OpenVPN on Ubuntu using Private Internet Access

November 1, 2020 Networking Tech linux openvpn pia private internet access ubuntu vpn

I wanted to use a VPN on a Linux server (Ubuntu), using Private Internet Access, but without using the PIA client.

Steps

Install OpenVPN (I also install curl and net-tools, as I frequently use both):
```
sudo apt-get install openvpn curl net-tools
```

Get necessary OpenVPN files from Private Internet Access, and copy local TEP (Tunnel End Point) config:

curl -O https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/openvpn/openvpn-nextgen.zip
unzip openvpn-nextgen.zip
sudo mv us_denver.ovpn /etc/openvpn/client/openvpn.conf

Verify public IP before connecting:
```
curl ifconfig.me
```
Connect to the VPN:
```
sudo openvpn —config openvpn.conf
```
Open a new terminal window/tab, and verify that you get a different IP address than in step #3:
```
curl ifconfig.me
```
Assuming everything works, terminal the VPN (control + c), then run the OpenVPN client as a service:
```
sudo systemctl start openvpn-client@openvpn.service
```
Note: If you name your config file differently, change the command above to match your config file name. For example, if your config files is called myconfigfile.opvn, then you would run:
```
sudo systemctl start openvpn-client@myconfigfile.service
```
Re-test the VPN connection, and if everything works, enable the OpenVPN client to start on boot:
```
sudo systemctl enable openvpn-client@openvpn.service
```