AirVPN not connecting to any server after Windows update

[FlaBoy 0]

I am using AirVPN, running with the Eddie client, on a very basic/simple setup (single Windows 10 PC, used mainly for torrents/HTPC stuff). It has worked perfectly for the past several months. Last night Windows prompted me to restart for an update, which I scheduled for the middle of the night. When I woke up and started up the PC, went to run AirVPN and it will not connect to any servers. It will just endlessly loop between them. The process will look something like this (messages displayed on main Overview tab in Eddie software):

 

1- 'Connecting to <server>'

2- 'Resart in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...'

3- 'Checking Authorization'

 

Then will repeat with a different server. The whole loop takes maybe 3-5 seconds. I did notice when I first started the Eddie client this AM that it gave me some error window/message about not having shut down correctly (I assume as a result of Windows closing it for the restart last night). I made no changes to windows settings or eddie/AirVPN settings between last night (VPN working) and this morning (VPN not working). The only system changes I am aware of is the Windows update, so I presume there is some relation there. As far as troubleshooting/remediation steps, I have already done the following: Closed and restarted Eddie client, closed and re-started windows, disabled windows firewall temporarily to see if that was causing the issues, un-installed and re-installed eddie client with latest version from AirVPN website. None of these steps have had any effect on the issue.I have pasted a copy of the events log from the Eddie client below if that helps. It shows two iterations of the connection-disconnection cycle.

 

Any help in resolving my issue and getting my VPN working again would be very much appreciated. I'm a fairly capable guy, have advanced engineering degrees, but IT/computer tech is definitely not my area of expertise. I know enough to be dangerous, but a lot of the terminology and such is beyond me. So thanks n advance for your patience. 

 

I 2018.05.26 09:59:06 - Eddie version: 2.13.6 / windows_x64, System: Windows, Name: Windows 10 Pro, Version: Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.17134.0, Mono/.Net Framework: v4.0.30319

. 2018.05.26 09:59:06 - Reading options from C:\Users\junkm\AppData\Local\AirVPN\AirVPN.xml

. 2018.05.26 09:59:06 - Command line arguments (1): path="home"

I 2018.05.26 09:59:08 - OpenVPN Driver - TAP-Windows Adapter V9, version 9.21.2

I 2018.05.26 09:59:08 - OpenVPN - Version: 2.4.3 - OpenSSL 1.0.2l  25 May 2017, LZO 2.10 (C:\Program Files\AirVPN\openvpn.exe)

I 2018.05.26 09:59:08 - SSH - Version: plink 0.67 (C:\Program Files\AirVPN\plink.exe)

I 2018.05.26 09:59:08 - SSL - Version: stunnel 5.40 (C:\Program Files\AirVPN\stunnel.exe)

I 2018.05.26 09:59:08 - curl - Version: 7.54.1 (C:\Program Files\AirVPN\curl.exe)

I 2018.05.26 09:59:08 - Certification Authorities: C:\Program Files\AirVPN\cacert.pem

. 2018.05.26 09:59:08 - Updating systems & servers data ...

! 2018.05.26 09:59:08 - Ready

. 2018.05.26 09:59:09 - Systems & servers data update completed

I 2018.05.26 09:59:18 - Session starting.

. 2018.05.26 09:59:18 - IPv6 disabled with packet filtering.

I 2018.05.26 09:59:18 - Checking authorization ...

! 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - Connecting to Cursa (United States, Miami)

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > OpenVPN 2.4.3 x86_64-w64-mingw32 [sSL (OpenSSL)] [LZO] [LZ4] [PKCS11] [AEAD] built on Jun 23 2017

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > Windows version 6.2 (Windows 8 or greater) 64bit

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > library versions: OpenSSL 1.0.2l  25 May 2017, LZO 2.10

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - Connection to OpenVPN Management Interface

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > MANAGEMENT: TCP Socket listening on [AF_INET]127.0.0.1:3100

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > Outgoing Control Channel Authentication: Using 160 bit message hash 'SHA1' for HMAC authentication

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > Incoming Control Channel Authentication: Using 160 bit message hash 'SHA1' for HMAC authentication

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > TCP/UDP: Preserving recently used remote address: [AF_INET]96.47.229.58:443

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > Socket Buffers: R=[65536->262144] S=[65536->262144]

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > UDP link local: (not bound)

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > UDP link remote: [AF_INET]96.47.229.58:443

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > MANAGEMENT: Client connected from [AF_INET]127.0.0.1:3100

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > TLS: Initial packet from [AF_INET]96.47.229.58:443, sid=9e29e34b 07fa017c

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > VERIFY OK: depth=1, C=IT, ST=IT, L=Perugia, O=airvpn.org, CN=airvpn.org CA, emailAddress=info@airvpn.org

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > VERIFY KU OK

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > Validating certificate extended key usage

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > ++ Certificate has EKU (str) TLS Web Server Authentication, expects TLS Web Server Authentication

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > VERIFY EKU OK

. 2018.05.26 09:59:19 - OpenVPN > VERIFY OK: depth=0, C=IT, ST=IT, L=Perugia, O=airvpn.org, CN=server, emailAddress=info@airvpn.org

. 2018.05.26 09:59:20 - OpenVPN > Control Channel: TLSv1.2, cipher TLSv1/SSLv3 DHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384, 4096 bit RSA

. 2018.05.26 09:59:20 - OpenVPN > [server] Peer Connection Initiated with [AF_INET]96.47.229.58:443

. 2018.05.26 09:59:21 - OpenVPN > SENT CONTROL [server]: 'PUSH_REQUEST' (status=1)

! 2018.05.26 09:59:23 - Disconnecting

. 2018.05.26 09:59:23 - Connection terminated.

I 2018.05.26 09:59:26 - Checking authorization ...

! 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - Connecting to Yildun (United States, Miami)

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > OpenVPN 2.4.3 x86_64-w64-mingw32 [sSL (OpenSSL)] [LZO] [LZ4] [PKCS11] [AEAD] built on Jun 23 2017

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > Windows version 6.2 (Windows 8 or greater) 64bit

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > library versions: OpenSSL 1.0.2l  25 May 2017, LZO 2.10

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - Connection to OpenVPN Management Interface

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > MANAGEMENT: TCP Socket listening on [AF_INET]127.0.0.1:3100

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > Outgoing Control Channel Authentication: Using 160 bit message hash 'SHA1' for HMAC authentication

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > Incoming Control Channel Authentication: Using 160 bit message hash 'SHA1' for HMAC authentication

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > TCP/UDP: Preserving recently used remote address: [AF_INET]173.44.55.178:443

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > Socket Buffers: R=[65536->262144] S=[65536->262144]

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > UDP link local: (not bound)

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > UDP link remote: [AF_INET]173.44.55.178:443

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > MANAGEMENT: Client connected from [AF_INET]127.0.0.1:3100

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > TLS: Initial packet from [AF_INET]173.44.55.178:443, sid=49f4fa6e 01e2544a

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > VERIFY OK: depth=1, C=IT, ST=IT, L=Perugia, O=airvpn.org, CN=airvpn.org CA, emailAddress=info@airvpn.org

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > VERIFY KU OK

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > Validating certificate extended key usage

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > ++ Certificate has EKU (str) TLS Web Server Authentication, expects TLS Web Server Authentication

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > VERIFY EKU OK

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > VERIFY OK: depth=0, C=IT, ST=IT, L=Perugia, O=airvpn.org, CN=server, emailAddress=info@airvpn.org

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > Control Channel: TLSv1.2, cipher TLSv1/SSLv3 ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384, 4096 bit RSA

. 2018.05.26 09:59:27 - OpenVPN > [server] Peer Connection Initiated with [AF_INET]173.44.55.178:443

. 2018.05.26 09:59:28 - OpenVPN > SENT CONTROL [server]: 'PUSH_REQUEST' (status=1)

! 2018.05.26 09:59:31 - Disconnecting

. 2018.05.26 09:59:31 - Connection terminated.

I 2018.05.26 09:59:34 - Checking authorization ...

! 2018.05.26 09:59:34 - Connecting to Acamar (United States, Miami)

. 2018.05.26 09:59:34 - OpenVPN > OpenVPN 2.4.3 x86_64-w64-mingw32 [sSL (OpenSSL)] [LZO] [LZ4] [PKCS11] [AEAD] built on Jun 23 2017

. 2018.05.26 09:59:34 - OpenVPN > Windows version 6.2 (Windows 8 or greater) 64bit

. 2018.05.26 09:59:34 - OpenVPN > library versions: OpenSSL 1.0.2l  25 May 2017, LZO 2.10

. 2018.05.26 09:59:34 - Connection to OpenVPN Management Interface

. 2018.05.26 09:59:34 - OpenVPN > MANAGEMENT: TCP Socket listening on [AF_INET]127.0.0.1:3100

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > Outgoing Control Channel Authentication: Using 160 bit message hash 'SHA1' for HMAC authentication

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > Incoming Control Channel Authentication: Using 160 bit message hash 'SHA1' for HMAC authentication

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > TCP/UDP: Preserving recently used remote address: [AF_INET]173.44.55.154:443

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > Socket Buffers: R=[65536->262144] S=[65536->262144]

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > UDP link local: (not bound)

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > UDP link remote: [AF_INET]173.44.55.154:443

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > MANAGEMENT: Client connected from [AF_INET]127.0.0.1:3100

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > TLS: Initial packet from [AF_INET]173.44.55.154:443, sid=c2407b40 08ec5400

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > VERIFY OK: depth=1, C=IT, ST=IT, L=Perugia, O=airvpn.org, CN=airvpn.org CA, emailAddress=info@airvpn.org

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > VERIFY KU OK

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > Validating certificate extended key usage

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > ++ Certificate has EKU (str) TLS Web Server Authentication, expects TLS Web Server Authentication

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > VERIFY EKU OK

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > VERIFY OK: depth=0, C=IT, ST=IT, L=Perugia, O=airvpn.org, CN=server, emailAddress=info@airvpn.org

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > Control Channel: TLSv1.2, cipher TLSv1/SSLv3 DHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384, 4096 bit RSA

. 2018.05.26 09:59:35 - OpenVPN > [server] Peer Connection Initiated with [AF_INET]173.44.55.154:443

! 2018.05.26 09:59:37 - Disconnecting

. 2018.05.26 09:59:37 - Connection terminated.

I 2018.05.26 09:59:38 - Cancel requested.

. 2018.05.26 09:59:38 - IPv6 restored with packet filtering.

! 2018.05.26 09:59:38 - Session terminated.

 

[Flx11 10]

It has worked perfectly for the past several months. Last night Windows prompted me to restart for an update, which I scheduled for the middle of the night.

Yup that is what you get when updating Windows 10 and end up with VPN not working.

I made no changes to windows settings.

That does not matter, some of the settings made or not....Windows 10 will "update" the settings or restore it to default.

Any help in resolving my issue and getting my VPN working again.

 

See this https://airvpn.org/topic/17440-fix-for-tap-adapter-in-windows/

Disable Windows Update(block it/localize the process in your firewall), enable it only when you need to update your OS.

Check your adapters TAP/VPN adapters. make sure they are in DHCP, sometimes they are not and in that link you will find your answer.

Good luck and Regards,

Flex

[cellardoor 0]

It may be a stupid question, but have you tried to disconnect from server and reconnect.

[Staff 9973]

Hello!

 

Our support team has received some other report pertaining to this problem. Apparently, some Windows 10 update forces the uninstall of the tun/tap driver. We have been currently unable to confirm such reports, but if you can confirm such a situation, the simplest solution is just re-installing the tun/tap driver with the OpenVPN script (which you need to run with administrator privileges) Start -> All Programs -> TAP-Windows -> Utilities -> Add a new TAP-Windows virtual ethernet adapter.

 

Kind regards

[corrado 100]

Sorry for off-topic, but wow Windows 10 updates are just a mess. Every feature update forces me to do a clean re-install of my Windows 10 virtual machine, I suspect because of driver issues (it's a GPU-passthrough VM). For comparison, the supposedly unstable Arch Linux has been running on two different machines for more than two years without ever breaking anything except - very rarely - unsupported packages from user repositories.

[Flx 76]

@corrado

Sorry for off-topic, but wow Windows 10 updates are just a mess.

True enough!!! You got it.

As for Driver Issues not only for GPU-pass through VM when drivers work just fine.

[Laures 1]

I have the same problem with Windows 10.

AirVPN does not function on my Computer.

 

I attached my Log file.

Eddie_20180530_020031.txt

[serenacat 83]

Probably not directly related to this TAP problem, but the Virtual Box forums have a variety of problems after the Windows major update 1803.

Some relate to MS using functions of their HyperV virtualisation in the new release. The more general issue is M$ making such "breaking" changes without coordination with other systems software.

As with the 1709 update, I intend to defer the 1803 update while Oracle and Microsoft fight it out, and other odd issues with "not invented here (at M$)" software and drivers are discovered and dealt with.

At present, I can entertain IT etc people by running Android in a mobile phone emulator from Android Studio, Linux Mint, and Windows 10 at the same time on a big monitor for my laptop. But fingers are crossed, and backups fill USB disks, when updates must happen.

[RaineyPass 12]

1803 is a charm.  AskWoody has a lot of info on the myriad issues encountered; their Patch Lady is sharp.  GHacks does too.  There have been a number of driver issues reported.  I'm using Win 10 Pro 1703; and avoiding 1803 for now, it's too hosed.

 

Regarding your issue, if the Tap adapter is installed and functional (look in Device Manager), try rebooting your router/modem; sometimes mine won't recognize my laptop after updates.  Also, if you're using WiFi, connect to your router directly via. ethernet for a while, unplug and see if WiFi connects.  That also has worked for me in the past.  If Air can't be started with ethernet, be sure the Tap DNS in Network/sharing Center/ Adapter Properties is set to auto (blank.)  Check all your adapters for same.  Air should reset DNS if the option is checked in Eddie's Preferences/Advanced/reset DNS for all network interfaces.  

 

If you don't have Win 10 Pro, I'd recommend upgrading, most of MS's antics can be turned off in the group policy editor; definitely worth learning how to use it; it's not difficult.  "Past performance indicates future performance"  tells me MS is going to make even more mistakes with Win 10 in the future.

 

If all else fails, you should be able roll back to 170? in Settings/Updates.  

[Flx11 10]

Apparently, some Windows 10 update forces the uninstall of the tun/tap driver. We have been currently unable to confirm such reports

Windows 10 Update 1803 uninstalls all TAP adapters but not OpenVPN.

[delsvpn 0]

Sorry for off-topic, but wow Windows 10 updates are just a mess. Every feature update forces me to do a clean re-install of my Windows 10 virtual machine, I suspect because of driver issues (it's a GPU-passthrough VM). For comparison, the supposedly unstable Arch Linux has been running on two different machines for more than two years without ever breaking anything except - very rarely - unsupported packages from user repositories.

 

About your GPU Passthrough Win VM, do you use that for Gaming? I looked into this a while ago but if I remember correctly it wasn't feasible or would have been a headache to setup, I would love to be able to game in a VM with GPU Passthrough and scratch that damned Win install, if you do have it working do you have a link to good instructions for setting it up?

 

 

Apparently, some Windows 10 update forces the uninstall of the tun/tap driver. We have been currently unable to confirm such reports, but if you can confirm such a situation,

@STAFF

I can confirm Windows 10 Update 1803 uninstalls all TAP adapters but not OpenVPN.

 

 

Wow, what a clown show they've become, I hardly ever boot to Win 10 but I think I'm on 1803, if not then thanks for the pointer on what to look for 

 

I've been using Zorin (Ubuntu) for the last couple of years, it's a learning curve for sure but so worth it, the only thing I miss is games (hence the Winblows installation) but every other thing works, and works better (imho)

[corrado 100]

About your GPU Passthrough Win VM, do you use that for Gaming? I looked into this a while ago but if I remember correctly it wasn't feasible or would have been a headache to setup, I would love to be able to game in a VM with GPU Passthrough and scratch that damned Win install, if you do have it working do you have a link to good instructions for setting it up?

 

I use GPU passthrough for gaming, too. KVM/Qemu-based solutions are actually not that hard to set up once your hardware fully supports gpu passthrough. The overhead is almost negligible.Two things that are annoying, though: Windows feature updates tend to mess with the drivers for virtual hardware devices, so I'd recommend turning those off and/or doing clean installs only. The other issue a lot of people including me seem to be facing is getting audio output to work properly - I solved that with a USB-soundcard looped back to the host as any other purely software-based configurations produced crackling/distorted/lagging sound.

 

You can find a very good an extensive tutorial on the Arch Wiki. This is generally recommended as one of the best resources and must-reads on the topic. For more specific guides, troubleshooting and examples there is a subreddit

that helped me a lot.

[delsvpn 0]

 

About your GPU Passthrough Win VM, do you use that for Gaming? I looked into this a while ago but if I remember correctly it wasn't feasible or would have been a headache to setup, I would love to be able to game in a VM with GPU Passthrough and scratch that damned Win install, if you do have it working do you have a link to good instructions for setting it up?

 

I use GPU passthrough for gaming, too. KVM/Qemu-based solutions are actually not that hard to set up once your hardware fully supports gpu passthrough. The overhead is almost negligible.Two things that are annoying, though: Windows feature updates tend to mess with the drivers for virtual hardware devices, so I'd recommend turning those off and/or doing clean installs only. The other issue a lot of people including me seem to be facing is getting audio output to work properly - I solved that with a USB-soundcard looped back to the host as any other purely software-based configurations produced crackling/distorted/lagging sound.

 

You can find a very good an extensive tutorial on the Arch Wiki. This is generally recommended as one of the best resources and must-reads on the topic. For more specific guides, troubleshooting and examples there is a subreddit

that helped me a lot.

 

That's awesome thanks for the answer, I've run into the audio issues before just generally, so thanks for the suggestion, if I remember correctly Zorin (it's Ubuntu 16.04) couldn't do pass through correctly last time I checked, thanks for the links really appreciated I'll check if anythings changed.