OpenVPN Support Forum

Hi All,

Just tried installing OpenVPN on a Windows 10 box for the first time but am falling at the first hurdle. Am following Downloaded OpenVPN-2.5.0-I601-amd64.msi and selected 'Customize' to include easy-rsa (full feature).

Following the instructions, I am supposed to run init-config in C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\easy-rsa

However, cannot find init-config; doesnt seem to exist. Have searched the whole of C drive (incase it is installed elsewhere but cannot locate the file anywhere).

Have also tried different install configurations but none seem to install init-config (bat or exe, whatever it is)

Obviously I'm doing something basically wrong as other guides also state init-config must be executed and I cant see any other people having this issue; but cannot work out what I'm doing wrong. Is the MSI the correct file to use?

I believe 2.5.0 installation MSI is broken (I may be very wrong here, it could be the instructions that are now wrong). I unstalled 2.5.0 and tried 2.4.9 install executable; that works great and init-config gets installed nicely.

OpenVPN 2.5.0 comes with Easy-RSA version 3.

I had the same problem as OP...never used openVPN before and got stuck. ALL instructions including those on the openvpn.net initial install instructions website state to run init-config which is missing.

Does Easy-RSA version 4 replace this? Can you point to instructions?

It's in the wiki:
https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/w ... nVPN-Howto

w1se wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 20, 2020 10:00 pm

Easy-RSA version 4

w1se ..

The tutorials are not up to date. 2 months that I'm desperately trying to get an answer from the community. Either we laugh at you or no one answers.
After painstaking research, and if it helps:
on C: \ Program Files \ OpenVPN \ easy-rsa launch EasyRSA-Start.bat and type the command ./easyrsa init-pki.
For me I get the following error the answer is:
# ./easyrsa init-pki

Easy-RSA error:

Temporary directory 'C:/Program Files/OpenVPN/easy-rsa/pki/easy-rsa-10824.a03488' does not exist

Easy-RSA error:

Failed to create temporary file

Some prefer to answer that Windows sucks when it seems to have the answer. I wonder if the time is taken to take an interest in the matter ??? In the meantime, is this an Easy-rsa fault? While waiting for a concrete and relevant answer, should the stand-alone version of Easy-
RSA independently of OpenVPN or simply perform a root installation?

It is very easy to make it work and windows dont work well with Easy-RSA , it is better to install openvpn on Linux so more help available

if you like to use it on windows , windows certificate service is more than can do certificate and more faster or XCA can do the same as Easy-RSA . if you like the route Easy-RSA so just do it and help community by document it when you finish so other people can learn from you.

300000 wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 05, 2021 12:43 pm

windows dont work well with Easy-RSA

EasyRSA 3 works exactly the same on Windows as it does in Linux.

If you post to support requests saying one of the following:
1. "I don't know why you're having problems"
2. "Duh, just use Linux"
3. "It's supposed to be working."
4. "Read (the pointlessly out-of-date) docs."

Then just don't post at all, please. Your embarrassing answers just further frustrate people who are trying to get OpenVPN working. The neckbeard-like preening just makes the whole open source community look bad.

@LmLec Use "./easyrsa init-pki nopass" This will omit password protecting the CA private key. I don't know why this doesn't work on Windows.

lordbusiness wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:21 pm

@LmLec Use "./easyrsa init-pki nopass" This will omit password protecting the CA private key. I don't know why this doesn't work on Windows.

Option nopass is not supported by init-pki. Please get your facts right.

OpenMat wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 17, 2020 1:32 am

Hi All,

Just tried installing OpenVPN on a Windows 10 box for the first time but am falling at the first hurdle. Am following

Code: Select all

https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/wiki/Easy_Windows_Guide

Downloaded OpenVPN-2.5.0-I601-amd64.msi and selected 'Customize' to include easy-rsa (full feature).

Following the instructions, I am supposed to run init-config in C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\easy-rsa

However, cannot find init-config; doesnt seem to exist. Have searched the whole of C drive (incase it is installed elsewhere but cannot locate the file anywhere).

Have also tried different install configurations but none seem to install init-config (bat or exe, whatever it is)

Obviously I'm doing something basically wrong as other guides also state init-config must be executed and I cant see any other people having this issue; but cannot work out what I'm doing wrong. Is the MSI the correct file to use?

Hi

I have also installed the OpenVPN-2.5.(1)-I601-amd64.msi and the init-config command did not work. But tried with OpenVPN-2.5.1-I601-amd64.exe. The init-config command does work now!

Installed OpenVPN by OpenVPN-2.5.1-I601-amd64.msi and init-config.* not found.
Dear sirs there is little to discuss ... if the installer doesn't work well just admit it ... unless you are boycotting Windows ...

Easy-RSA 3 DOES NOT HAVE `init-config`.

Did you even bother to read this thread ?

See the help for Easy-RSA version 3.....

@ MOD .. Is it possible to lock this thread with an Official OpenVPN statement ? Please.

Ok, locked.

Yes, not all docs are up to date, if one figured it out one is welcome to edit/add to it...

The ones who actually read this thread, the link to the doc is given...