Unable to configure OpenVPN client for windows

camelel

Hi,
It seems like something has been changed since the last time I downloaded OpenVPN client and I can no longer find the client download in the download page.
It seems like there's only an option to download the server version.
I've installed and configured OpenVPN server on a CentOS server and now when trying to configure users to connect to it.. it seems like the new client is called openvpn gui, am I right?
If so, how do I add a .ovpn file containing the remote vpn site?
Thanks in advance
Itai

dtcostelloe

I'd like to get an answer for this as well ... I've setup a CentOS 6.5 box with the OpenVPN server, but there doesn't seem to be any client. It's dismaying that so many tutorials keep referencing the OpenVPN Client MSI installer for Windows, but yet there's nothing on the forums about it anywhere.

If OpenVPN isn't making a client anymore (which it appears they are not) then is there a 3rd party that is making one that anyone knows about?

Thanks in advance!

dtcostelloe

I'd like to know where the client is as well ... anyone?

I saw one post on here from someone that said they didn't know of any MSI installer for the client for Windows. If that is the case, then what is this page all about:

http://openvpn.net/index.php/access-server/docs/admin-guides-sp-859543150/howto-connect-client-configuration/395-how-to-install-the-openvpn-client-on-windows.html

Traffic

What version of OpenVPN are you using ?

dtcostelloe

I figured it out. (I'm using the latest version of the client from the Downloads page.)

What you have to do if you install the Server on CentOS 6.x:

First, install the server on CentOS as per this guide:
http://www.unixmen.com/setup-openvpn-server-client-centos-6-5/

This guide is for creating a CentOS to CentOS VPN connection, so the guide doesn't talk about obtaining the .OVPN file you need for the client ... it DOES tell you how to get the "client.conf" file though, which is actually the exact same file, but with a different file extension. (I can't believe this isn't referenced anywhere ...)

Anyway, when you've got your "client.conf" file, copy it to a location on your Windows box (along with the 3 certificate / key files referenced in the guide.)

Download and install the latest OpenVPN client from: http://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/downloads.html

For Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 64-bit you grab the "openvpn-install-2.3.4-I604-x86_64.exe" at the very bottom of the first table. This IS the client.

NOTE: There WAS an MSI installer that had a much nicer GUI and looked like it also would let you manually configure connections on a client machine for Windows-based OSes. From what I can find, this MSI doesn't exist anymore. The reason so many people keep looking for it though is because 90% of the tutorials I've found for setting this up reference it. 😐

The MSI DID exist ... proof from OpenVPN's own Web site: http://openvpn.net/index.php/access-server/docs/admin-guides/395-how-to-install-the-openvpn-client-on-windows.html <--- Lame, I know ... a guide for installing it, but no download links or anything. :roll:

Anyway, so after you install the "new and improved" {read: only} OpenVPN client, copy the 4 files ("client.conf", and the 3 key / cert files) to: %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files\OpenVPN\config

IMPORTANT: Rename the "client.conf" to "client.ovpn".

You're done, the VPN should work now.

Traffic

Technically,

the "Client" to which you refer:
- is from OpenVPN Technologies and is designed for use with OpenVPN Access Server.
  The reason there are no longer download links is because the client is included with the Download for OpenVPN Access Server.
  This is a commercial product and not Free Open Source Software

the "Server" to which you refer:
- is true OpenVPN Community edition.
  It does not have a client because server & client are included in the single download.
  This is Free Open Source Software

dtcostelloe

Yes, I figured all that out the hard way. The OpenVPN site does a terrible job of making this clear. Most tutorial sites I've found reference the downloads page for the OpenVPN community client/server package ... but then use the commercial MSI software as part of their setup guides.

Granted, the tutorials are not really to blame ... but doing Google searches for the OpenVPN MSI installer shows many unanswered forum topics (not necessarily for this board alone) from users wanting to know where the MSI installer is.

For what it's worth, when I first decided to try setting up this OpenVPN stuff in the first place, I had never touched any of this OpenVPN stuff before. The ability to find this information was nearly impossible. I've setup PPTP and IPSec VPNs many times before ... and those are a nightmare to actually setup for some scenarios I've come across, but documentation for those two technologies is very easy to find and clear. Not so much for OpenVPN. Why this is, I couldn't tell you.

Regardless though, my post was to make it clear to all these people who might be (like I was) trying to get a straight-forward answer to some of these questions that weren't showing up anywhere else.

Your post will likely be helpful as well ... that's what I was actually looking for in my first post on here (the one that you asked me what version I was using).