How to install an Opensource VPN Server on Linux

One of the most concerning thoughts I have while browsing, Is how can I ensure that my data remains private and secure ? In my search for answers, I came cross a number of ways in which you can remain anonymous like using a proxy website. But still using a third party service was not assuring enough. What I needed was a software which could be installed and run by me thus ensuring that I and only I would have access to the data.

So what is such a software called?

It’s called a VPN or short for Virtual Private Network. It allows you to encrypt your data when you connect through it.

In this Linux Tutorial , I will be installing an OpenVPN Access Server on CentOS 7 . OpenVPN is easy to use, OpenSource and has community based support. It has clients for Windows,Android, and Mac.

Step 1. Install OpenVPN Access Server on your Centos 7 Linux machine or VPS.

Download the package from https://openvpn.net/index.php/access-server/download-openvpn-as-sw.html, Ubuntu users can download appropriate packages and install OpenVPN Access Server on Ubuntu and Ubuntu based distros like raspbian as well.

[leo@vps ]$ cd /tmp
[leo@vps tmp]$ wget http://swupdate.openvpn.org/as/openvpn-as-2.0.10-CentOS7.x86_64.rpm
[leo@vps tmp]$ sudo rpm -Uvh openvpn-as-2.0.10-CentOS7.x86_64.rpm
Preparing...                          ################################# [100%]
Updating / installing...
   1:openvpn-as-0:2.0.10-CentOSrelease################################# [100%]
The Access Server has been successfully installed in /usr/local/openvpn_as
Configuration log file has been written to /usr/local/openvpn_as/init.log
Please enter "passwd openvpn" to set the initial
administrative password, then login as "openvpn" to continue
configuration here: https://yourhostIP:943/admin
To reconfigure manually, use the /usr/local/openvpn_as/bin/ovpn-init tool.

Access Server web UIs are available here:
Admin  UI: https://yourhostIP:943/admin
Client UI: https://yourhostIP:943/

Step 2: Setup a password for an OpenVPN client

[leo_g@vps ]$passwd openvpn

Step 3: Log into the server via the admin Url https://yourhostIP:943/admin and start the server.

Type in the username “openvpn” and the password you set earlier

Step 4: Install the client from the Client Url. ( It will give you an option to download the Installer)

You can read instructions here on how to install it for your OS.

Step 5: Connect to your server with your username and password that you created earlier.

That’s it, you can goto whatismyip.com and check your IP, should be that of your CentOS 7 OpenVPN Access Server.