ExpressVPN issues Kodi Omega

[Qirat77]

Firstly, thanks so much for this addon. Been happily using it for a few years now without issue.

Updated to official Coreelec Kodi Omega today (Odroid N2+) and been having issue connecting to Express vpn via provider settings.

Logs report a key size issue. So tried via UserDefined install method instead and that worked (although vpnmanager info screen is reporting the network as being busy quite often, which I've never seen before).

Was working perfectly yesterday before updating to Kodi Omega. Also experiencing the exact same behaviour on a RPi4 running LibreELEC Omega nightly. which I installed just to test.

Appreciate any time you may have to look into this. Logs attached (around 00:58/59). Thanks.

kodi_log.docx

vpnmanager.log

[Mike-KL]

Just a quick comment, that I am using UserDefined method for ExpressVPN and also found that upon switch from latest LibreELEC Nexus (arm) to LibreELEC Omega beta 2 (aarch64) on an Rpi4 that the ExpressVPN connections did not connect as expected with my older existing *.ovpn files downloaded from ExpressVPN quite a while ago now...

I noted that with LibreELEC Omega (from view of openvpn manager log) that openvpn did not like keysize 256 line contained within *.ovpn files being utilised.

Upon inspection of an old *.ovpn and new downloaded *.ovpn there are two key lines of difference in most up to date *.ovpn

Change from AES-256-CBC to AES-256-GCM
Removal of keysize 256

Using latest *.ovpn files and importing these via VPN Manager UserDefined method, everything is working as expected.

Note Zomboided recently commented (see following thread post) that he does not intend to be updating this addon anymore.

https://forum.libreelec.tv/thread/5032-vpn-manager-for-openvpn/?postID=188211#post188211

Therefore I am extremely happy that the varied options of this addon still work correctly with Kodi Omega, when using the UserDefined install method.

I also extend my warmest thanks to Zomboided for creating this extremely needed/utilised addon.

[Qirat77]

Didn’t realise this addon won’t be maintained going forward - appreciate the heads up.

I’d be happy to continue using ExpressVPN via UserDefined method, but find my vpn speed is severely reduced using Kodi Omega on both CoreELEC (Odroid N2+) and LibreELEC on my rpi4.

On Kodi Nexus, I’d consistently get 130+ mbps using ExpressVPN on a 150mbps connection (I’m pretty sure this was using the new .ovpn files). On Omega, the most I get is 45mbps on both machines. Turn vpn off and I get full speeds.

Also bypassed the addon and started vpn from command line - same slow speeds. Wonder if this is an Omega issue.

How are your download speeds?

EDIT: just tried new .ovpn files on a UserDefined setup with rpi4 Nexus. Same poor download speeds. Not an Omega issue then.

EDIT2: got a 1 month sub to NordVPN. Download speeds back to where they should be. Definitely an issue with Expressvpn .ovpn files.

[pchevallier]

The Omega version is indeed using the latest 2.6 version of openvpn which no longer supports the keysize option:
https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/wiki/DeprecatedOptions#Option:--keysizeStatus:RemovedinOpenVPNv2.6

VPN service providers such as IPVanish, have acknowledged the change but have yet to update their distribution files:
https://support.ipvanish.com/hc/en-us/articles/12976094099867-OpenVPN-not-working-in-Linux-Windows-OpenVPN-Client