How to configure VPN on linux

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Today we talk about how to manually configure a VPN for Linux, with examples on Ubuntu and which VPN offers us a client, great for basic users.

In general, linux users are always the most experienced ones, who usually don’t need my suggestions or guides. It is also true that lately many new users are deciding to install linux on their computers, especially Ubuntu, which is easy to use and has a nice interface, an operating system that can run well even on older computers making sure that they are less “obsolete”.

Linux and VPN: the system I recommend

If you want to install Linux (perhaps as an additional secondary operating system to Windows) I recommend using Ubuntu. Download it for free on the official website by clicking here

These users would like to use a VPN for Linux and do not know how to configure everything manually, so this guide tries as always to explain things in a very simple way in order to make even these less experienced users more “protected”.

Contents of the article

  • How to manually configure a VPN on linux
  • VPN for Linux
  • Manual configuration of the OpenVPN protocol on Linux
  • Linux VPN | Are you an advanced user?
  • How to install and configure ExpressVPN on Linux from the terminal
  • The Best VPNs for Linux
  • Privacy is a right, stay informed to make sure it continues to be
  • Share my articles

How to manually configure a VPN on linux

Let’s see no frills how to manually set up a VPN for Linux .

In this example we are going to create a VPN on Ubuntu  13.10 ( Saucy Salamander ).

Other distributions or older versions of Ubuntu may need a different configuration than the one described below.

We will use the openVPN protocol and use IPVanish as a VPN service.

VPN for Linux

In the test we will use IPVanish, which allows us to manually configure all its servers, offering us the data to connect to them.

IPVanish is a VPN without logs , which allows you to encrypt your data traffic and also works with torrents.

Find the IPVanish review and video tutorial on the site.

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IPVanish offers a 66% discount coupon to our readers ( click here to  access the offer ) and has a 7 day money back policy that makes testing their VPN risk free.

Manual configuration of the OpenVPN protocol on Linux

Whichever VPN you decide to use, it will have to provide you with information such as the server name or IP, various configuration parameters and of course you will need to have the username and password to access their servers (be it the office VPN or a commercial VPN) .

Such files, for OpenVPN connections, typically have an .ovpn extension.

In the case of IPVanish for example, they provide us with an online folder where to find all the configuration files to their servers

  1. We open this address in the browser: https://www.ipvanish.com/software/configs/
  2. We choose the server we want to connect to.
  3. Each file will have an .ovpnextension and a name relative to the location.
    For example, ipvanish-CA-Toronto-tor-a01.ovpn is the first server in Toronto, while ipvanish-CH-Zurich-zur-c11.ovpn is the 11th server in Zurich.
  4. We click on what we want and save it on the desktop. In this example we will use the New York server.

  5. Next we open the Terminalapplication and give this command:

sudo apt-get install network-manager-openvpn openvpn

  1. You will be asked for your password.
  2. Then all dependencies will be resolved and all packages related to openvpn will be installed.
  3. Press enter every time the application asks for it.
  4. We open the network menu, click on “VPN Connections” and then on “Configure VPN …”
  5. Click on “Add”

  6. In the window that appears, select “Import a previously saved VPN configuration”.

  7. Click on “Create”

  8. In the window that appears, let’s select the .ovpnfile that we previously saved on the PC.
  9. In the next screen, we set up the connection by giving a name to our VPN connection, by entering the server address in the ” Gateway” item and our username and password in the respective fields. You can copy the settings below, obviously changing your username and password. When we are done click on ” Save “.

  10. We just have to connect to our VPN. From the network menu (the same one we opened at the beginning) go to “VPN Connections” and then click on the connection we have just created. In this step the system may ask us for the IPVanish password again. If so, let’s enter it.

  11. If everything works correctly, we will see a notification like this:
    We can also test our connection using our “ Check Public IP” function.

Linux VPN | Are you an advanced user?

In the next test we use ExpressVPN 

FIND HOW

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Let’s reveal the trick for our readers to get the best VPN for 30 days for free. ExpressVPN is one of the few VPNs that lets you request a refund within the first 30 days of use WITHOUT any questions or reasons.

Often, configuring a vpn on linux manually is considered difficult, because we have to make use of the terminal .

However, in this guide the use of the terminal will be limited to a minimum in order to make everything easier.

ExpressVPN will be configured using the openVPN protocol .

You will be able to install ExpressVPN on any linux distribution with this procedure.

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How to install and configure ExpressVPN on Linux from the terminal

  1. The first step is to log into the ExpressVPN site by entering our email address and password.

  2. Once logged into our account, the first page we will see will be that of active subscriptions.Click on the big green button “Set Up ExpressVPN” under the heading “Download and Install”.
  3. At this point a new window will open in our browser. Click on Manual Configon the left side of the screen.

  4. Always in the same window, on the right side of our browser we will have useful information such as our username and password.Copy this information in a text file because we will need it later.

  5. Also on the same page, at point 2, the different configuration files will be available for the different locationswe want to connect to (for example Los Angeles 3, USA, to unlock the complete Netflix catalog ). desktop the .ovpn file that is generated.
  6. We close our browser and start a Terminalapplication session .

sudo apt-get install -y openvpn

We hit enter. This command will install openVPN on our computer.

  1. Once the process is finished, let’s configure our openVPN connection by pasting this command in the terminal window:

sudo openvpn –config

Before clicking enter , drag the previously saved .ovpn configuration file from the desktop into the terminal window. The path to the file will then be automatically loaded.

  1. Add newWe just have to launch the openVPN service by pressing enter. In the terminal you will see many writings: don’t pay attention to it. If the connection is successful you should see a line that says ” Initialization Sequence Completed ” or ” Initialization Sequence Completed ” .

  2. Now you can easily surf the net and you will be using the ExpressVPN service. A recommendation:do not close ever the maximum terminale.Al application window, reduce it to an icon. If you close the terminal window, you will no longer be connected to the ExpressVPN service.

 

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by Abdullah Sam
I’m a teacher, researcher and writer. I write about study subjects to improve the learning of college and university students. I write top Quality study notes Mostly, Tech, Games, Education, And Solutions/Tips and Tricks. I am a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence or virtue.

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