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VPN networks are established to maintain a secured private connection. OpenVPN, an open-source VPN solution, provides excellent security measures to guarantee that your online activities are hidden from unwanted eyes.
This will give you a clear understanding of how to install and configure OpenVPN on your Ubuntu system, irrespective of whether you need a VPN for personal use or work-from-home setups. It will culminate in having a fully functional VPN that protects your online security and privacy.
What is OpenVPN and Why Should You Use It?
OpenVPN is one of the most widely used open-source VPN (Virtual Private Network) solutions for secured communication and encrypted data transmission over the internet today. It provides a private tunnel for information between your device and a remote server. Thus, the information stays completely safe behind the prying eyes of hackers, ISPs, and other third parties.
Strong encryption and customizable configurations make OpenVPN an extremely reliable solution for anyone trying to safeguard their online privacy and security.
It is a great choice for secure and well-configured access to sensitive data, bypassing geographical restrictions, or securing your remote workplace to prove that OpenVPN has everything. Inside this single post, one is given the surefire way of setting up OpenVPN on Windows-based systems.
- Strong Encryption: OpenVPN uses AES-256 encryption and other advanced security protocols to protect your data from cyber threats.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: It works on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, ensuring seamless connectivity across devices.
- Bypass Geo-Restrictions: OpenVPN allows users to access region-locked content by masking their IP addresses and routing traffic through secure servers.
- Secure Remote Access: Businesses can use OpenVPN to provide employees with secure access to internal networks from remote locations.
- Open-Source & Customizable: Since OpenVPN is open-source, users can audit the code, customize configurations, and integrate it with other security tools as needed.
- Reliable Performance: OpenVPN supports UDP and TCP protocols, ensuring a stable and efficient VPN connection based on user preferences.
If you want to learn about the differences between VPN and VPS, read the article below:
How to Install OpenVPN on Ubuntu
Setting up OpenVPN on Ubuntu allows you to establish a secure and encrypted connection to a virtual private network. Follow this step-by-step guide to install and configure OpenVPN on your Ubuntu system.
Update Your System
Before installing OpenVPN, ensure your system is up to date by running the following commands:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
This updates the package list and installs the latest security patches.
Install OpenVPN and Easy-RSA
To install OpenVPN and the Easy-RSA package (used for managing security certificates), run:
sudo apt install openvpn easy-rsa -y
Set Up the Certificate Authority (CA)
Create a directory for the CA:
make-cadir ~/openvpn-ca
cd ~/openvpn-ca
Edit the vars file using a text editor like Nano:
nano vars
Modify the following lines to match your organization’s details:
export KEY_COUNTRY="US"
export KEY_PROVINCE="CA"
export KEY_CITY="SanFrancisco"
export KEY_ORG="MONOVM"
export KEY_EMAIL="admin@MONOVM.com"
export KEY_OU="MyOrganizationalUnit"
Save the file and apply the variables:
source vars
Clean any existing certificates (if any) and build the CA:
./clean-all
./build-ca
Generate Server Certificates and Keys
Create the server key and certificate:
./build-key-server server
Press Enter through the prompts and confirm with "yes" when asked to sign the certificate.
Generate Diffie-Hellman parameters for encryption:
./build-dh
Generate the HMAC key to add a security layer:
openvpn --genkey --secret keys/ta.key
Configure the OpenVPN Server
Copy the sample configuration file:
sudo cp /usr/share/doc/openvpn/examples/sample-config-files/server.conf.gz /etc/openvpn/
cd /etc/openvpn/
sudo gunzip server.conf.gz
Edit the OpenVPN server configuration:
sudo nano server.conf
Find and modify the following lines:
ca ca.crt
cert server.crt
key server.key
dh dh.pem
tls-auth ta.key 0
Save the file and exit.
Enable IP Forwarding
Open the sysctl configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/sysctl.conf
Uncomment the following line:
net.ipv4.ip_forward=1
Apply the changes:
sudo sysctl -p
Start and Enable OpenVPN Service
Start the OpenVPN service and enable it to run on boot:
sudo systemctl start openvpn@server
sudo systemctl enable openvpn@server
Check the status to ensure it’s running correctly:
sudo systemctl status openvpn@server
Generate Client Certificates and Keys
Navigate back to the CA directory:
cd ~/openvpn-ca
Build a client certificate:
./build-key client1
Press Enter through the prompts and confirm with "yes" when asked to sign the certificate.
Copy the necessary client files to /etc/openvpn/client-configs:
mkdir -p ~/client-configs/keys
cp ~/openvpn-ca/keys/{ca.crt,client1.crt,client1.key,ta.key} ~/client-configs/keys/
Configure the OpenVPN Client
Copy the client configuration template:
cp /usr/share/doc/openvpn/examples/sample-config-files/client.conf ~/client-configs/base.conf
Edit the configuration file:
nano ~/client-configs/base.conf
Update the remote directive with your server’s IP address:
remote your-server-ip 1194
Ensure the following settings are included:
ca ca.crt
cert client1.crt
key client1.key
tls-auth ta.key 1
Save and exit.
Connect to the OpenVPN Server
Transfer the client configuration files (client.ovpn) to your local machine, then start the VPN connection using:
sudo openvpn --config client.ovpn
If using a GUI-based client (like OpenVPN Connect), import the .ovpn file and connect.
If you want to learn how to install Wireguard VPN on Ubuntu, read the article below:
Wireguard VPN on Ubuntu
Troubleshooting Common OpenVPN Issues on Ubuntu
While configuring OpenVPN on Ubuntu, you may face more than one obnoxious issue that might arise from the connectivity settings, configuration, as well as firewall settings. Most common OpenVPN problems include not starting, authentication errors, not resolving DNS, or misconfigured routing.
Most of these problems usually occur because of an incorrect server configuration, firewalls, or missing certificates. Below are some of the most common OpenVPN problems and how to solve them.
- OpenVPN Service Not Starting
Check the service status using:
sudo systemctl status openvpn@server
If the service fails, check logs for errors:
sudo journalctl -u openvpn@server --no-pager
Fix missing or incorrect configurations in /etc/openvpn/server.conf.
- Client Unable to Connect to Server
Verify that the OpenVPN port (default: 1194) is open:
sudo ufw allow 1194/udp
Ensure the server is running and reachable by testing with:
ping your-server-ip
- Authentication Failures (Invalid Credentials or Certificate Errors)
Ensure that the client certificate and key match the server’s CA:
ls ~/client-configs/keys/
Regenerate client keys if needed using:
./build-key client1
- No Internet Access After Connecting to VPN
Ensure IP forwarding is enabled:
sudo sysctl net.ipv4.ip_forward
If disabled, enable it in /etc/sysctl.conf and reload settings:
sudo sysctl -p
- DNS Resolution Issues
Manually set a DNS server in the OpenVPN configuration by adding:
push "dhcp-option DNS 8.8.8.8"
push "dhcp-option DNS 1.1.1.1"
Restart OpenVPN for changes to take effect:
sudo systemctl restart openvpn@server
- Firewall Blocking VPN Traffic
Check firewall rules using:
sudo ufw status
Allow OpenVPN traffic if missing:
sudo ufw allow 1194/udp
sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
sudo ufw enable
Conclusion
It conveys online security, privacy, and remote reaching through an OpenVPN installation on Ubuntu. The installation of step-by-step execution with necessary firewall and network settings and resolving common related problems ensures a stable and reliable run of the VPN connection.
Be it remote work security, getting past geo-surveillance, or protecting private data, OpenVPN can do the work well. Proper setup and maintenance can provide a seamless yet private experience online.