Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2025 20:18 Post subject: wrt54gl with ovpn l2tp connection over mobile hotspot
Hi all,
This is my first post here. My setup:
One PC connected with cat5 cable to
Linksys WRT54GL 1.1 flashed with DD-WRT v3.0 broadcom r52894 mini (06/06/2023).
A mobil phone is used as hotspot.
This setup works just fine. I now want to add VPN to the mix. At home I run a Softether VPN server. On my PC I run the Softether client software. My Android devices, iPhone and iPad connect with L2TP. All this works fine.
I want to configure my WRT54GL so it connects ALL devices to the VPN, without the need for individual configuration on each and every device.
I have been browsing the forum and the download section but I am uncertain what version to download for this older hardware. It has to support L2TP. My current version r52894 has support for OVPN client configuration, but no L2TP.
Also, somewhere on this forum I found a comment telling that when configuring VPN on a router, you need 2 routers. One for the VPN config, and the other for the connection to the internet. Is that correct? If so, how do I do this?
Thank you for your reply. Since I have the VPN option in my DD-WRT v3.0 broadcom r52894 mini (06/06/2023), it should be doable, but without support for L2TP, right? This means I need to include the keys into the text field that is used for that purpose, if I'm not mistaking.
Long story short: I could stick to r52894 and configure VPN access without L2TP. Is that a correct assumption?
This leaves one question yet to be addressed, regardless of if I'm using my WRT54GL or another (faster) router:
"Also, somewhere on this forum I found a comment telling that when configuring VPN on a router, you need 2 routers. One for the VPN config, and the other for the connection to the internet. Is that correct? If so, how do I do this?"
As I specified in my setup I am using only one router that bridges my PC to my mobile hotspot. Remember the goal is to avoid having to install certificates on each and every device. Can that be done?
Joined: 18 Mar 2014 Posts: 13880 Location: Netherlands
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2025 14:40 Post subject:
Polar-wind wrote:
Thank you for your reply.
This leaves one question yet to be addressed, regardless of if I'm using my WRT54GL or another (faster) router:
"Also, somewhere on this forum I found a comment telling that when configuring VPN on a router, you need 2 routers. One for the VPN config, and the other for the connection to the internet. Is that correct? If so, how do I do this?"
As I specified in my setup I am using only one router that bridges my PC to my mobile hotspot. Remember the goal is to avoid having to install certificates on each and every device. Can that be done?
I have a WRT54GS with 8 MB flash and yes in the past it had a working OpenVPN but that is already broken for a very long time, beside even if it works you will not get more than 2-3 Mb/s so in effect not very useful.
Now on to your question
A VPN is a connection between a server and a client.
You can use your router as a client to a server of e.g. a VPN provider, for testing you can use Proton which has a free account.
You can also use your router as a a VPN server and use e.g. your phone or laptop as a client to connect from outside via the internet to your home.
WireGuard is the easier and more performant option compared to OpenVPN.
Thank you for all the good advice. I decided it is time to put my good old WRT54GL to rest and have I found a ready plug and play device without the need for flashing.
Joined: 18 Mar 2014 Posts: 13880 Location: Netherlands
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2025 6:49 Post subject:
Polar-wind wrote:
Thank you for all the good advice. I decided it is time to put my good old WRT54GL to rest and have I found a ready plug and play device without the need for flashing.
Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) VPN Router
I think I will give this one a go.
It is a nice little travel router not that powerful, if you really need it for travelling than I can understand your choice. If it is for stationary use e.g. in your home buy a GL-MT6000 if you want something of GL.iNET. I had one on sale for slightly over E 100.
