How to Setup a VPN Server and Clients Using OpenVPN

In this article, I go over how to setup a VPN Server and clients using OpenVPN. this will cover the setup process of the remote machine and then connecting to it via both Linux and Windows client machines.

OpenVPN Server Setup

This is the Installation script I use to setup a secure OpenVPN Server
https://github.com/angristan/openvpn-install

Run the following script as root or add sudo to the install.sh script
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/angristan/openvpn-install/master/openvpn-install.sh
chmod +x openvpn-install.sh
AUTO_INSTALL=y ./openvpn-install.sh

you will need to enable the OpenVPN service to auto-start so the VPN stays up after reboot.
sudo systemctl enable openvpn

Troubleshooting:

tun-isnot-available

TUN is not available
-Certain VPS servers do not have TUN enabled by default. Create the follow script and run it on startup to fix this issue.

-Create /usr/sbin/enabletun.sh
#!/bin/bash
mkdir /dev/net
mknod /dev/net/tun c 10 200
chmod 0666 /dev/net/tun

-Mark /usr/sbin/enabletun.sh executable
chmod +x /usr/sbin/enabletun.sh

-Run this script on startup by adding the following to /etc/rc.local
/usr/sbin/tunscript.sh || exit 1
exit 0

Client Setup

Linux Client Setup

Install OpenVPN for Network Manager
Debian-Based sudo apt install network-manager-openvpn
Arch-Based sudo pacman -S networkmanager-openvpn
Gnome-Based DEs sudo apt install network-manager-openvpn-gnome

Copy OVPN file to /etc/openvpn/client/client.ovpn
Test client configuration in Terminal:
sudo openvpn /etc/openvpn/client/client.ovpn

import-vpn

Network manager Import VPN Connection: client.ovpn
Note: Certificates stored in ~/.local/share/networkmanagement/certificates

Connect via your Network Manager

Troubleshooting:

tls-issue

Verify TLS key file is enabled and created. This is a known issue on KDE desktops. If it isn’t make sure to create it using the last TLS portion of the ovpn file.

Windows Client Setup

Download OpenVPN client for your Windows @ https://openvpn.net/community-downloads/

clientovpn-winscp

Copy your client.ovpn from the server (WinSCP to connect and copy) and place the file in C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config

openvpnconnect

Run the program and right click the icon in the tray and connect