How to setup VPN using an .ovpn file?

Question

I've been using Ubuntu 18.04 for about 3 days now and so far it runs smoothly. I now need to install a VPN for my work, and I got the following files from the sysadmin:

• ca.crt
• VPNConfig.ovpn

I first ran sudo apt install openvpn. After that I wanted to install it using the GUI. So I went to the settings app and under "Network" I tried adding a new VPN. It gives the option to "Import from a file". So I selected the VPNConfig.ovpn file, but it says it can't import the file. I also tried importing the ca.crt file and importing the zip in which the two files came, but that didn't work either.

Could anybody help me out as to how I can make this VPN work?

Solution

You have to install a few packages first with:

sudo apt install openvpn network-manager-openvpn network-manager-openvpn-gnome

then, restart network-manager

sudo service network-manager restart

and try again. If it doesn't work, then try logging out and back in, if not, then try rebooting.

Comments

[NerdOfCode]

All you have to run is openvpn --config openvpn_profile_here

[NerdOfLinux]

OP states that they want to use the GUI

[HenrikB]

I found that one can import a *.ovpn file into the GUI using sudo nmcli connection import type openvpn file /path/to/foo.ovpn. Couldn't post an answer here, but see my answer to 'How to setup OpenVPN Client' for more details.

[deckoff]

Totally disagree that this is a duplicate - a lot have changed since 1404.Especially in the GUI!

[muru]

If the GUI has changed, post an updated answer on the dupe.

[kramer65]

Thanks! You made my day! Just a question: why is pptp supported by default, but does openvpn support need to be installed seperately?

[NerdOfLinux]

I don't know. I guess the Ubuntu team decided that not enough people use it to make it worth being part of the standard OS.

[kramer65]

For a long time it didn't work for me, even though it worked from the command line. Finally I disabled ipv6 in the GUI and then it worked. Maybe this also helps other people.