Migrate normal server to access server

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L302
OpenVpn Newbie
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Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2022 11:03 am

Migrate normal server to access server

Post by L302 » Sun Oct 02, 2022 11:05 am

Hey guys,

I'm running an openvpn server by pivpn and I want to switch to an OpenVPN Access server. Is there an comfortable way to transfer my pivpn's config files?

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openvpn_inc
OpenVPN Inc.
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Re: Migrate normal server to access server

Post by openvpn_inc » Sun Oct 02, 2022 11:33 am

Hello L302,

Without even having seen your configs I can state that it's very unlikely it can be easily converted. Taking an open source based configuration and changing that to fit into what Access Server prepares for you is not going to be a trivial operation. If by chance the configuration is similar enough to what Access Server sets up, you may have a chance at doing it, but you'll have to edit database files manually, and even then there's a chance there's some configuration used that goes against the defaults that Access Server has. And while that may be adjusted, it's not likely to be an easy process.

I would advise you to just start with a fresh Access Server config and then providing your VPN clients with the new config files that are downloaded from and prepared by your Access Server.

Kind regards,
Johan
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Answers provided by OpenVPN Inc. staff members here are provided on a voluntary best-effort basis, and no rights can be claimed on the basis of answers posted in this public forum. If you wish to get official support from OpenVPN Inc. please use the official support ticket system: https://openvpn.net/support

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openvpn_inc
OpenVPN Inc.
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Re: Migrate normal server to access server

Post by openvpn_inc » Sun Oct 02, 2022 12:19 pm

A few words to add:

You could set up your easy-rsa (or whatever TLS PKI frontend pivpn uses) as an external PKI for Access Server. But if you did that, you would be losing the greatest convenience feature of Access Server. The built-in PKI (and automatic user profile generation) takes away much of the administrative pain of running a community version openvpn server.

I'd definitely recommend starting over! I've seen both sides of this coin, and Access Server is much nicer.

regards, rob0
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Answers provided by OpenVPN Inc. staff members here are provided on a voluntary best-effort basis, and no rights can be claimed on the basis of answers posted in this public forum. If you wish to get official support from OpenVPN Inc. please use the official support ticket system: https://openvpn.net/support

L302
OpenVpn Newbie
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Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2022 11:03 am

Re: Migrate normal server to access server

Post by L302 » Thu Oct 12, 2023 5:59 pm

Are there any instructions on where to find the individual entries from the .config files in the Access Server?

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openvpn_inc
OpenVPN Inc.
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Re: Migrate normal server to access server

Post by openvpn_inc » Sun Oct 15, 2023 12:37 pm

Hello L302,

I don't understand your question exactly. I'm guessing you're asking where you can put directives from your open source OpenVPN config files into Access Server. The answer is that that is not the way it works. Access Server uses a GUI for configuration that then assembles the necessary instructions in memory and sends it directly to the OpenVPN daemons' management interface(s). No config file to edit.

Kind regards,
Johan
Image OpenVPN Inc.
Answers provided by OpenVPN Inc. staff members here are provided on a voluntary best-effort basis, and no rights can be claimed on the basis of answers posted in this public forum. If you wish to get official support from OpenVPN Inc. please use the official support ticket system: https://openvpn.net/support

L302
OpenVpn Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2022 11:03 am

Re: Migrate normal server to access server

Post by L302 » Tue Oct 24, 2023 12:31 pm

You heard me correctly. So there are no instructions that say "Command xy from the config file" can be found in the GUI on page xy?

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openvpn_inc
OpenVPN Inc.
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Re: Migrate normal server to access server

Post by openvpn_inc » Tue Oct 24, 2023 5:42 pm

Hi L302,

No, that doesn't exist, sorry. However if you contact our support ticket system (link in signature) and explain what things you are trying to do, and perhaps even show the directives you're using and why, we can guide you to how to configure things in Access Server to do those things.

Kind regards,
Johan
Image OpenVPN Inc.
Answers provided by OpenVPN Inc. staff members here are provided on a voluntary best-effort basis, and no rights can be claimed on the basis of answers posted in this public forum. If you wish to get official support from OpenVPN Inc. please use the official support ticket system: https://openvpn.net/support

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