Installing OpenVPN server on Windows

Tanax

Hello!

I'm new here. Like so many others in the Installation Help XD
I have a few questions.

I've installed the OpenVPN software including all the extra modules and things.
If I've understood everything correctly, I'll need to create my own config file in order for OpenVPN to initiate a VPN-server. Then I'll need ANOTHER config file for the OpenVPN-client(but this is still using the same program if I'm not mistaken?).

This is where the problem comes into play, the config files..
From what I've read, it can basically just contain whatever that it is you need and you can leave out all the options that you don't plan on using. The problem is that I don't know what options I need to use..

What I want to do;
- Set up a server to handle incoming requests
- Be able to, from another computer in another network, connect to my VPN-server so that I can connect to my home network when I'm not at home to be able to access my fileserver that is sharing some folders
- I have dynamic IP so I have a dynamic DNS service that will take care of that for me
- I want to set up, on my "another computer", a folder-link so that I can browse files on my fileserver - I'm not sure if this is relevant information but thought it would be best to include as much information as possible

So basically, that's it. It'd be swell if there was the possibility to also set up some sort of user/password thing so that no other people can access my network and thus the fileserver. Also worth noting, the OpenVPN-server is to be run on the same machine as the fileserver - this will most likely be based on Windows.

What configuration options do I need to use? I realize it might be a mouthful to actually write the entire config file for me XD But perhaps you can point me in the right direction? Other than "look at the documentation" because it's just a HUGE pile of text and I have no idea where to even begin.

Thank you 🙂

janjust

you're gonna have to read some docs whether you like it or not. A good starting point is the HOWTO:
http://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/howto.html#numbering

Alternatively, buy the OpenVPN books which are out there (one written by me :mrgreen: ) and read them - what you want is also explained in there.

Tanax

janjust wroteyou're gonna have to read some docs whether you like it or not. A good starting point is the HOWTO:
http://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/howto.html#numbering

Alternatively, buy the OpenVPN books which are out there (one written by me :mrgreen: ) and read them - what you want is also explained in there.

Hi janjust and thanks for replying!
I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say or perhaps I wasn't expressing myself good enough.

I didn't mean that I didn't like to read the documentation nor that I have anything against it. What I was asking for was some direction as to where to start - the documentation is huuuuuge, you know? 😉 Another thing is that I don't really know some of the words used in the documentation. I'm a beginner at this and only trying to set up a VPN for home usage(plus it will only be me using it) so it isn't for some huge company or something. For instance; "Setting up your own Certificate Authority (CA)" <- I don't even know what CA is. I know I can probably google it(and I haven't in this case, just wanted to use it as a point) but will that give me an answer that I can understand in this context or will it just be a general description? It is difficult for beginners to understand the manual 🙂

Thank you for the link though, I will check it out!
I will also consider buying some books, will probably be even easier then 🙂

Mimiko

Tanax, no one will do it for you without any paymant (at least taking home one or two lonely kittens). The How-TO http://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/howto.html is what is the minimal which you have to read. You can skip any certificate or password authentication, just to start the VPN and see how it is working. Then add features.

Tanax

Either I did a very bad job explaining what I wanted or everyone is misunderstanding.
I didn't ask you to do it for me, where did you read that?! :o

What I asked for was some directions:

I realize it might be a mouthful to actually write the entire config file for me XD But perhaps you can point me in the right direction? Other than "look at the documentation" because it's just a HUGE pile of text and I have no idea where to even begin.

I feel like I'm being stupified when janjust says that I have to look at the documentation wheather I like it or not and you saying that no one will do it for me when I'm perfectly clear about having to read the documentation, have nothing against it nor have I ever asked for someone to do it for me. I simply asked for some directions.

Thank you for the tips regarding being able to add features later on. I'll just start out with a small config file then and add on more stuff 🙂