OpenVPN can't find config file on symlinked gvfs-share

memel.parduin

Hi everyone,

I don't know if this post belongs here, but I'll try anyway.

Today I tried to startup a connection using a config file on a network share. This share was mounted using the GNOME Virtual File System (gvfs), to which I created a symbolic link using

ln -s /home/username/.gvfs/user\ on \server/ /home/username/directory

Starting up gave me the following result:

sudo openvpn /home/username/directory/path-to-config-file/openvpn.conf
Options error: In [CMD-LINE]:1: Error opening configuration file: /home/username/directory/path-to-config-file/openvpn.conf
Use --help for more information.

I suspect this being caused by my using gvfs, because when I copy my config files to my local hard disk and use them instead, everything works fine. However, I'd prefer to use config files from my network share. Does anybody know a workaround?

Thanks,
Memel

janjust

your analysis is correct - the user 'root' (to which you're sudo-ing) cannot access files on a user's gvfs share. That has nothing to do with OpenVPN but with the way gvfs works. Use YourFavouriteSearchEngine to search for ways to allow root access on gvfs shares and your problem is solved.

memel.parduin

Thanks for your reply.

After searching with MyFavouriteSearchEngine I found a blogpost: Root access to filesystems mounted via gvfs

I've tried it, and this temporary workaround seems to work well.

Memel