Connecting to OpenVPN Using NetworkManager

Install the required packages

sudo apt-get install network-manager network-manager-openvpn network-manager-openvpn-gnome 

Creating individual files from client.ovpn file

These files must be kept safe and private at all times

Make a directory called openvpn in your home directory

Copy the client.ovpn file into dir openvpn

Optional: Keep an original copy of the file – call it client.ovpn.orig

Next we will create 4 files under the openvpn directory. Open the client.ovpn file in a text editor

Create a file called ca.crt – copy the text between and from client.ovpn into this file

Create a file called client.crt – copy the text between and from client.ovpn into this file

Create a file called client.key – copy the text between and from client.ovpn into this file

Create a file called ta.key – copy the text between and from client.ovpn into this file

At this point i have a total of 6 files under my openvpn directory

Modify the client.ovpn file

Just before the ## —–BEGIN RSA SIGNATURE—– line add the below lines and save:

ca ca.crtcert client.crtkey client.keytls-auth ta.key 

Setting up the Network Manager

Click on Ubuntu network icon on the top right

Select VPN Connections -> Configure VPN ( the Network Connections window will open )

Click on the VPN tab and click Import

Select the client.ovpn file we just modified and it should automatically import some things into the next screen

Connection Name will be = client – change this to something meaningful ( i set it to companyVPN )

Gateway must be imported already

Type is : Password with Certificates ( TLS ) – this was also set for me

Provide the username and password for VPN

User certificate will be client.crt

CA certificate will be ca.crt

Private Key will be client.key

Click on Advanced -> TLS Authentication Tab

Key file will be ta.key

Key Direction must be set based on the key direction in your client.ovpn file

Open the client.ovpn file and search for “key-direction” and note the number after that ( mine is key-direction 1 )

Put this number in the Key Direction field in the TLS Authentication Tab

Click save on all windows and close all windows.

Time to test connection

Click on network icon on the top right

Select VPN Connections and you should see your connection there – click it

If successfully connected, you will see a message and then you can verify your IP address with ifconfig

There is a Disconnect VPN under VPN Connection for obvious reasons