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Getting started with OpenVPN

About OpenVPN



OpenVPN is an open-source software application that implements virtual private network (VPN) techniques for creating secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections in routed or bridged configurations and remote access facilities. It uses a custom security protocol that utilizes SSL/TLS for key exchange.

OpenVPN allows peers to authenticate each other using a pre-shared secret key, certificates, or username/password. When used in a multiclient-server configuration, it allows the server to release an authentication certificate for every client, using signature and Certificate authority. It uses the OpenSSL encryption library extensively, as well as the SSLv3/TLSv1 protocol, and contains many security and control features.

Official Website: https://openvpn.net
Installer Copyright: https://github.com/Nyr/openvpn-install/blob/master/LICENSE.txt
Underlying OS: CentOS 8.1 Server (64 Bit)

Minimum System Requirements



1 vCPU Core
512 MB RAM
5 GB of Disk

Getting Started



1) Once the application is installed, download the Connection profile using an FTP/SCP software like WinSCP for Windows or CyberDuck for macOS

2) Login to your server, and download the connection profile (client.ovpn) from the root directory.

Host name: {your-server-ip}
User name: root
Password: {your-server-root-password}

Replace {your-server-ip} with your server's IP address and {your-server-root-password} with your server's root password

WinSCP Login Screen

3) Afterwards, you can go ahead and install it on your computer to tunnel your connection through your new VPN.

OpenVPN

Each device that you use should have it's own user on the VPN server to run reliably. Run the following command on your server through a SSH client like PuTTY for Windows or Terminal on macOS to add more users or remove some of them.

bash openvpn-install.sh

Application Downloads



Official Windows Client
https://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/downloads.html

macOS Client (Tunnelblick)
https://tunnelblick.net/downloads.html

Official Android Client
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.openvpn.openvpn

Official iOS Client
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/openvpn-connect/id590379981


Important files and documents



Visit OpenVPN official documentation site here: https://openvpn.net/vpn-server-resources

Updated on: 09/21/2022

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