How to use a VPN on Linux visually with OpenVPN GUI?
While is true that, There are currently many proprietary and commercial VPN applications that offer excellent and highly functional features, benefits and graphical interfaces (CLI and GUI), this is not usually the same for those that are 100% free and open, and above all, free. Therefore, generally, those of us who need 100% free solutions, usually install, configure and use OpenVPN or any other similar through Terminal (CLI). However, since today I urgently needed to install a VPN on my MX Linux Distro to install an app whose repository was blocked in my country of origin, I took the task of investigating it, and I have discovered "A graphical VPN app alternative to OpenVPN on Linux called OpenVPN GUI".
And since, after testing it, it has left me satisfied, since it not only allows me to access the VPN used via web browser, but also via Terminal, today I bring you this A quick little guide to help you get to know this app called OpenVPN GUI.. So, if you already Are you one of those who uses “.ovpn” files to activate private network connections? free and secure via CLI or through the Network Manager graphical interface, because you might surely like this alternative a little more and use it frequently for that purpose.
OpenVPN is a connectivity tool based on free software: SSL, VPN Virtual Private Network.
But, before starting this new quick guide on «CHow to use a VPN connection on Linux graphically with OpenVPN GUI, we recommend that after finishing reading this publication, you explore a previous publication related to this technology and open VPN network platform:
How to use a VPN on Linux visually with OpenVPN GUI?
What is OpenVPN GUI?
Not much to say about the OpenVPN GUI application, since it seems to be a small development by an independent programmer. And in its GitHub official site There is no further information about this application. However, we could describe it as follows:
OpenVPN GUI is a desktop app for Linux and BSD desktops developed in the Python programming language. It's quite small and easy to use when it comes to fulfilling its sole purpose: activating a VPN connection configured within ".ovpn" files. This provides a graphical alternative to using network managers like Network Manager.
And in case you don't know or remember clearly What is OpenVPN, it is worth mentioning briefly that it can be described as follows:
OpenVPN is a connectivity tool based on open source software, SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), and a Virtual Private Network (VPN). It also offers point-to-point connectivity with hierarchical validation of remotely connected users and hosts. It is an excellent choice for Wi-Fi technologies (IEEE 802.11 wireless networks) and supports a wide range of configurations, including load balancing.
Steps to install OpenVPN GUI and activate a VPN connection on a Linux desktop
FOR Install OpenVPN GUI We must follow the following steps:
- We open a Terminal and execute the following commands one by one:
sudo apt install git xterm python3 openvpnpip install tk tkinterdnd2git clone https://github.com/mugi789/OpenVPN-GUI/cd OpenVPN-GUIchmod +x openvpn
In my case, then create a shortcut inside the applications menu to OpenVPN GUI, to run it graphically as well.
While for Activate and use a VPN connection provided (configured) within a “.ovpn” file We must do the following, as shown in the following images:
- We run the OpenVPN app.
- We click on “Open Configuration” or “Drag & Drop”.
- We search for and select our VPN configuration file (.ovpn).
- Next, we wait for the VPN connection to appear active. We'll know this when we see the message "Initialization Sequence Completed."
- And when we want or need to close it, we will only have to execute the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + C” while in the open “xterm” application window.
And lastly, this is how I did it previously using the Network Manager for the MX Linux operating system with XFCE that I use.
To install and connect Ubuntu to the FinchVPN service using the Network Manager GUI, we need to install the Gnome Network Manager plugin for OpenVPN. Of course, the necessary OpenVPN binaries will also be installed. In case parts of Gnome Network Manager are already installed, they must be reinstalled for the newly installed components to register properly on the system. To summarize, to install everything we need, we'll need to open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and type the following command: sudo apt-get install –reinstall network-manager network-manager-gnome network-manager-openvpn network-manager-openvpn-gnome
Summary
In short, we hope that this new and useful quick guide on «CHow to use a VPN connection on Linux graphically by installing the OpenVPN GUI app be useful to you, both to achieve this goal and to learn a little more about this little-known project of the Linuxverse. And in case you know or use Other similar VPN App projects for Linux/BSD desktop that you think are worth knowing about, spread and support within our growing and immeasurable Linuxverse, we invite you to mention them via comment to take them into account, for future publications on this category or field of tools.
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