPN and have had the same issues that you described so I know how frustrating it can be.

Another pretty easy thing you can try is changing the DSL modulation. Often times the modem will select ADSL 2+ by default whereas ADSL 2+M is more stable and faster, especially upstream which is important for VPN.

Good luck. Cheers,

[Dork]

bobl, on 2012-04-14 17:06:20, said:

NHJ, on 2012-04-14 16:18:45, said:

false, this is only in case upnp is activated.

You'd be hard pushed to find a router from the last 10 years that doesn't do upnp and/or nat-pmp by default, which is why I didn't bother mentioning it. That's why I said 'Your router "sees" which port you're running uTorrent on, so it directs the incoming traffic on that port to your IP without you needing to set up port forwarding' which is basically upnp in operation, in layman's terms.

The OP was asking why he didn't need to set up port forwarding, I figured the answer above would be more useful than "because it's using upnp".

I agree with bobl. Also every home router that I've seen comes with upnp enabled by default.

[Dork]

Dork, on 2012-04-15 10:25:40, said:

bobl, on 2012-04-14 17:06:20, said:

NHJ, on 2012-04-14 16:18:45, said:

false, this is only in case upnp is activated.

You'd be hard pushed to find a router from the last 10 years that doesn't do upnp and/or nat-pmp by default, which is why I didn't bother mentioning it. That's why I said 'Your router "sees" which port you're running uTorrent on, so it directs the incoming traffic on that port to your IP without you needing to set up port forwarding' which is basically upnp in operation, in layman's terms.

The OP was asking why he didn't need to set up port forwarding, I figured the answer above would be more useful than "because it's using upnp".

I agree with bobl. Also every home router that I've seen comes with upnp enabled by default.

Sorry, some how this reply to another post got transposed here. No idea how.

[silentfish1977]

Dork, on 2012-04-14 10:34:16, said:

HardenedSoul, on 2012-04-13 17:33:54, said:

Thanks for the responses, gents. I've reset my router (Linksys E4200) to factory settings and configured from scratch. VPN connection's been solid for well over an hour so my fingers are crossed so the problem may have been some aspect of the previous setup.

Sounds to me like an ADSL problem. Since the E4200 is a router only (no ADSL built in) I presume that you have another ADSL modem/router connected in bridge mode. Is that right? If so, the problem likely lies with the ADSL modem (or the phone line connecting to TRUE's DSLAM) and has nothing to do with your Linksys router.

What brand/model ADSL modem are you using?

Sorry to ask a newbie question, I have just changed from a Belkin router to a Linksys E4200, and realized it does not have ADSL built it. Hence being unable to connect with the Cisco system!

Since I managed to figure this out and reading your thread, I am to understand I need to buy a Modem. Do you guys have any recommendations on which Modem to buy that will play nice with the Linksys and with True?

Many thanks and apologies again for not being so technical.

[HardenedSoul]

In the end, the TP-Link TD-8816 worked very well with the E4200. My problem was being caused by the buggy Cisco firmware which I've since binned in favour of DD-WRT.