The rise of remote work has made secure access to business infrastructure an absolute necessity. With teams distributed across locations and even continents, ensuring private and encrypted connections to company servers is paramount. OpenVPN Access Server emerges as a leading remote access solution, creating secure tunnels that make geographically dispersed team members feel like they’re on the same local network. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of deploying an OpenVPN server on Ubuntu 24.04, from initial setup to client connection, bolstering your Ubuntu server security.
Deploying OpenVPN Access Server on Ubuntu 24.04: Initial Setup
1. Sign Up for OpenVPN Access Server
Begin by signing up for an OpenVPN Access Server account. A free 14-day trial is available, allowing you to thoroughly evaluate its capabilities before committing.
2. Prepare Your Ubuntu 24.04 System
Before installing any new software, it’s crucial to ensure your Ubuntu system is up-to-date. Execute these commands in your terminal:
sudo apt updateThen, upgrade your packages:
sudo apt upgrade -yOnce the upgrade is complete, reboot your system to apply all changes:
sudo rebootAfter your system reboots, it’s a good practice to run `sudo apt update` once more to ensure everything is synchronized.
3. Install Essential Dependencies (curl, ca-certificates, gnupg)
OpenVPN Access Server requires specific packages to function correctly. Install them using the following command:
sudo apt install -y curl ca-certificates gnupg4. Execute OpenVPN Access Server Installation
For a streamlined installation, first switch to the root user:
sudo -iThen, install OpenVPN Access Server using the provided script:
bash <(curl -fsS https://packages.openvpn.net/as/install.sh) --yesUpon successful installation, you will receive a confirmation message in your terminal.
5. Access the Admin UI and Initial Login
After the installation completes, carefully scroll back through your terminal output. You’ll find crucial information, including the Admin UI address, Client UI address, a default username, and a temporary password.
Copy the Admin UI address and paste it into your web browser. You’ll likely encounter a browser warning due to a self-signed SSL certificate. Click on “Advanced” (or equivalent) and then “Accept the Risk and Continue” (or similar wording) to proceed.
On the login screen, enter the username and temporary password provided in your terminal output. After logging in, you’ll be prompted to accept the OpenVPN Access Server license agreement. Review it thoroughly and accept to continue.
6. Secure Your Admin Account and Accept License
Once inside the Admin UI, navigate to the “Users” tab. Locate the admin user (often ‘openvpn’) and click on the pencil icon next to it. Change the temporary password to a strong, secure one of your choosing, and then save the changes. This is a critical step for enhancing your Ubuntu server security.
7. Activate Your OpenVPN Access Server License
In your Admin UI, look for the “Activation” tab, usually located at the bottom left. Click it, and a pop-up window will appear where you’ll enter your activation key.
Now, go to your OpenVPN Access Server portal (where you signed up). Navigate to the “Activation Keys” tab and copy your unique activation key.
Return to your Admin UI, paste the key into the “Activation” pop-up, and click “Activate.”
8. Create and Configure VPN Users
With your OpenVPN server now live and licensed, it’s time to create user accounts for your team. In the Admin UI, go to the “Users” tab.
Enter the desired username (e.g., “bobby”) and optionally assign them to a group. Click “Save.”
You will then be prompted to set a password for this new user. Enter a strong password and save the changes. Repeat this process for all team members needing secure remote access.
Connecting to Your OpenVPN Server: Client Configuration
9. Retrieve Your OpenVPN Client Profile
Go to the Client UI address that was displayed during the OpenVPN Access Server installation.
Select the appropriate platform for your client device (e.g., Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android). Then, click on “Connection profile” to download the `.ovpn` configuration file.
10. Configure Router Port Forwarding for Remote Access
This step is crucial if your OpenVPN server is hosted on a local VM behind a router and you need access from outside your local network. Log into your router’s administration interface (usually via its default gateway IP address).
Locate the “Port Forwarding” or “IPv4 Port Mapping” section. Create new rules to forward the following ports to your OpenVPN Access Server’s internal IP address:
- UDP 1194: This is the primary VPN traffic port for the encrypted tunnel.
- TCP 943: This port is used for the Admin UI and Client UI web portals.
Important Note-1: If your OpenVPN Access Server is on a cloud instance or a dedicated server with a public IP, you will manage firewall rules (e.g., `ufw` on Ubuntu, or cloud provider security groups) instead of router port forwarding. A crucial tip for enhancing Ubuntu server security is to configure `ufw` to only allow traffic on these necessary ports. For example: `sudo ufw allow 1194/udp && sudo ufw allow 943/tcp && sudo ufw enable` (after setting default deny rules).
Important Note-2: When using a VM for your Linux VPN server, ensure its network adapter is set to “Bridged” mode, not “NAT” or “Shared.” This allows the VM to receive its own IP address on your local network, making port forwarding effective.
11. Import Connection Profile into OpenVPN Connect
Download and install the OpenVPN Connect client application on your desired device (iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux).
After opening the app, read and accept the license agreement.
Tap on “Upload” or “Import” and select the `.ovpn` connection profile file you downloaded in step 9. Alternatively, you can typically open the `.ovpn` file directly from its location, and it will prompt to import into OpenVPN Connect.
Once imported, review the connection details and tap “Connect.”
Enter the password for the VPN user account you created earlier when prompted, then click “OK.”
12. Verify Your Secure VPN Connection
After connecting, the OpenVPN Connect app will indicate a successful VPN connection. To verify your VPN is working correctly, you can visit a “What is my IP” website before and after connecting to your VPN. Your public IP address should change to that of your OpenVPN server.
The beauty of this OpenVPN setup is its resilience. As long as your OpenVPN server VM is running and accessible (via port forwarding or public IP), your team members can securely connect from any Wi-Fi network or mobile data connection, no matter their location.
Final Thoughts
OpenVPN Access Server is an indispensable tool for maintaining the privacy and Ubuntu server security of your distributed teams and business infrastructure. While the internet is inherently public, this Linux VPN server solution ensures your team benefits from an encrypted, secure tunnel, regardless of their physical location. If you are leveraging a cloud server or a dedicated Linux server with a public IP address, you can simply share the Client UI link directly with your team, skipping the router port forwarding step. For such deployments, robust firewall rules are your equivalent to port forwarding, crucial for safeguarding your server. OpenVPN Access Server’s comprehensive installation guides are readily available for all supported platforms, simplifying secure remote access for any environment.
FAQ
Question 1: Why should I choose OpenVPN Access Server for my Linux VPN server?
OpenVPN Access Server stands out for its robust security, ease of deployment, and extensive cross-platform client support. Built on the highly trusted open-source OpenVPN protocol, it offers a comprehensive, feature-rich remote access solution with a user-friendly web-based admin interface. This makes it ideal for businesses seeking a reliable VPN without extensive manual configuration, while also benefiting from continuous security enhancements for your Ubuntu server security.
Question 2: What are the key considerations when deploying OpenVPN Access Server on a cloud VM versus a local server?
For cloud VMs (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), you will primarily manage network security groups or virtual firewalls to permit incoming traffic on ports UDP 1194 and TCP 943, rather than configuring router port forwarding. Ensure your cloud instance has a public IP address. For local servers, router port forwarding is essential, and verify your VM’s network adapter is set to “Bridged” mode for direct network access. Additionally, for local servers with dynamic public IP addresses, consider using a dynamic DNS (DDNS) service to ensure your Client UI link always points to the correct server IP.
Question 3: Are there specific firewall rules I should implement on my Ubuntu 24.04 server for enhanced security?
Absolutely. Beyond the basic port openings for OpenVPN (UDP 1194, TCP 943), it’s highly recommended to use `ufw` (Uncomplicated Firewall) on your Ubuntu server to harden your Ubuntu server security. Configure it to allow only necessary inbound connections, denying everything else by default. A strong baseline configuration includes:
sudo ufw default deny incoming
sudo ufw default allow outgoing
sudo ufw allow ssh # Allow SSH access
sudo ufw allow 1194/udp # Allow OpenVPN tunnel traffic
sudo ufw allow 943/tcp # Allow OpenVPN Admin/Client UI access
sudo ufw enableThis significantly reduces the attack surface of your Linux VPN server.