How To Install OpenVPN on Linux Mint 22

OpenVPN provides a robust, secure method for creating encrypted connections between your Linux Mint system and remote networks. Whether you’re looking to protect your privacy, access region-restricted content, or connect to a corporate network securely, OpenVPN is an excellent choice for Linux Mint 22 users. This comprehensive guide walks you through various installation methods, advanced configurations, and troubleshooting tips to ensure a successful OpenVPN setup on the latest Linux Mint release.

Understanding VPN Technology and OpenVPN

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) create secure tunnels between your device and destination servers, encrypting your internet traffic and protecting your data from potential eavesdroppers. OpenVPN stands out among VPN protocols due to its robust security features, flexibility, and open-source nature.

OpenVPN utilizes SSL/TLS protocols for key exchange, providing strong encryption that can withstand sophisticated attacks. Unlike proprietary VPN solutions, OpenVPN’s open-source codebase undergoes constant scrutiny by security experts worldwide, ensuring vulnerabilities are quickly identified and patched.

The protocol offers exceptional versatility, capable of running on virtually any network port and supporting both TCP (for reliability) and UDP (for speed) connections. This flexibility makes OpenVPN particularly valuable for bypassing network restrictions and firewalls.

For Linux Mint 22 users, OpenVPN presents several advantages:

• Seamless integration with Network Manager for GUI-based configuration
• Robust community support through extensive documentation
• Compatibility with numerous VPN service providers
• Advanced security features including multiple authentication methods

These characteristics make OpenVPN an ideal choice for privacy-conscious Linux Mint users seeking a dependable VPN solution.

Prerequisites and Requirements

Before beginning your OpenVPN installation on Linux Mint 22, ensure you have:

• An up-to-date Linux Mint 22 installation
• Administrative (sudo) privileges on your system
• A stable internet connection
• At least 100MB of free disk space
• Basic familiarity with terminal commands

Additionally, you’ll need:

• OpenVPN configuration files (.ovpn) from your VPN provider
• Your VPN account credentials (username and password)
• CA certificate files if required by your provider

For optimal performance, consider:

• Backing up any existing network configurations
• Closing unnecessary applications to avoid conflicts
• Disabling other VPN clients that might be running

With these prerequisites in place, you’re ready to proceed with installation using your preferred method.

Method 1: Installing OpenVPN via Network Manager

The Network Manager approach offers a user-friendly graphical interface for setting up OpenVPN connections, making it ideal for beginners and those who prefer GUI-based configuration.

Installing Required Packages

1. Open Terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T
2. Update your package repositories:

   sudo apt update

3. Install the OpenVPN Network Manager plugin:

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

4. Enter your Linux Mint password when prompted

Downloading OpenVPN Configuration Files

1. Obtain the OpenVPN configuration files (.ovpn) from your VPN provider
2. Most providers offer these files through their website’s download section
3. Save the configuration files to a location you can easily access, such as your Downloads folder
4. If your provider offers multiple server locations, choose the ones most appropriate for your needs

Setting Up the Connection in Network Manager

1. Click on the Network icon in the system tray (usually at the bottom right of your screen)
2. Select “Network Settings” from the menu
3. In the Network window, click the “+” (plus) icon at the top right to add a new connection
4. Select “Import a saved VPN configuration…” from the dropdown menu
5. Navigate to where you saved your .ovpn configuration file and select it
6. Click “Open” and then “Create”

Configuring Connection Details

1. A new window will appear for configuration details
2. Enter a recognizable name for your VPN connection
3. Verify that the Gateway field contains the correct server address
4. Select “Password” from the Type dropdown
5. Enter your VPN username and password
6. The CA certificate field should automatically populate from your .ovpn file
7. Click “Advanced…” to configure additional security options

Setting Advanced Security Options

1. In the Advanced Options window, select the “TLS Authentication” tab
2. Check “Verify peer (server) certificate usage signature”
3. Check “Verify peer (server) certificate nsCertType designation”
4. Click “OK” to save these settings
5. Click “Add” to finalize your VPN connection configuration

Connecting to Your VPN

1. Click on the Network icon in the system tray
2. Select “VPN Connections” and choose your newly created VPN connection
3. Toggle the connection switch to “ON”
4. You should see a notification confirming successful connection
5. Verify your connection by visiting a website like strongleakstest.com to confirm your IP address has changed

Method 2: Terminal-Based Installation

For users who prefer command-line interfaces or need greater control over their VPN configuration, the terminal-based installation offers a more flexible approach.

Installing OpenVPN Packages

1. Open Terminal with Ctrl+Alt+T
2. Update package repositories:

   sudo apt update

3. Install OpenVPN:

   sudo apt install openvpn

4. Verify installation:

   openvpn --version

   This should display the installed OpenVPN version

Organizing Configuration Files

1. Create a directory for your OpenVPN configurations:

   sudo mkdir -p /etc/openvpn/client

2. Download and extract your provider’s configuration files:

   cd ~/Downloads
   unzip openvpn-config.zip

3. Copy the .ovpn file for your preferred server to the OpenVPN directory:

   sudo cp downloaded-config.ovpn /etc/openvpn/client/config.conf

   Note: OpenVPN expects .conf extension, not .ovpn

Creating Credential Files

1. Create a file to store your credentials:

   sudo nano /etc/openvpn/client/credentials.txt

2. Add your username on the first line and password on the second line
3. Save the file with Ctrl+O, then exit with Ctrl+X
4. Secure the file with appropriate permissions:

   sudo chmod 600 /etc/openvpn/client/credentials.txt

5. Edit your configuration file to reference the credentials file:

   sudo nano /etc/openvpn/client/config.conf

6. Add or modify this line:

   auth-user-pass /etc/openvpn/client/credentials.txt

7. Save and exit

Connecting via Command Line

1. To connect in the foreground (showing logs):

   sudo openvpn --config /etc/openvpn/client/config.conf

2. To connect in the background:

   sudo openvpn --daemon --config /etc/openvpn/client/config.conf

3. Verify connection:

   ip addr show tun0

   This should display details about your VPN interface if connected successfully

Method 3: OpenVPN 3 Installation

OpenVPN 3 offers a more modern client implementation with improved features and security. Here’s how to install and use it on Linux Mint 22.

Adding OpenVPN 3 Repositories

1. Open Terminal with Ctrl+Alt+T
2. Install prerequisite packages:

   sudo apt update && sudo apt install curl apt-transport-https gnupg

3. Set up the repository key:

   sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings && curl -fsSL https://packages.openvpn.net/packages-repo.gpg | sudo tee /etc/apt/keyrings/openvpn.asc

4. Determine your distribution codename:

   DISTRO=$(lsb_release -c -s)

5. Add the repository:

   echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/openvpn.asc] https://packages.openvpn.net/openvpn3/debian $DISTRO main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/openvpn3.list

Installing OpenVPN 3 Client

1. Update package lists:

   sudo apt update

2. Install OpenVPN 3 client:

   sudo apt install openvpn3

3. Verify installation:

   openvpn3 version

   This should display the OpenVPN 3 version information

Connecting with OpenVPN 3

1. Import your configuration file:

   openvpn3 config-import --config ~/path/to/your/config.ovpn

2. List available configurations:

   openvpn3 configs-list

3. Start a session:

   openvpn3 session-start --config ~/path/to/your/config.ovpn

4. Enter your VPN credentials when prompted
5. Check session status:

   openvpn3 sessions-list

6. To disconnect:

   openvpn3 session-manage --disconnect --config ~/path/to/your/config.ovpn

Advanced Configuration Options

Once you have a basic OpenVPN connection working, you can enhance your setup with these advanced configurations.

TLS Authentication Setup

TLS authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a shared secret key:

1. Ensure your configuration file includes:

   tls-auth ta.key 1

2. Place the ta.key file in the same directory as your configuration
3. Set appropriate permissions:

   sudo chmod 600 /etc/openvpn/client/ta.key

Split Tunneling Configuration

Split tunneling allows you to route only specific traffic through your VPN:

1. Add these lines to your configuration file:

   route-nopull
   route 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0

2. Replace the IP range with the network you want to access through the VPN
3. Restart your VPN connection for changes to take effect

Custom DNS Settings

Configure custom DNS servers to prevent DNS leaks:

1. Add these lines to your configuration:

   dhcp-option DNS 1.1.1.1
   dhcp-option DNS 1.0.0.1

2. Replace the IP addresses with your preferred DNS servers
3. For Network Manager connections, you can also set DNS in the IPv4 settings tab

DNS Configuration and Leak Prevention

DNS leaks can compromise your privacy by revealing your browsing activities to your ISP or other third parties. Here’s how to prevent them:

Understanding DNS Leaks

DNS (Domain Name System) requests often bypass VPN tunnels, potentially exposing your browsing habits. When this happens, even though your traffic is encrypted, the websites you visit can still be tracked via DNS queries.

Manual DNS Configuration

1. Open Terminal and edit resolv.conf:

   sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf

2. Replace existing nameserver entries with:

   nameserver 1.1.1.1
   nameserver 1.0.0.1

3. Save and exit
4. Make the file immutable to prevent overwriting:

   sudo chattr +i /etc/resolv.conf

Testing for DNS Leaks

1. Connect to your VPN
2. Visit a DNS leak testing website like dnsleaktest.com
3. Run a standard test
4. Verify that the DNS servers shown belong to your VPN provider, not your ISP
5. If leaks are detected, review your VPN configuration and DNS settings

Automating VPN Connections

Automate your VPN connections for convenience and consistent protection.

Setting Up System Startup Connections

1. Create a systemd service file:

   sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/openvpn-client@.service

2. Add these contents:

   [Unit]
   Description=OpenVPN client connection to %i
   After=network.target
   
   [Service]
   Type=simple
   ExecStart=/usr/sbin/openvpn --config /etc/openvpn/client/%i.conf
   Restart=on-failure
   
   [Install]
   WantedBy=multi-user.target

3. Enable the service for your configuration:

   sudo systemctl enable openvpn-client@config

4. Start the service:

   sudo systemctl start openvpn-client@config

5. Check status:

   sudo systemctl status openvpn-client@config

Creating Connection Scripts

For more flexibility, create custom connection scripts:

1. Create a new script file:

   nano ~/vpn-connect.sh

2. Add these contents:

   #!/bin/bash
   sudo openvpn --config /etc/openvpn/client/config.conf

3. Make the script executable:

   chmod +x ~/vpn-connect.sh

4. Run the script when needed:

   ~/vpn-connect.sh

Securing Your OpenVPN Setup

Enhance the security of your OpenVPN configuration with these best practices.

File Permission Recommendations

1. Ensure configuration files have appropriate permissions:

   sudo chmod 600 /etc/openvpn/client/*.conf
   sudo chmod 600 /etc/openvpn/client/*.key
   sudo chmod 600 /etc/openvpn/client/credentials.txt

2. Verify directory permissions:

   sudo chmod 700 /etc/openvpn/client

Creating a Kill Switch

A kill switch prevents data leaks if your VPN connection drops:

1. Create a firewall rules file:

   sudo nano /etc/openvpn/client/firewall-rules.sh

2. Add these contents:

   #!/bin/bash
   # Define VPN server
   VPN_SERVER="your_vpn_server_ip"
   VPN_PORT="1194"
   
   # Flush existing rules
   iptables -F
   iptables -X
   
   # Allow established connections
   iptables -A INPUT -m conntrack --ctstate ESTABLISHED,RELATED -j ACCEPT
   iptables -A OUTPUT -m conntrack --ctstate ESTABLISHED,RELATED -j ACCEPT
   
   # Allow local network
   iptables -A INPUT -s 192.168.0.0/16 -j ACCEPT
   iptables -A OUTPUT -d 192.168.0.0/16 -j ACCEPT
   
   # Allow VPN connection
   iptables -A OUTPUT -d $VPN_SERVER -p udp --dport $VPN_PORT -j ACCEPT
   
   # Allow tunneled traffic
   iptables -A INPUT -i tun+ -j ACCEPT
   iptables -A OUTPUT -o tun+ -j ACCEPT
   
   # Block everything else
   iptables -A OUTPUT -j DROP

3. Make the script executable:

   sudo chmod +x /etc/openvpn/client/firewall-rules.sh

4. Add to your OpenVPN configuration:

   up "/etc/openvpn/client/firewall-rules.sh"

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with careful configuration, VPN connections sometimes encounter problems. Here are solutions for common issues.

Connection Failures and Timeouts

Problem: VPN connection attempts fail or time out
Solution:

1. Check your internet connection with:

   ping -c 4 google.com

2. Verify server address in your configuration
3. Try changing from UDP to TCP protocol by modifying:

   proto udp

   to

   proto tcp

4. Restart the Network Manager service:

   sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

Authentication Problems

Problem: Authentication failures despite correct credentials
Solution:

1. Double-check username and password
2. Ensure credentials file has correct format (username on first line, password on second)
3. Check credentials file permissions
4. Try connecting with interactive authentication:

   sudo openvpn --config /etc/openvpn/client/config.conf --auth-user-pass

TLS Handshake Failures

Problem: TLS handshake failures, particularly in Linux Mint 22
Solution:

1. If seeing error messages like “OpenSSL: error:0308010C:digital envelope routines::unsupported”, try:

   export OPENSSL_CONF=/dev/null

   before running OpenVPN

2. Verify your OpenVPN version is compatible with your configuration
3. Try updating OpenVPN to the latest version
4. Check CA certificate is correctly referenced and accessible

DNS Resolution Issues

Problem: Unable to resolve domain names despite connected VPN
Solution:

1. Verify DNS settings:

   cat /etc/resolv.conf

2. Manually set DNS servers:

   sudo nano /etc/openvpn/client/config.conf

   Add:

   dhcp-option DNS 1.1.1.1
   dhcp-option DNS 1.0.0.1

3. Install and use resolvconf:

   sudo apt install resolvconf

   Add to configuration:

   script-security 2
   up /etc/openvpn/update-resolv-conf
   down /etc/openvpn/update-resolv-conf

Testing Your VPN Connection

After setting up your VPN, verify it’s working correctly with these testing methods.

IP Address Verification

1. Connect to your VPN
2. Visit a website like whatismyip.com
3. Verify your displayed IP address matches your VPN server location
4. Check that your real IP address is not visible

DNS Leak Testing

1. Visit dnsleaktest.com while connected
2. Run a standard test
3. Ensure all DNS servers shown are from your VPN provider
4. If your ISP’s DNS servers appear, revisit the DNS configuration section

Connection Stability Tests

1. Run a continuous ping to test stability:

   ping -c 100 google.com

2. Check for packet loss, which might indicate connection issues
3. Monitor connection over time with:

   watch -n 1 "ifconfig tun0"

   (Replace tun0 with your VPN interface)

Congratulations! You have successfully installed OpenVPN. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the OpenVPN on Linux Mint 22 system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official OpenVPN website.