Router Frontline

Because of the increasing geometric progression of the world over the internet, and because of their privacy measures Virtual Private Networks or VPNs have become very popular over the year. VPN establishes connection between the two points archer ax50 vpn client through internet and gives the user a safe access to another network. This helps protect identity such as online activity and location from thugs, hackers and barbie sneaks.

TP-Link Archer AX50 is another good WiFi router with built-in VPN client features that can perform VPN activities at a very good speed. This wireless router enables users to share the home network connection and connect the devices to a VPN provider to improve privacy and security when browsing, streaming, or downloading content from the internet.

Here, the article will analyze the Archer AX50 VPN client in depth and explain how it can provide security to both wireless and wired connections in a home setting. It will also be described how to install it and what to do if it will encounter problematic conditions.

What is a VPN and why use one?

A VPN or Virtual Private Network is the network that is extended over any public network and which allows its users to transmit and receive data over any public or share networks as if their MAC addresses were positively connected to the private network.

Some key reasons why people use VPN services include: Some key reasons why people use VPN services include:

• Online privacy and anonymity: A VPN protects your online activity and identity by hiding your IP address and encrypting all traffic between your device and the VPN server. This prevents hackers, advertisers and your ISP from spying on your internet activity.
• Access geo-restricted content: Many streaming services and websites restrict access based on geo-location. With a VPN, you can alter your online location and access content from any region of the world.
• Secure public wifi connections: When connecting to public WiFi networks like airports, cafes etc. your data is vulnerable. A VPN protects your data from snoopers on shared networks.
• Bypass censorship: In countries with internet censorship, VPNs allow users to access blocked websites and apps.
• Work remotely securely: VPNs enable secure remote access to corporate networks for employees working from home or on the road.

How the Archer AX50 Works as a VPN Client

The Archer AX50 is a capable WiFi 6 router that can function as an OpenVPN client to connect all devices on the home network to a third-party VPN service. Here is a brief overview of how it works:

• The router connects to a VPN server of your choice like ExpressVPN, NordVPN etc. using the OpenVPN protocol.
• All internet-bound traffic from devices connected to the Archer AX50 (wired or wireless) is first routed through the encrypted VPN tunnel.
• This means that even if a device is not VPN-capable, it gets the online security and privacy benefits of the VPN connection thanks to the router acting as a VPN client or gateway.
• The traffic then exits the VPN tunnel and goes to its destination on the public internet, hiding your real IP address and location under the VPN server’s address and location.
• Return traffic also comes via the encrypted VPN tunnel, keeping your online activity completely private from your ISP and anyone else spying on the network.

So in summary, by configuring the Archer AX50 as an OpenVPN client, you can effectively turn your entire home network into a VPN protected network.

Setting up the Archer AX50 VPN Client

Configuring the Archer AX50 router as an OpenVPN client is quite straightforward. Here are the basic steps:

1. Download the configuration file (ovpn file) of the VPN service you want to use from their website. This contains all the settings needed to connect.
2. Log into the web interface of your Archer AX50 router using the default IP address (192.168.1.1).
3. Go to VPN > OpenVPN and click Create New OpenVPN Client.
4. Give the profile a name, select the download ovpn file and enter login credentials if required.
5. Click Save Start to activate the VPN connection.
6. You may need to allow the router some time to successfully establish connection with the VPN server.
7. Once connected, the connected message will change and you’re ready to use the internet securely.

The Archer AX50 remembers the VPN profile, so next time you can simply enable it from the web interface. Detailed setup guides are also available on TP-Link’s support site.

Benefits of Using Archer AX50 as VPN Client

There are several advantages of configuring the Archer AX50 router as an OpenVPN client to connect the entire home network to a VPN:

• Convenience: VPN is enabled for all devices with a single click rather than installing software on each device.
• Compatibility: Even devices which don’t support VPN connections like smart TVs and game consoles get protection through the router.
• Speed: Router level VPN is generally faster than installing multiple VPN clients which consume computing resources.
• Security: The router acts as a firewall too, blocking malware and unwanted traffic on all connections.
• Private networking: IoT devices, wireless printers etc. also operate privately behind the VPN without requiring individual configurations.
• Compatibility: The router supports OpenVPN protocol used by all major VPN providers for easy and future compatibility.
• No data caps: Unlike mobile VPN apps, there are no usage limits with a router level installation as it is handling the traffic.

So in short, the Archer AX50 VPN client makes it simple to privately connect all users and devices in the home network around the clock with the flip of a switch.

Common Issues and Their Fixes

While setting up the VPN client on Archer AX50 is straightforward for most users, sometimes issues may crop up preventing the connection from establishing. Here are some fixes to common problems:

• Cannot establish connection – Check the VPN protocol, port and authentication settings. Also try a different VPN provider’s config file.
• Very slow speeds – Check for any speed limiting on the router dashboard. Try connecting directly via VPN app on one device as a test.
• Disconnected frequently – The VPN server may be overloaded. Try a different server location. Check for any logs in router settings.
• No internet access – Make sure the router firewall or MAC filtering is not blocking the VPN connection. Try temporarily disabling any router filters.
• Stuck on Connecting – The VPN credentials may be invalid. Download the config file again from your VPN account.
• IPv6 leaks – Tunneling protocol like OpenVPN may need to be configured to block IPv6 traffic. Contact VPN provider support.
• Local network inaccessibility – Double check that your router LAN IP range does not conflict with the VPN server IP range.

Following the basic troubleshooting steps and ensuring the router and VPN software are updated can resolve most connectivity issues over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions users have about Archer AX50 VPN functionality:

Q. How many devices can connect simultaneously through the VPN?

A. The Archer AX50 router can handle VPN traffic from dozens of devices at once across both WiFi and Ethernet connections. The exact limit depends on available bandwidth and usage.

Q. Does using a VPN affect router and internet speeds?

A. VPN encryption does add a small amount of latency but on a high-speed router like Archer AX50 running VPN at router level has negligible impact on typical home internet speeds in most cases.

Q. Can I switch between multiple VPN profiles?

A. Yes, the router interface allows creating, saving and easily switching between different VPN profiles for different purposes like location spoofing or secure public WiFi connections while traveling.

Q. Can I see connected devices through VPN?

A. No, other devices behind the VPN will not be visible for management or access. The router only handles traffic routing and encryption/decryption. Device networking remains unaffected.

Q. Is my data usage counted against any monthly VPN limit?

A. No, when VPN is configured at router level, all internet traffic is routed through the VPN tunnel and does not count towards any usage limits set by the VPN provider for individual devices.

Q. Can I access VPN protected network resources while connected?

A. No, the Archer AX50 functions only as an OpenVPN client. It cannot access internal network resources of your VPN provider through the tunnel, only encrypt internet-bound traffic.

Conclusion

To conclude, the Archer AX50 is a versatile router that provides the flexibility to securely connect an entire home network to a VPN for complete online privacy. Its intuitive interface makes configuring VPN profiles through leading services like ExpressVPN or NordVPN extremely simple.

With the Archer AX50 acting as a reliable OpenVPN client gateway, users get simplicity of use along with security, speed and compatibility benefits of a router-level VPN installation. This makes it an excellent choice for those looking for an all-in-one networking and security solution for their smart home or small office network.