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Configure an OpenVPN Server and Client on Ubuntu

A virtual private network (VPN) provides a secure connection for users to access a private network remotely. This grants access to resources on the private network and prevents third parties from accessing sensitive information. In this hands-on lab, you will be tasked with configuring an OpenVPN server that includes a public key infrastructure (PKI) that is capable of receiving connections from an OpenVPN client.

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Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 30m
Published
Clock icon Sep 20, 2022

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Configure the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) on the OpenVPN Server Host

    • Install the openvpn and easy-rsa services.
    • Configure the certificate authority (CA). The common name should be openvpn-ca.
    • Create keys and certificates for the OpenVPN server and client. The server should be called vpnserver, and the client should be called vpnclient.
    • Sign certificates for the OpenVPN server and client.
    • Generate Diffie-Hellman parameters.
    • Copy the following files to /etc/openvpn: dh.pem, ca.crt, vpnserver.crt, and vpnserver.key.
    • Copy ca.crt, vpnclient.crt, and vpnclient.key to the /home/cloud_user directory on the OpenVPN client host (10.0.1.102).

  2. Challenge

    Configure the OpenVPN Server

    • Unzip usr/share/doc/openvpn/examples/sample-config-files/server.conf.gz to /etc/openvpn. Ensure that the name of the file is vpnserver.conf.
    • Modify vpnserver.conf, and ensure that it correctly points to the following files: ca.crt, vpnserver.crt, vpnserver.key, and dh.pem.
    • Generate the TLS authentication key (ta.key) and copy it to the /home/cloud_user directory on the OpenVPN client.
    • Enable IPv4 forwarding.
    • Start and enable the openvpn service.

  3. Challenge

    Configure the OpenVPN Client

    • Install the openvpn service.
    • Copy /usr/share/doc/openvpn/examples/sample-config-files/client.conf as well as the certificates and keys in /home/cloud_user to /etc/openvpn.
    • Modify /etc/openvpn/client.conf and ensure that it does the following:
      • Points to the ca.crt, vpnclient.crt, vpnclient.key, and ta.key files
      • Includes the word client
      • Includes the correct IP address and port for the OpenVPN server
    • Start and enable the openvpn service.
A Cloud Guru - Labs - Configure an OpenVPN Server and Client on Ubuntu
Author
A Cloud Guru

The Cloud Content team comprises subject matter experts hyper focused on services offered by the leading cloud vendors (AWS, GCP, and Azure), as well as cloud-related technologies such as Linux and DevOps. The team is thrilled to share their knowledge to help you build modern tech solutions from the ground up, secure and optimize your environments, and so much more!

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