2022 05 03

Install OpenVPN for Raspberry Pi OS

This guide was created for Raspberry Pi OS Buster Lite but also works to set up an OpenVPN client on Raspberry Pi OS Buster with desktop. This setup has not yet been tested on Raspberry Pi OS Bullseye.

What can OpenVPN be used for?

OpenVPN is an open source connection protocol used to facilitate a secure tunnel between two points in a network. In layman’s terms, this means that it is a trusted technology used by many virtual private networks, or VPNs, to make sure any data sent over the internet is encrypted and private.

1. Update the Raspberry Pi

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

2. Install OpenVPN

sudo apt-get install openvpn unzip

3. Make sure the time zone is correct

Run the command below and go through the configuration prompt to select the correct time zone.

sudo dpkg-reconfigure tzdata

4. Choose region you want to connect to

Add-on service

5. Elevate your privileges to root

sudo -i

6. Download configuration file & setup OpenVPN

cd /tmp && wget https://files.ovpn.com/raspbian/ovpn-se-gothenburg.zip && unzip ovpn-se-gothenburg.zip && mkdir -p /etc/openvpn && mv config/* /etc/openvpn && chmod +x /etc/openvpn/update-resolv-conf && rm -rf config && rm -f ovpn-se-gothenburg.zip

7. Enter your login credentials

echo "CHANGE TO YOUR USERNAME" >> /etc/openvpn/credentials
echo "CHANGE TO YOUR PASSWORD" >> /etc/openvpn/credentials

8. Start OpenVPN and see that everything works

sudo openvpn --config /etc/openvpn/ovpn.conf --daemon

9. Verify that the connection was successful

Wait for about a minute after running the last command, then run:

curl https://www.ovpn.com/v2/api/client/ptr | python -m json.tool

You should see something like:

{"status":true,"ip":"46.227.67.132","ptr":"cliXXX.ovpn.com"}

10. Done

Congratulations! Now your Raspberry Pi will run behind OVPN. The Raspberry Pi will connect automatically when it is started.