AirVPN using network manager in Ubuntu/Mint

[inradius 6]

How To Guide For - AirVPN Using Mint/Ubuntu Network Manager

 

Read me: There are drawbacks to using this config method:

lack of user authentication input

lack of network lock feature

lack of easy access to stats, logs, preferences and config

Not tested on Ubuntu with Wayland server

The best method is to use AirVPN client “Eddie”

**Clarified an older post from VPNuserhello**

 

Tested in Mint Cinnamon 18x, & Ubuntu 16

 

Important: The user.key file contains the VPN login information of the user. This is private information. It is important the user re-locate this file to a secure location when setup is completed. In other words... hide it

 

There is normally no need to install openvpn as recent distros come with it pre-installed. Simple check using a terminal command

+ open a terminal window

+ proceeding the $ sign, enter the following command:

apt-cache policy openvpn

+ hit enter

Terminal will list the program as installed. If not, navigate to the system’s software center or package manager and install it there or use the terminal method

 

 Configuration

 

Navigate to AirVPN webpage (airvpn.org) and log in.

+ proceed to the “config generator” page.

+ select the OS/select protocol/select servers/select ‘generate’

+ download the .openvpn, the key and server files in .zip

+ remember the saved location, likely in ~/home/Downloads folder.

 

+ navigate to the network manager applet in the panel and select ‘edit connections’ near the bottom of the drop-down menu.

+ the network connections window will open.

+ select Add from this window. When a new dialogue window opens:

+ select OpenVPN from the drop-down menu

+ select Create

+ the configuration dialogue window opens   

 

+ keyboard in the name of the VPN connection in the top box. Ex: AirVPN

+ navigate to the configuration files location (Generated Cert) that were downloaded from AirVPN website.

+ open the AirVPN.zip file and right click the .ovpn file related to a server(s) the user wants to connect to

+ select ‘open’. The file will open in the default editor

+ /highlight/right-click/open

 

Once the file is opened there will be the gateway address (IP address) located next the word “remote” along with the port number at the end. If using UDP the port is likely 443.

+ highlight the IP address only - otherwise it will result in a failed connection

+ /highlight/right-click/copy or enter it manually

+ in the Gateway field box enter the IP address or /right-click/paste without the port number (443). Remember the port number for later

 

+ under the heading Authentication

+ in Type select “Certificates (TLS)”

+ in the ‘User Certificate’ field, select the ‘browse folder’ tab and navigate to the .crt files that were downloaded from AirVPN in the ~/home/Downloads folder.

+ select the ‘user.crt’ file, hit open and the field box is automatically filled in.

+ the remaining two sections are filled in using the same method. (‘ca certificate’ -ca.crt and ‘private key’ -user.key) Simply click the browse folder icon next to the entry field and browse to the download location.

+ next: select the ‘advanced’ tab

 

+ under the General tab select “use custom gateway port” and change it to the port number (ex: 443) in the .opvn file that was previously opened in the editor.

+ also select “use LZO data compression”.

+ select the ‘security’ tab from the header

+ select the ‘TLS Authentication’ tab. (near the bottom of the window)

+ select: “use additional TLS authentication”

+ under the “key file” entry, navigate to the ta.key using the browse file icon-the same location as the .crt files (~/home/Downloads).

+ in ‘key direction’ modify to 1. Select OK

+ that window will now close but the main ‘connections’ window remains open

+ the AirVPN entry should now be in the Network connections window under the VPN category.

+ select “save” on that window

+ select “close”

+ simply choose the “vpn connection” from the network manager applet drop down menu and the VPN will connect.

+ notice the network applet in the panel begin it’s connection process with a small ‘lock’ indicator. A notification window usually appears to advise of successful or unsuccessful connection depending on system configuration.

 

 

Additional

 

To configure ‘auto start’ of AirVPN simply follow this procedure:

+ open network manager applet. Select ‘edit connection’, select the connected network and select ‘edit’ tab

+ under ‘general’ heading tab:

+ place a check-mark in ‘automatically connect to VPN...”

+ select AirVPN from drop down menu

+ select “Save”

 

+ every time the user logs in, the VPN will start with the defaulted connection. Observe the network applet in the panel there will be a “lock” positioned in or near the applet indicating a VPN connection established. 

[LZ1 672]

Hello!

 

That's really nice. Good effort !

 

I would suggest you name the title with "Guide" or "How-To" or similar, as it otherwise looks like it's a question.