Importing OpenVPN Configs on Linux

Introduction

On Linux you can use NetworkManager’s OpenVPN plugin or the openvpn CLI with a VPN Safe .ovpn from the UDP or TCP zip. Auth is your Client Area VPN username and password.

Zips: vpnsafe.net/downloads/openvpn-udp.zip / vpnsafe.net/downloads/openvpn-tcp.zip

CLI (any distro)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install openvpn
# Fedora: sudo dnf install openvpn
unzip openvpn-udp.zip -d ~/vpnsafe-ovpn
sudo openvpn --config ~/vpnsafe-ovpn/10gb-ireland-dublin1.ovpn --auth-user-pass

When prompted, enter the VPN Safe username, then the password. Leave the terminal open. Ctrl+C disconnects. Confirm with curl -s https://vpnsafe.net/whats-my-ip.

To avoid typing the password, create a file only you can read:

printf '%s\n%s\n' 'YOURUSER' 'YOURPASS' | sudo tee /root/vpnsafe-auth.txt
sudo chmod 600 /root/vpnsafe-auth.txt
sudo openvpn --config ~/vpnsafe-ovpn/10gb-ireland-dublin1.ovpn --auth-user-pass /root/vpnsafe-auth.txt

NetworkManager (GNOME / KDE)

1. Install the plugin: sudo apt install network-manager-openvpn-gnome (or your distro’s equivalent).
2. Settings > Network > VPN > + > Import from file > pick the .ovpn.
3. Fill username/password, save, and toggle the VPN on.

If UDP hangs, import the matching city from the TCP zip. Port is 1194. Do not run WireGuard wg-quick and OpenVPN at the same time.