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Installing and Configuring OpenVPN (CentOS)

For Cloud Servers, Dedicated Servers and Server Power Deals managed in the Cloud Panel

To use a VPN, you must install the OpenVPN software on your local PC and then configure it. In the Access section of the Cloud Panel, you can download a zip file containing the required configuration files. To install and configure OpenVPN:

Install OpenVPN

Requirements

  • You have administrator rights.

  • You have already created a VPN in the Cloud Panel.

  • You have logged in on your local PC.

Note

OpenVPN is not available in the standard repository. The software is available in the EPEL repository.

  • Open the terminal.

  • To install the EPEL repository, enter the following command:

    [root@localhost ~]# yum install epel-release

    The following message is displayed:

    Is this ok [y/N] :

  • Enter y and press the Enter key.

    The following message will be displayed:

    Importing GPG key 0x1D997668:
     Userid     : "CentOS Extras SIG (https://wiki.centos.org/SpecialInterestGroup) <security@centos.org>"
     Fingerprint: 363F C097 2F64 B699 AED3 968E 1FF6 A217 1D99 7668
     From       : /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-SIG-Extras-SHA512
    Is this ok [y/N]:

  • Type y and press Enter.

    The EPEL repository will be installed.

  • To install OpenVPN, enter the following command:

    [root@localhost ~]# yum install openvpn 

    The following message is displayed: 

    Install  2 Packages
     
    Total download size: 714 k
    Installed size: 1.9 M
    Is this ok [y/N]: y

  • Enter y and press Enter.

    The following message will be displayed: 

    Importing GPG key 0x3228467C:
     Userid     : "Fedora (epel9) <epel@fedoraproject.org>"
     Fingerprint: FF8A D134 4597 106E CE81 3B91 8A38 72BF 3228 467C
     From       : /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-EPEL-9
    Is this ok [y/N] :

  • Enter y.

    OpenVPN will be installed.

Configure OpenVPN

  • Log in to your IONOS account.

  • Click Menu > Server & Cloud in the title bar.
    Optional: Select the desired Server & Cloud contract.

    The Cloud Panel opens.

  • Click Network > VPN in the navigation bar on the left.

  • Activate the desired VPN.

  • In the section Access, click Download to download the configuration files.

  • Save the zip-file.

Note

This zip file contains the configuration file.

  • Unpack the zip file in the desired folder.

  • Copy the OpenVPN configuration file (e. g. vpn12BC7_1.ovpn) into the installation directory.

Note

OpenVPN is installed by default in the directory /etc/openvpn.

  • To start OpenVPN, enter the following command:

    [root@localhost ~]# openvpn /etc/openvpn/.ovpn

    Example:

    [root@localhost ~]# openvpn /etc/openvpn/vpn45BC7_1.ovpn

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