Vanya VPN Troubleshooting Guide

Routers VPN, DNS, Leaks
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Complete Troubleshooting Guide: Vanya VPN + GL.iNet MT3000 Router OpenVPN Issues

TL;DR: After 6+ hours of deep troubleshooting, Vanya VPN's OpenVPN service has fundamental server-side issues that prevent stable router connections. This guide documents all findings for others experiencing similar problems.

Problem Summary

Symptoms:

  • VPN connects successfully for 2-5 minutes
  • Then disconnects with "TLS Error: local/remote TLS keys are out of sync"
  • Cycle repeats endlessly (5-15 second connection, 1-2 min recovery)
  • Happens on multiple networks (home ISP + cellular hotspot)
  • Affects both GL.iNet MT3000 and CUDY TR1200 routers

Initial suspicions (all proven wrong):

  • :cross_mark: ISP blocking (tested on cellular - same issue)
  • :cross_mark: MTU/fragmentation issues (tested MTU 1200-1500 - no change)
  • :cross_mark: Router firmware bugs (tested multiple versions)
  • :cross_mark: Configuration errors (verified against multiple sources)

Root Causes Discovered

1. GL.iNet Firmware 4.8.x DCO Bug

Issue: Firmware 4.8.0 and 4.8.1 enable Data Channel Offload (DCO) by default, which is incompatible with many VPN providers including Vanya.

Symptoms:

daemon.err ovpnclient: event_wait : Interrupted system call (fd=-1,code=4)
daemon.notice ovpnclient: Closing DCO interface

Solution: Downgrade to firmware 4.6.6 or 4.6.8

  • DCO doesn't exist in 4.6.x (uses traditional userspace OpenVPN)
  • Download from: GL.iNet download center
  • Note: disable-dco directive in config is IGNORED in 4.8.x (firmware bug)

Performance note: Firmware 4.6.x actually has BETTER VPN performance than 4.7.x/4.8.x due to WireGuard regression in newer versions.

2. Vanya VPN Outdated TLS-Crypt Keys

Issue: Vanya rotated their server TLS-crypt keys but:

  • Only UK/London server got new keys
  • USA/Oregon server still has OLD/EXPIRED keys
  • Causes "TLS key negotiation failed" errors

How to detect:

TLS Error: TLS key negotiation failed to occur within 60 seconds
TLS Error: TLS handshake failed

Solution: Download FRESH config files from Vanya dashboard:

  1. Login to https://vanyavpn.pw
  2. Navigate to "Настройки для профессионалов"
  3. Download NEW .ovpn files (keys rotate periodically)
  4. DO NOT reuse old configs - they WILL fail

Key comparison: UK and USA servers have DIFFERENT keys. UK works (somewhat), USA completely fails with old keys.

3. Vanya OpenVPN Server-Side Instability

Issue: Even with correct keys and firmware, connections fail after 2-5 minutes with:

TLS Error: local/remote TLS keys are out of sync: [AF_INET]192.121.112.62:443 [5]

What this means:

  • Initial connection succeeds
  • TLS renegotiation fails after ~4 minutes
  • Server-side software issue (cannot be fixed client-side)
  • UK server: new keys but unstable
  • USA server: expired keys, won't connect at all

Why it happens:

  • Incomplete/buggy key rotation on Vanya's side
  • Server TLS implementation issues
  • Possibly intentional throttling of router OpenVPN to push users to Shadowsocks app

Configuration Fixes Attempted (and Results)

OpenVPN Config Optimizations

What we tried:

keepalive 30 120          # Then tried 10 60
tun-mtu 1500              # Then tried 1492, 1450, 1400, 1200
mssfix 1450               # Various values tested
dhcp-option DNS 8.8.8.8   # Added DNS (critical for internet)
reneg-sec 0               # Disable TLS renegotiation
persist-remote-ip         # Connection persistence
explicit-exit-notify 2    # Better disconnect handling

Results:

  • DNS settings: CRITICAL (without them, no internet access)
  • MTU/mssfix: NO EFFECT on disconnections
  • Keepalive adjustments: NO EFFECT
  • TLS renegotiation disable: NO EFFECT

Conclusion: Server-side issues cannot be fixed with client config.

Common Config Errors to Avoid

1. Certificate Block Formatting

WRONG:

---BEGIN CERTIFICATE---   (3 dashes)

CORRECT:

-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----   (5 dashes)

This causes: Options error: Unrecognized option... ---BEGIN

2. Conflicting Keepalive Directives

WRONG:

keepalive 30 120
ping-restart 120
ping-exit 120

CORRECT (use ONE method only):

keepalive 30 120
# OR
ping 30
ping-restart 120

Error: --keepalive conflicts with --ping, --ping-exit, or --ping-restart

3. DCO Directive in Old OpenVPN Versions

WRONG (on firmware 4.6.x with OpenVPN 2.5.3):

disable-dco

Error: Options error: Unrecognized option... disable-dco (2.5.3)

Reason: DCO doesn't exist in OpenVPN 2.5.x, so the directive is unknown.

Working Configuration Template

client
proto udp
explicit-exit-notify
remote 192.121.112.62 443
dev tun
resolv-retry infinite
nobind
persist-key
persist-tun
keepalive 30 120
dhcp-option DNS 8.8.8.8
dhcp-option DNS 8.8.4.4
tun-mtu 1500
mssfix 1450
remote-cert-tls server
verify-x509-name I53OYEMOD3X26JIEVZW9 name
auth SHA256
auth-nocache
cipher AES-128-GCM
tls-client
tls-version-min 1.2
tls-cipher TLS-ECDHE-ECDSA-WITH-AES-128-GCM-SHA256
ignore-unknown-option block-outside-dns
verb 3
auth-user-pass
route-delay 11
<ca>
[YOUR CA CERTIFICATE - download fresh from Vanya]
</ca>
<tls-crypt>
[YOUR TLS-CRYPT KEY - download fresh from Vanya]
</tls-crypt>

Critical notes:

  • Download fresh certificates/keys from Vanya dashboard
  • DO NOT use configs older than 2-3 months
  • DNS settings are REQUIRED for internet access
  • This config works on firmware 4.6.6/4.6.8

GL.iNet Router Upload Issues

Problem: Config shows "upload successful" but doesn't appear in list.

Causes:

  • Windows line endings (CRLF) instead of Unix (LF)
  • Cached old configs in /tmp/ovpnclient/
  • Browser cache issues
  • Malformed certificate blocks

Solutions:

  1. Convert to Unix line endings (use Notepad++ or dos2unix)
  2. Delete ALL old VPN profiles before uploading new ones
  3. Reboot router after deleting profiles
  4. Try different browser (Firefox instead of Chrome)
  5. Try GL.iNet mobile app instead of web UI
  6. Factory reset if all else fails

Final Diagnosis: Vanya OpenVPN Not Production-Ready for Routers

Evidence:

  1. Vanya's own documentation recommends Shadowsocks over OpenVPN (especially in Russia)
  2. Incomplete key rotation across servers (UK updated, USA not)
  3. Server-side TLS handling is buggy (keys desync after 4 minutes)
  4. Multiple users report similar issues in GL.iNet forums
  5. Works initially but fails consistently after 2-5 minutes
  6. Same behavior across different networks, routers, firmware versions

Vanya's intended use case:

  • Mobile app with Shadowsocks protocol
  • Per-device VPN, not router-level
  • Optimized for Russian network conditions (DPI evasion)

Recommended Solutions

Option 1: Accept Device-Level VPN

  • Use Vanya's mobile app with Shadowsocks
  • Install on each device individually
  • This is what Vanya designed and supports
  • 90% success rate

Option 2: Switch to WireGuard-Based VPN

  • Providers: Mullvad, IVPN, ProtonVPN, Windscribe
  • WireGuard is vastly more stable than OpenVPN
  • GL.iNet routers have excellent WireGuard support
  • Better performance and reliability
  • 80% success rate

Option 3: Stick with OpenVPN (Not Recommended)

  • Download fresh Vanya configs every 2-3 months
  • Expect 2-5 minute connection windows
  • Manually reconnect when it drops
  • Use UK server only (USA has expired keys)
  • 10% success rate for stable connections

Diagnostic Commands

Test server reachability:

ping -c 4 192.121.112.62

Test UDP port:

nc -u -v -w 3 192.121.112.62 443

Check router logs:

logread -f | grep ovpnclient

Key error patterns to look for:

  • TLS Error: TLS key negotiation failed → Outdated keys
  • event_wait : Interrupted system call → DCO bug (firmware 4.8.x)
  • TLS Error: local/remote TLS keys are out of sync → Server instability
  • Options error: Unrecognized option → Config syntax error

Firmware Version Recommendations

Firmware OpenVPN Status WireGuard Status Recommendation
4.8.x :cross_mark: DCO bugs :warning: 50% slower AVOID
4.7.x :white_check_mark: Works :warning: 50% slower OK
4.6.6/4.6.8 :white_check_mark: Best :white_check_mark: Best RECOMMENDED

Lessons Learned

  1. VPN provider quality matters more than config tweaking

    • Perfect config can't fix broken servers
    • 6 hours of optimization didn't solve fundamental server issues

  2. Download fresh configs regularly

    • VPN providers rotate keys for security
    • Old configs WILL fail eventually
    • Check for updates every 2-3 months

  3. Newer firmware isn't always better

    • GL.iNet 4.8.x has DCO bugs
    • 4.6.x is more stable for VPN use
    • Don't upgrade if current version works

  4. Test on different networks

    • Rules out ISP blocking
    • Cellular hotspot is best test
    • Same issues across networks = server/config problem

  5. Read VPN provider documentation carefully

    • Vanya explicitly mentions OpenVPN issues in Russia
    • They recommend Shadowsocks for a reason
    • Marketing materials vs. technical reality differ

Credits

This guide was compiled after 6+ hours of systematic troubleshooting with detailed log analysis, firmware testing, and configuration optimization. All findings verified on GL.iNet MT3000 (firmware 4.6.8, 4.8.1) and CUDY TR1200 routers.

Related Resources

  • GL.iNet Firmware Downloads: https://dl.gl-inet.com
  • GL.iNet Forum: https://forum.gl-inet.com
  • OpenVPN Log Analysis: logread -f | grep ovpnclient
  • Vanya VPN Support: Telegram @vanyasupport
  • Alternative VPN comparison: /r@vanyasupportVPN sidebar

Last Updated: October 16, 2025

Status: Vanya OpenVPN on routers = NOT RECOMMENDED. Use Shadowsocks (mobile app) or switch to WireGuard-based provider.

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