NOTE: This is not a broadband issue as disabling VPN allows the browser to operate, albeit without VPN.

Further enquiries confirmed this started around two days prior to my original post in this thread. My provider, and others, started receiving many calls, and acted!

A few of my above posts indicate VPN has been intermittent in nature.
THE REASON: The network has been working hard to isolate the problem.

So, for Opera users in the UK [with Opera VPN never-ending connection problem] having a landline/broadband account with "SafeGuard" feature (or similar), should disable everything but "Virus Guard", close the browser. NO NEED to alter Opera sett's.

You should find Opera VPN [blue] is active as intended next time you open the browser - hopefully. They continue to investigate and confirm similar reports from Win7, Win10 and Mac users.

Hope this helps.

I've had a full day with a professional computer expert friend of over 30yrs in the industry. All settings were left unchanged, cables and connections checked, all machines inspected for possible faults etc, and there were none. Opera worked as it should, save for the VPN issue. His professional conclusion was compatibility issues between OS updates, Opera, and/or provider.

As Opera VPN worked with existing settings for a long while with little problem, he then took broadband to bits, even though all had been checked out by provider and line checked.

Long story short, we came across the following FIX: which I paraphrase and leave out company names.

"Opera's VPN is essentially a proxy. Homesafe/KidsSafe blocks the use of proxies to prevent tech-savvy youngsters from getting around kidsafe settings put there by careful parents. If Homesafe/kidsSafe is switched off, VPN is available".

We left Opera settings as is/was, and carried out changes to provider broadband, unchecked everything except for "Virus Guard", and restarted. VPN worked at once (checked and rechecked many times over).

So I'm in UK and this may not work for everyone, but try it. This still does not account for why everything was working before, though intermittent on occasion. Investigations are ongoing provider end, but perhaps Opera may wish to look at the issue in due course.

I really hope this helps you guys.

I don't see that many reports on VPN not connecting jn current days. There were some in the past, mostly when VPN servers were changing, but not currently.

Do Opera VPN servers have the capacity in the first place? As an aside, I use broadband on desktops (Win7 & Win10).

Having done an intensive internet search, including across Opera, it would appear the never-ending "connecting" VPN issue has been intermittent for quite some time and reported by many users, where it either works or it doesn't (ie: Opera VPN servers may or may not be down?).

As VPN is integrated (like add blocker), if Opera browser is up and running, one would assume so to is VPN if switched on by the user?

As loyal Opera users, are we to think this issue may have something to do with the volume of internet traffic preventing VPN running?

Would really appreciate one of the devs coming onto the forum saying there is an issue, or there is not an issue, for it's the not knowing which is frustrating? Is Opera revisiting the VPN issue please?

Presently, it is never-ending "connecting" and I cannot load any webpage via Opera without disabling Opera VPN.

An update from devs on this issue would be helpful to all Opera users please? Thank you.

For Opera devs - Integrated Opera VPN still down for me as above, 16th March, 2018 @ 16:48 GMT. Thank you.

hopefully opera 's vpn will come back alive soon ! *this is get 'n way to old story..

Cannot load any web page unless integrated VPN disabled. Thank you Leo.

@operafanuk thank you.. you are most welcome !..

Thank you to everyone for input. Opera VPN still up and running, and I'm happy for this thread to be closed. Thank you.

But the really good news is that Opera VPN is still up and running, so i'll give it another 12 hours before asking to close this thread, just to ensure it's stable. Thank you again.

Lemme also say thankyou for explain 'n your problems very truthfull and spot on ! i think lottsa o peeps should look at how well you explained.. thanks again.. and hope it keeps working for ya !..

@rocketraccoon If you have been run 'n opera 's vpn and defender in the past with no problems then maybe its a local trouble as to where you're at.. or opera vpn could be down.. just check now and then to see if ya can connect to vpn... *sorry ya have 'n this problem..

@pmfeldman pmfeldman ummm.. advice same answer to as to RocketRaccoon.. you have been a forum member for @ least 6 years.. so if firwall was workn'n ok before opera vpn went down.. maybe vpnit will be back up soon.. *am sorry you got this problem..

just check now and then to see if vpn will connect..

if it vpn does not connect let us know !.. thanks..

Note - depend 'n on how ya explain your prolem could mean a new thread *perhaps

Fingers crossed and let us hope I haven't spoken too soon!

As you know this is not the first time this issue has happened. In fact, a brief internet search indicates it's happened to many users before.

Indeed, a previous Opera version had VPN as a "known issue", where: "VPN - there are some issues with service availability, so you'll notice that there is never-ending "connecting" status displayed. Our developers are already working on it"(unquote).

That was for v41, but pointing out we may have a similar issue, or not as the case may be. Just saying!

...
@blackbird - ... You'll also note @jamestech425 and @oracle12c had similar issues.

And @oracle12c indicated in his last post above that "disabling the defender was the solution to the problem" for him. It may be that there are more than one cause for users having the problem, or it may be that there are some marginal packet latency issues that can be made worse by an antivirus program or something in a user's path to the Opera server. But to stress again, if other UK users are able to access the server consistently with no problem, it points at a problem cause lying somewhere outside that server.

@blackbird - Thanks for all info which had already been considered. You'll also note @jamestech425 and @oracle12c had similar issues.