StrongVPN w Native Firmware?

[Chinquapin]

I thought perhaps the stock ASUS firmware on my ASUS routers might work with StrongVPN, since they both have built-in OpenVPN support. A query to StrongVPN reported: "ASUS stock firmware will not work because it doesn't have the command prompt, which should be used to run firewall scripts and also set the correct environment for DNS. Simply uploading the config file to the router will not work for many services... You can only use either DD-WRT or Tomato on the router."

So, does the advice from StrongVPN sound right? Is there another VPN service that can be used with stock Asus firmware and OpenVPN? Many thanks.

 

[joegreat]

My suggestion would be do download the OpenVPN configuration file for Android(!) and load it into the router ("Import .ovpn file" under VPN / OpenVPN Clients).

Typically this will work out of the box!

No clue why you should need to go to command line (which is also present in Asus stock firmware - called Telnet/SSH) for the basic VPN setup.
Only if you need routing or other specifics you might need to go to command line or use other firmware (I suggest Merlin's version of ASUS stock).

 

[Chinquapin]

Thanks very much. I don't know why the command line is needed either, but I'm guessing (that means I'm guessing) that the StrongVPN script must run unattended and/or with privileges that somehow differ from those available through Telnet/SSH. See the last line in the subsequent quoted reply from StrongVPN below.

"I have tried both the firmwares few weeks ago, they both didn't have the command promt. If you have it on your firmware - you can make a screenshot of the section of ASUSWRT web interface and send to us so we can review. Please note the Telnet and SSH don't count."

I can't recall what exact steps I used when I setup StrongVPN a few years ago, but I do believe I ran the script after placing it on the router's storage and then issuing a command in a window on the DD-WRT browser interface. I didn't use Telnet or SSH, I'm positive. So...it sounds like Asuswrt-Merlin may have a command line interface? Though the StrongVPN tech support seems to think otherwise. I can always just flash DD-WRT, but I've been reasonably satisfied with the stock Asus firmware and hoped to stay with that.