ASUS VPN Toggle

This project allows you to toggle VPN Client 5 on your Asus RT-AC87U router running Asuswrt-Merlin firmware using a hardware button, and shows the VPN status via the router LEDs.

• VPN active → LED off
• VPN inactive → LED on
• Works using the AllLED trigger (button press detection)
• Runs as a background service via Cron

Features

• Toggle VPN Client 5 on/off with a physical button (LED button) (VPN Client can be changed)
• Automatic LED feedback: LED shows inverted VPN status
• Runs in the background and starts automatically at boot
• Uses only built-in firmware hooks (nvram, service) – no firmware modifications

Requirements

• ASUS Router (I used the RT-AC87U)
• Asuswrt-Merlin firmware installed
• VPN Client configured and working (for me its Client 5)
• SSH access to /jffs/scripts

Installation

1. SSH into your router

2. Create the scripts folder (if it doesn’t exist): mkdir -p /jffs/scripts

3. Upload the scripts:

• toggle_vpn.sh → /jffs/scripts/toggle_vpn.sh

4. Make the scripts executable: chmod +x /jffs/scripts/toggle_vpn.sh

Cron configuration

cru a vpn_monitor "@reboot /jffs/scripts/toggle_vpn.sh &"

• This ensures the monitor script runs automatically in the background after each reboot

Check your cron configuration with: cru l

How does this work?

• Watches AllLED for changes (button presses)

• Detects when the button is pressed

• Checks VPN Client 5 status (nvram get vpn_client5_state)

• Toggles VPN on/off

• LED Behavior (inverted by design)

  • VPN active → LED off

  • VPN inactive → LED on

⚠️ Designed for RT-AC87U and Merlin firmware; may not work on other models! ⚠️