@David-TP My wired devices are cabled back to the main Deco X50 where they connect to a gigabit switch as the Deco X50 has only 3 ports one of which is used to connect to the Virgin Media Hub3 which is in modem mode.

The suggestion to put the Deco back to AP mode and use my VM Hub3 for DHCP would be a backward step.  This was the position I moved away from in order to utilise the Deco's VPN client functionality.

Good news is I overcame the IP assignment issue for the hard wired devices - they all required a full disconnection from their power sources and re-starting at least once (occasionally twice) before the Deco assigned a new valid IP address.  I had wrongly assumed that turning things off and on again would trigger dynamic IP assignment but obviously not.

Unfortunately the good news ends there as I then tried a NordVPN subscription but it totally failed to work on my Deco anyway!  After exchanging messages with Nord support they thought my setup looked correct but every time I turned the VPN on I lost all internet connection!

Please answer this - For my Deco X50 with firmware 1.6.7 Build 25031412 Rel. 48241 is it actually possible to successfully install a VPN that will then protect all my connected devices or am I just wasting my time trying?  I have Virgin Media cable broadband which I believe is fibre to the street cabinet and co-ax into my property.

Thanks.

Deanosaurus wrote

  @David-TP My wired devices are cabled back to the main Deco X50 where they connect to a gigabit switch as the Deco X50 has only 3 ports one of which is used to connect to the Virgin Media Hub3 which is in modem mode.

 

The suggestion to put the Deco back to AP mode and use my VM Hub3 for DHCP would be a backward step.  This was the position I moved away from in order to utilise the Deco's VPN client functionality.

 

Good news is I overcame the IP assignment issue for the hard wired devices - they all required a full disconnection from their power sources and re-starting at least once (occasionally twice) before the Deco assigned a new valid IP address.  I had wrongly assumed that turning things off and on again would trigger dynamic IP assignment but obviously not.

 

Unfortunately the good news ends there as I then tried a NordVPN subscription but it totally failed to work on my Deco anyway!  After exchanging messages with Nord support they thought my setup looked correct but every time I turned the VPN on I lost all internet connection!

 

Please answer this - For my Deco X50 with firmware 1.6.7 Build 25031412 Rel. 48241 is it actually possible to successfully install a VPN that will then protect all my connected devices or am I just wasting my time trying?  I have Virgin Media cable broadband which I believe is fibre to the street cabinet and co-ax into my property.

 

Thanks.

  @Deanosaurus I don't have an X50 myself and I don't have a Nord VPN subscription but you don't actually say what type of connection, WireGuard or OpenVPN. WireGuard configs seem to work more easily than OpenVPN I think becuase the OpenVPN have a bunch more options. I have had frequent problems with loading OpenVPN config files into routers and almost always it has been a particular entry in the config that needs to be removed or (much less often) changed due to OpenVPN version differences. Clearly some of the options are obviously needed while others are meant to modify operation and it's usually one of these that needs to be removed.

The likelyhood is it isn't working becuase of the configuration but I don't know for sure.

And you know that mostly you won't be able to use streaming apps on devices behind the VPN which for me makes it more or less useless.

Surfshark had a deal out the other day so I subscribed, I'll most likely cancel when it runs out.

I just enabled it and added this computer and we'll see if I can post this reply (would be pretty good if it can adapt on the fly).

Woho, it worked, so my BE85 works!

  @raven-au  It was openvpn.  I just followed the TP-Link and Nord VPN step by step instructions to the letter.  Did not work.  I only tried this because of the constant prompts and recommendations from the TP-Link Deco apps so very disappointed that I wasted hours and it doesn't work as suggested.

Deanosaurus wrote

  @raven-au  It was openvpn.  I just followed the TP-Link and Nord VPN step by step instructions to the letter.  Did not work.  I only tried this because of the constant prompts and recommendations from the TP-Link Deco apps so very disappointed that I wasted hours and it doesn't work as suggested.

  @Deanosaurus yeah, there are a few problems with the TP Link firmware.

I also followed the Surfshark step by step and initially it didn't connect but I didn't spend much time on it at all.

IIRC I just left it alone for a while and went back and checked occasionally and it started to connect ok.

  @raven-au no issue with X50 firmware imo.  It's more likely content of VPN provider config files needing some trimming.  I got mine working with Proton using a wireguard config file and it was easy.

What I'm not sure about is how the router will behave in a scenario where the VPN client server drops connection.  I would hope that any hardware devices I have added to the protected list on the router would then be dis-connected from the internet so that their security is not compromised without my knowledge.

Unfortunately I think the router keeps the devices connected to the internet and just defaults them back to a visible (un-protected) IP address.  This is a little concerning as the whole point of setting up the VPN is to avoid this.