F5F Stay Refreshed Power Users Networks Issue with Private Internet Access timing out resolved.

Issue with Private Internet Access timing out resolved.

Issue with Private Internet Access timing out resolved.

M
MiloszTroll
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06-10-2021, 12:52 AM
#1
I needed to refresh the software on my TP-Link 8 Port Gigabit Switch to fix the connection problems while using a VPN client. I applied Build 20220930 (released on 2022-10-12) and it resolved the issue.

My goal was to set up a self-hosted blog with PIA VPN's static IP feature. My site is currently running on Blogger, and I sense that Blogger may no longer be supported by Google. This project also offered valuable hands-on experience in basic frontend web development, allowing me to build my own CI/CD systems. I didn’t want to rely on my primary server for hosting, so I chose to spin up a Windows 11 VM (my Linux expertise is limited, but I’m eager to try). I crafted the initial network setup using VMWare Player 17 and established a bridged connection for RDP access.

After installing the PIA VPN client, I found my connection was very unreliable. Running a specific command caused a timeout error. Initially, I assumed the VPN service itself was faulty. I turned off the firewall, adjusted VPN configurations, but nothing resolved the problem. I searched for outages but didn’t find any relevant reports. I hadn’t yet bought a static IP address, so I was only testing VPN viability for hosting a site. If a stable link couldn’t be achieved, self-hosting seemed impractical.

After weeks of troubleshooting, I gave up on the plan until recently. As part of the process, I installed PIA VPN (using default settings) on my main home server and discovered the same instability. Whenever I connected via VPN, packet loss was significant. I realized another factor was involved—not just the VM or VPN service.

I tried connecting from my main gaming PC to the PIA VPN using the correct settings, while monitoring ping to Cloudflare from both devices. The gaming machine showed zero packet loss, confirming the issue wasn’t with that device. This pointed me to the cable modem connected directly to it, whereas the switch handled traffic differently.

I explored the switch’s web interface settings, but changes didn’t resolve the problem. In a final attempt, I upgraded the firmware. The previous version was from 2021, and I had no record of its exact build number. I tried updating to TL-SG108E(UN)_V6_1.0.0 Build 20230218, but it failed. I then downloaded the latest 2022 release (TL-SG108E(UN)_V6_1.0.0 Build 20220930) and successfully completed the upgrade. The switch rebooted, and the Easy Smart Configuration Utility indicated the update finished.

Now I’m no longer experiencing packet loss. This update should assist others facing similar connectivity challenges with VPNs.

*Edited March 20, 2023 by r01100011 – fixed image url*
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M
MiloszTroll
06-10-2021, 12:52 AM #1

I needed to refresh the software on my TP-Link 8 Port Gigabit Switch to fix the connection problems while using a VPN client. I applied Build 20220930 (released on 2022-10-12) and it resolved the issue.

My goal was to set up a self-hosted blog with PIA VPN's static IP feature. My site is currently running on Blogger, and I sense that Blogger may no longer be supported by Google. This project also offered valuable hands-on experience in basic frontend web development, allowing me to build my own CI/CD systems. I didn’t want to rely on my primary server for hosting, so I chose to spin up a Windows 11 VM (my Linux expertise is limited, but I’m eager to try). I crafted the initial network setup using VMWare Player 17 and established a bridged connection for RDP access.

After installing the PIA VPN client, I found my connection was very unreliable. Running a specific command caused a timeout error. Initially, I assumed the VPN service itself was faulty. I turned off the firewall, adjusted VPN configurations, but nothing resolved the problem. I searched for outages but didn’t find any relevant reports. I hadn’t yet bought a static IP address, so I was only testing VPN viability for hosting a site. If a stable link couldn’t be achieved, self-hosting seemed impractical.

After weeks of troubleshooting, I gave up on the plan until recently. As part of the process, I installed PIA VPN (using default settings) on my main home server and discovered the same instability. Whenever I connected via VPN, packet loss was significant. I realized another factor was involved—not just the VM or VPN service.

I tried connecting from my main gaming PC to the PIA VPN using the correct settings, while monitoring ping to Cloudflare from both devices. The gaming machine showed zero packet loss, confirming the issue wasn’t with that device. This pointed me to the cable modem connected directly to it, whereas the switch handled traffic differently.

I explored the switch’s web interface settings, but changes didn’t resolve the problem. In a final attempt, I upgraded the firmware. The previous version was from 2021, and I had no record of its exact build number. I tried updating to TL-SG108E(UN)_V6_1.0.0 Build 20230218, but it failed. I then downloaded the latest 2022 release (TL-SG108E(UN)_V6_1.0.0 Build 20220930) and successfully completed the upgrade. The switch rebooted, and the Easy Smart Configuration Utility indicated the update finished.

Now I’m no longer experiencing packet loss. This update should assist others facing similar connectivity challenges with VPNs.

*Edited March 20, 2023 by r01100011 – fixed image url*

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