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Setup guide

Connect your gateway laptop to the China network

Your gateway laptop needs two pieces of software to bridge the Smartlink C device into the China network: a virtual network adapter (OpenVPN-TAP) and a VPN client (TunSafe). The .conf file you received in your onboarding email tells TunSafe how to connect.

1

Install OpenVPN-TAP

OpenVPN-TAP installs a virtual Ethernet adapter on Windows that TunSafe will use to route traffic. Download the latest TAP-Windows installer from the official OpenVPN repo and run it.

Reboot required — After the installer finishes, restart Windows before continuing. The TAP virtual adapter only registers cleanly after a reboot.

After reboot, open Network Connections (Win+R → ncpa.cpl) and confirm a new adapter named 'TAP-Windows Adapter V9' is listed.

2

Install TunSafe

TunSafe is the VPN client that reads your .conf file and brings up the China-network tunnel over the TAP adapter.

Install with default options. You do not need to add any servers manually — the .conf file we send you carries the full configuration.

3

Load your .conf file into TunSafe

We email a personalised .conf file with your onboarding. Save it somewhere safe, then import it.

  1. Open TunSafe and go to File → Import config.
  2. Select the .conf file you received by email.
  3. It appears in TunSafe's connection list with your assigned name. Don't share this file — it's tied to your account.
4

Share the VPN to the physical Ethernet port

The Smartlink C / OBD device plugs into your laptop's wired Ethernet port and needs to reach the China network through the VPN. Windows Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) does this — you tell the TAP adapter to share its connection with your physical Ethernet adapter.

  1. Open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings (or Win+R → ncpa.cpl).
  2. Right-click the 'TAP-Windows Adapter V9' adapter → Properties → Sharing tab.
  3. Tick 'Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection'.
  4. In the 'Home networking connection' dropdown, select your physical Ethernet adapter (the one your Ethernet cable to Smartlink C is plugged into) and click OK.
  5. Windows will assign the physical adapter a 192.168.137.x address — that's expected. The Smartlink C will get an IP from this range automatically.

Only one ICS source at a time — If you've previously enabled sharing on a Wi-Fi or other adapter, disable it first — Windows allows ICS on only one adapter.

5

Connect and verify

You're ready to bring up the tunnel and test the bridge.

  1. In TunSafe, select your config and click Connect. The status should turn green within a few seconds.
  2. Plug Smartlink C into the laptop's Ethernet port and power it on. The device LEDs should indicate a network link.
  3. Open a browser and visit any China-only test page (or just try ping 114.114.114.114 from a terminal) — packets should route through the tunnel.

If both Smartlink C and the China test succeed, the bridge is live. Keep TunSafe connected during the diagnosis session.