DD-WRT OpenVPN® configuration guide

Want to cover your router with top-notch VPN protection? With our tutorial guide, you'll learn how to set up OpenVPN® on DD-WRT router. To get more information about the OpenVPN® protocol, check out our detailed article What is OpenVPN® protocol.

Note: If your router is not flashed with the DD-WRT firmware and you’d like to do so, please visit https://dd-wrt.com for that. There you can find all the necessary instructions on how to flash, which routers are supported, and other related information.

I. Get configurations for the DD-WRT VPN setup

The very first step in configuring your DD-WRT router to work with our service is creating manual configuration files. In this regard, please follow a few simple steps described in our tutorial. 

As you are going to configure OpenVPN® on your DD-WRT router, select the relevant OpenVPN® option in the Protocol field. The necessary .ovpn file will be generated, as well as the chosen VPN server domain name. 

II. Set up DD-WRT OpenVPN® client

Once your router is configured for your ISP, and everything else is just how you like it, you can start the DD-WRT OpenVPN® setup. Follow these few simple steps:

1. Open your DD-WRT router interface. If you don’t know how to do it, check out our detailed instruction on how to find your router IP. 

2. Go to Services > VPN as shown below:

• Server IP or DNS Name: Input a server name from the Domain name line in the generated configuration settings.
• Port and Protocol: You can select 1194 udp (ovpn default)
• Tunnel device: Select TUN
• Encryption Cipher: AES-256-CBC
• Hash Algorithm: SHA512
• Advanced Options: Enabled
• TLS Cipher: TLS-DHE-RSA-WITH-AES-128-CBC-SHA or higher
• LZO Compression: No
• NAT: Enabled
• Firewall Protection: Disabled
• Tunnel UDP MSS-Fix: Disabled
• Additional Config section: Paste the below data

reneg-sec 0
persist-tun
persist-key
ping 5
ping-exit 30
nobind
remote-random
remote-cert-tls server
route-metric 1

• CA cert – In the configuration file, copy the section between <ca> and </ca>, including ——BEGIN CERTIFICATE—— and ——END CERTIFICATE—— lines, and paste it into this field.
• Public Client cert - In the configuration file, copy the section between <cert> and </cert>, including ——BEGIN CERTIFICATE—— and ——END CERTIFICATE—— lines, and paste it into this field.
• Public Client key - In the configuration file, copy the section between <key> and </key>, including ——BEGIN PRIVATE KEY—— and ——END PRIVATE KEY——— lines, and paste it into this field.

5. After that, click Apply Settings at the bottom of your DD-WRT router interface. This will get you online via VPN. For DNS issues, please go to Setup > Basic Setup > Network Setup > Static DNS1 and 2, and set their values to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 accordingly.

That’s about it! You’ve completed the DD-WRT OpenVPN® configuration and have a running VPN connection. Our VPN for DD-WRT is now encrypting traffic of all devices connected to your router and your online activities are now private and protected.

Need to set up VPN on other devices? Check out our Manuals page to get the VPN configuration guide you need or contact our customer support. We’ll be glad to assist!

“OpenVPN” is a registered trademark of OpenVPN Inc.