How to Set Up an OpenVPN Server for Free: A Step-by-Step Guide

Setting up an OpenVPN server for free can seem like a daunting task, but with the right guidance, it can be a straightforward process. OpenVPN is a popular open-source software that allows you to create a secure and private network over the internet. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to set up your own OpenVPN server for free.

Before we dive into the setup process, let’s discuss why you might want to set up an OpenVPN server. An OpenVPN server provides a secure connection between your device and the internet, protecting your data from prying eyes. It also allows you to access geo-restricted content and maintain your privacy online.

Step 1: Choose Your Server

The first step in setting up an OpenVPN server is to choose a server. You can use a physical server, a virtual private server (VPS), or even a cloud-based server. For this guide, we will use a VPS as it is cost-effective and easy to manage.

Step 2: Install OpenVPN

Once you have your server set up, the next step is to install OpenVPN. You can do this by connecting to your server via SSH and running the following commands:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install openvpn

These commands will update your package list and install the OpenVPN software on your server.

Step 3: Configure OpenVPN

After installing OpenVPN, you need to configure it. You can use the OpenVPN configuration files provided by OpenVPN or create your own. To create your own configuration files, you can use the Easy-RSA tool, which is included with OpenVPN.

sudo apt-get install easy-rsa
make-cadir ~/openvpn-ca
cd ~/openvpn-ca
source vars
./clean-all
./build-ca

These commands will install Easy-RSA, create a directory for your certificate authority (CA), and generate the necessary files for your CA.

Step 4: Generate Server and Client Certificates

Next, you need to generate the server and client certificates. Run the following commands to generate the server certificate:

./build-key-server server

Then, generate the client certificate:

./build-key client

These commands will create the necessary certificates for your server and client.

Step 5: Configure the OpenVPN Server

Now that you have your certificates, you need to configure the OpenVPN server. Create a new configuration file in the /etc/openvpn directory:

sudo nano /etc/openvpn/server.conf

Add the following configuration to the file:

port 1194
proto udp
dev tun
ca ca.crt
cert server.crt
key server.key
dh dh2048.pem
server 10.8.0.0 255.255.255.0
ifconfig-pool-persist ipp.txt
push \"redirect-gateway def1 bypass-dhcp\"
push \"dhcp-option DNS 8.8.8.8\"
push \"dhcp-option DNS 8.8.4.4\"
keepalive 10 120
cipher AES-256-CBC
comp-lzo
user nobody
group nogroup
persist-key
persist-tun
status openvpn-status.log
log-append /var/log/openvpn.log
verb 3

Save and close the file. This configuration sets up the OpenVPN server to use UDP on port 1194, specifies the certificates, and configures the server settings.

Step 6: Start the OpenVPN Server

Finally, start the OpenVPN server with the following command:

sudo systemctl start openvpn@server

To ensure the server starts on boot, enable the service:

sudo systemctl enable openvpn@server

Congratulations! You have successfully set up an OpenVPN server for free. For more detailed guides and resources, visit Freevpn724.