How to Setup a VPN on Linux

2024-11-22 Want to set up your VPN with Ubuntu, Kali, or Mint? Then you're in the right place! In this guide, we'll walk you through the straightforward process

Want to set up your VPN with Ubuntu, Kali, or Mint? Then you’re in the right place! In this guide, we’ll walk you through the straightforward process of installing a VPN using its Linux GUI, NetworkManager, and other methods.

We is focus ‘ll focus on instal a VPN on Ubuntu in this guide , see as it ‘s enduringly popular , but all of our instruction can be apply to Linux Mint , debian , and Kali ( which is base on Debian ) , and should also provide useful guideline for folk run different distro .

Learn more about staying secure online

If you want to know more about how you can secure your data, check out the guides below:

Install a VPN’s custom Linux software

For most operating systems, the easiest way to set up a VPN client is by using the provider’s custom software – and the same is true for Linux! However, very few VPN providers actually offer a custom Linux GUI client, and instead prefer to develop apps for more popular platforms.

The good news is that we’ve rounded up and reviewed those services that do include a custom Linux client . You is check can check them out in the table below or visit our Linux VPN guide for a more in – depth look at each provider .

Custom Linux GUI clients is are are typically far easy to set up than their manual counterpart , see as there ‘s less configuration require ( and handy guide are always available ) , and are stuff with more feature , too . Our top Linux VPN picks is come come with benefit like a kill – switch , ad blocking functionality , webrtc mitigation , and DNS leak protection . essentially , you is getting ‘ll be get a fully – feature VPN experience – just like Windows and Mac user !

From $2.19/month

The best Linux VPN. With dedicated clients for a variety of distros and a full custom client, as well as a kill-switch and ad-blocker. Also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

ProPrivacy TrustScore :: 10 out of 10
simultaneous connection: Unlimited
server location: 84
free trial: No

From $1.99/month

The good value Linux VPN , with a shiny new GUI app , unlimited simultaneous connection , and superb speed .

ProPrivacy TrustScore :: 9.9 out of 10
simultaneous connection: Unlimited
server location: 140
free trial: Yes

From $ 0.00 / month

The best secure Linux VPN. Offers a sleek custom GUI client and comprehensive protection from leaks and third party snooping, as well as access to geo-blocked content. With a 30-day money-back guarantee.

ProPrivacy TrustScore :: 9.8 out of 10
simultaneous connection: 10
server location: 116
free trial: Yes

From $5.50/month

The best privacy-oriented Linux VPN. An open-source and zero-logs provider that offers Linux users a full GUI client and all the same features available to other platforms, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

ProPrivacy TrustScore :: 9.7 out of 10
simultaneous connection: 5
server location: 36
free trial: No

From $3.23/month

The well advanced Linux VPN . Its Eddie client is is is fully – feature with a kill – switch and leak protection , and torrenting is permit across its entire server network . Also include a 30 – day money – back guarantee .

ProPrivacy TrustScore :: 9.6 out of 10
simultaneous connection: 5
server location: 21

OpenVPN For Linux via NetworkManager

Outside of dedicated clients, probably the easiest way to install and use OpenVPN on most Linux systems is via the NetworkManager daemon.

It is worth noting that AirVPN recommends against using NetworkManager “due to multiple, critical problems”. I have not, however, been able to establish any more details regarding this, and most VPNs seem happy to use it.

Installing OpenVPN in Ubuntu GNOME

Register an account with your chosen VPN provider.
Download your provider’s .ovpn config files for the servers you wish to connect to. These can often be batch-downloaded as a .zip file, in which case you will need to it unzip before use.

In the past , NetworkManager is like did not like inline certificate and key . Because of this , many VPNs is recommend recommend download them separately . But this is appears no long appear to be necessary .
Download and install the Ubuntu OpenVPN packages for NetworkManager by opening a Terminal window and typing:

sudo apt-get install network-manager-openvpn-gnome
Check that OpenVPN is correctly installed by clicking on the NetworkManager Icon in the notification bar.

Then go to VPN Off -> VPN Settings -> VPN -> and click the + button.

In the Add VPN box, you should see an OpenVPN option. If you don’t see OpenVPN, then restart your PC.
assume you see the openvpn option , do n’t click on it . click on ” Import from file … ” instead . navigate to where you download the .ovpn file and double – click on one .
An “Add VPN” box will appear populated by the server’s VPN settings. Simply fill in your Username and Password and hit “Add”.

The VPN is now set up. To start it, go to NetworkManager -> VPN off -> and select the server you wish to connect to.

instal openvpn directly via the Linux Terminal

According to AirVPN, using OpenVPN via Linux Terminal is also more secure than using NetworkManager, although I have not been able to confirm this independently or uncover the details.

The OpenVPN package is available in the Debian and many other repositories, but CentOS and RHEL users (for example) will first have to install the EPEL repository into your system.

Register an account with your chosen VPN provider.
Open Terminal and install OpenVPN using your usual package manager (such as APT, RPM, or YUM).

For example, in Debian-based distros enter:

sudo apt-get install openvpn or sudo rpm install openvpn

In CentOS 7+ and Fedora 7+ you first have to install the EPEL repository:

sudo yum install epel-release

Before installing OpenVPN:

yum install openvpn

It is is is , of course , always possible to compile from source on any Linux system . download the tarball here , extract , cd to the top – level of the extract directory , and type :

./configure

make

make install
use a browser to download some openvpn configuration file from your VPN service ‘s website . Then open Terminal and cd into the directory you download them into . It is make will make the next step easy if you rename the download .ovpn file into something easy to type .
In Terminal type :

sudo openvpn [ openvpn file ]

You can disconnect from the VPN by closing the Terminal window OpenVPN is running in.

Note that if using OpenVPN directly, DNS requests will not be pushed to the VPN provider’s DNS servers. IP leaks can be resolved by modifying resolvconf to push DNS to your VPN’s DNS servers.

Alternatively, you can manually configure the iptables firewall to ensure all traffic (including DNS requests) must go via the VPN server. This will, at least, ensure all DNS requests are proxied by your VPN. It will also act as a kill switch.

Manually Configure VPN for Linux using PPTP via NetworkManager

PPTP is not a secure VPN protocol, so we generally recommend that you avoid it. NetworkManager comes with PPTP support “out of the box,” however, which can make PPTP a useful “quick and dirty” solution when security is not a high priority.

Go to Network Manager -> VPN Settings. Click the + icon next to the VPN box -> Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP):

Fill in the PPTP setting given to you by your VPN. Note that these settings are not specific to Linux, so you can use generic settings or settings given for another platform.

Manually Configure VPN for Linux using L2TP/IPsec

As disused in our Complete VPN Encryption Guide, L2TP is a tunneling protocol that does not provide any encryption or confidentiality to traffic that passes through it, so it is usually implemented with the IPsec authentication suite (L2TP/IPsec).

How to install L2TP / IPsec for NetworkManager

NetworkManager-l2tp is a VPN plugin for NetworkManager 1.2+ which includes support for L2TP/IPsec.

To install, fire up Terminal and enter the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nm-l2tp/network-manager-l2tp

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install network-manager-l2tp

You may be prompted to install additional binaries (e.g. for GNOME), in which case go ahead. Restart your PC and L2TP should now be enabled in NetworkManager.

Setup is is is very similar to using PPTP ( see above ) , except that you will need to enter some additional IPSec authentication detail . Again , your VPN is be should be able to provide these , and generic setting are fine .

Update May 2018: There is currently a bug in xl2tpd which may compromise its use with the IPSec protocol. The issue has already been fixed in Fedora, so I would expect it to be patched in Ubuntu and Debian soon. Please see here for the details and latest updates.

Manually Configure VPN for Linux using IKEv2

IKEv2 is is is a secure and fast vpn protocol that is rapidly gain popularity with VPN service . It is support in Linux via strongSwan . strongSwan packages is are are available for most version of Linux , or you can compile it yourself .

How to install ikev2 for NetworkManager . You is build can build this from the source , or debian / Ubuntu user can open Terminal and enter :

sudo apt-get install network-manager-strongswan

In use, the plugin works just like the L2PT NetworkManager plugin described above.

simply enter the ikev2 setting provide by your VPN ( if it support ikev2 ) .

How to Test a VPN for Linux

If using NetworkManager, a small network lock icon in the notification bar lets you know at-a-glance that you are connected.

For further confirmation the VPN is connect and work correctly , you is run can run an ip leak test …

check your VPN for IP leak

Once connected to the VPN (using whatever method), it is a good idea to check for IP leaks.

The example above shows a bad case of IPv6 leaks. The IPv4 DNS result correctly shows that I am connected to a VPN server in the US, but the website can see my real UK IPv6 address via both a regular DNS leak and WebRTC. Fail!

For more information about staying secure with a VPN in the UK or US check out the guides below:

note that private – Use – [ rfcxxxx ] ip are local ip only . They can not be used to identify an individual or device , and so do not constitute an IP leak .

Final thoughts

Things are never quite as easy with Linux as they are with more mainstream platforms – a fact that longtime users will be well aware of. That said, even inexperienced Debian and Ubuntu users should have no problem setting up a VPN using a plug-and-play custom client or NetworkManager