162

I'm trying to setup OpenVPN using NetworkManager. The GUI seems buggy and unresponsive. Are there any other tools for setting up a VPN client?

Improve this question
1

7 Answers 7

Reset to default
213

Yes, you can use OpenVPN directly. This way you can use more settings as well.

First you need the openvpn package:

sudo apt-get install openvpn

Then you can connect like this:

sudo openvpn --config /path/to/config.ovpn

The sudo is important because OpenVPN won't be able to connect otherwise (I think because it has to change the routes).

Improve this answer
9
  • 4
    @YanKingYin You should get it from VPN service provider.
    – Ali Shakiba
    May 22, 2015 at 8:48
  • 19
    To make it permanent, edit /etc/default/openvpn and uncomment the line AUTOSTART="all" and copy your ovpn file to /etc/openvpn/config.conf - must has .conf extension
    – Thales Ceolin
    Jun 25, 2015 at 21:59
  • 3
    @YanKingYin you should be able to download it by logging to your vpn server from browser.
    – Aniket Thakur
    Jul 31, 2015 at 18:21
  • 3
    Is this only going to install OpenVPN CLIENT and not server?
    – Luka
    May 27, 2017 at 18:57
  • 2
    can you mention how to launch the VPN on boot? systemctl? how to stop the vpn client? I agree with @Luka it seems weird that it's not openvpn --client or something, since it seems like this would launch a server.
    – Alexander Mills
    Jan 28, 2020 at 2:02
76

Easiest method is running this command:

sudo apt-get install network-manager-openvpn-gnome

And then add a OpenVPN connection from Network Manager which after above command supports importing .ovpn files.

enter image description here

Improve this answer
5
  • 1
    I tried using this, but couldn't save it. I think I'm affected by this bug: bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-manager-applet/+bug/…
    – Farid Nouri Neshat
    Aug 2, 2017 at 10:17
  • @FaridNouriNeshat: It is a while (after an update) in 16.04.1 LTS it doesn't work (I have reported the bug). Now using terminal to do that just read my comment on question about DNS leak.
    – Xaqron
    Aug 2, 2017 at 11:30
  • This worked for me but wouldn't allow me to connect outside the VPN while it was on. Using the CLI tool worked flawlessly.
    – absynce
    Jun 6, 2019 at 15:40
  • Worked fine for me with 22.04 LTS
    – vikas027
    Jun 25, 2022 at 12:10
  • This should be the accepted answer if you ask me. This worked great and took 3 seconds VS me stumbling around with anything else.
    – Hellreaver
    May 21 at 16:57
35

As Louis has explained installing openvpn client can be done with command

sudo apt-get install openvpn

However if you are using dual authentication mechanism for your vpn server, simple connection with

sudo openvpn --config /path/to/config.ovpn

will not be sufficient. You need some extra setup.

  1. Make sure your config file has auth-user-pass line.

  2. Next add --auth-retry interact to your connection command. So your entire command would look like

    sudo openvpn --config /path/to/config.ovpn --auth-retry interact
Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    Doesn't cut it for me: SIGUSR1[soft,connection-reset] received, process restarting
    – Tomislav Nakic-Alfirevic
    Sep 18, 2018 at 10:26
  • For me it was working fine. But lately I am also getting SIGUSR1 error. Any leads please? @TomislavNakic-Alfirevic were you able to resolve it.
    – urvah shabbir
    Jul 20, 2020 at 10:37
14

I'm coming here from the locked How to setup VPN using an .ovpn file? [duplicate], because I wanted to give an answer to problems of importing *.ovpn files in the GUI, which some users experience.

Just like others, I've made sure to install:

$sudo apt-get install network-manager-openvpn-gnome

However, on Ubuntu 18.04 (had same problem on 16.04), I've not been able to import a *.ovpn file using the GUI (Settings -> Network -> VPN + -> 'Import from file'). I always get:

Cannot import VPN connection

The file "foo.ovpn" could not be read or does not contain recognized VPN connection information

Error: the plugin does not support import capabilities

However, I just stumbled upon the following instruction from nixCraft for importing a *.opvn file:

$ sudo nmcli connection import type openvpn file /path/to/foo.ovpn

After running that command, my VPN connection gets listed under 'Settings -> Network -> VPN'. After editing the password, my VPN connection works. The VPN connection is also listed in top-panel menu that shows connections, power, users among other things.

Improve this answer
4
  • 1
    This capability also works in the gui nm-connection-editor. Run the program, click [+] and choose Import a saved VPN configuration. The gnome network settings interface for doing this is broken in 18.04, but the nm-connection-editor works nicely.
    – Steeve McCauley
    Oct 7, 2018 at 12:23
  • Some OpenVPN servers generate config files that the openvpn-gnome import feature has problems with. The *.ovpn file can be edited, so if this happens, simply edit the ovpn file to fix whatever is wrong in there.
    – LifeBoy
    Jan 7, 2020 at 12:14
  • "fix whatever is wrong there" What would that be? I've read another similar post at mint forum and no one was able to figure out what to "fix". The openvpn cli command opens the opvn file fine it's this package that is mangling the parsing of the ovpn file. What would be helpful is to know exactly what. Randomly changing settings (advanced too) has been a monty pythons complete waste of time
    – DKebler
    Apr 14, 2020 at 15:10
  • as follow up to my comment above I suspect the issue is that nm gnome doesn't support SHA3. My ovpn file as a auth SHA3-512 line but the security HMAC doesn't have that choice just the older SHA-1512. I set that and at least the connection starts but does not complete.
    – DKebler
    Apr 14, 2020 at 15:20
4

Install OpenVpn

sudo apt-get install network-manager-openvpn-gnome

Then go to Network Settings > Edit Connection > Add > Select VPN Point to Point Tunneling Protocol > Create

Add Username, Password and Gateway

Then go to Advanced Menu

Check Use point to point Encryption

Save

Then go to Network Settings > VPN Connection and select that VPN connection and connect it.

Improve this answer
0

If you don't want to involve Network Manager, this git repository has a simple script that does the whole job very well using an interactive session with less than half-a dozen questions. See docs in download.

https://github.com/Nyr/openvpn-install.git

Improve this answer
0

On Ubuntu 18, install network manager with the command: 

sudo apt-get install network-manager-openvpn-gnome

Then...

  1. Reopen Network settings
  2. Retry importing file

The import should work fine.

Improve this answer
2
  • Welcome to Ask Ubuntu. How is your answer different form the second most up-voted answer above? Or are you trying to comment on another answer?
    – user68186
    Aug 9, 2019 at 20:16
  • This is a superfluous answer, a duplicate and doesn't provide a solution. Simply saying: do this, then that, it should work fine, when the original poster says it doesn't, is not helpful
    – LifeBoy
    Jan 7, 2020 at 12:16

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .