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OpenVPN server on Windows (view source)

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==Introduction==
 
==Introduction==
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'''OpenVPN''' is an open-source software application that implements virtual private network (VPN) techniques for creating secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections in routed or bridged configurations and remote access facilities.
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{{Template:openvpn introduction}}
    
This article contains step-by-step instructions on how to create and run an OpenVPN server on a PC that runs on Windows OS. The information provided here is geared towards users of almost any knowledge level. The instructions apply to Windows 7 and newer systems.
 
This article contains step-by-step instructions on how to create and run an OpenVPN server on a PC that runs on Windows OS. The information provided here is geared towards users of almost any knowledge level. The instructions apply to Windows 7 and newer systems.
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'''Prerequisites''':
 
'''Prerequisites''':
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* A PC or Laptop running on Windows 7 or a later version
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* The PC in question must have a '''[[Private_and_Public_IP_Addresses#Public_IP_address|Public IP address]]'''
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*A PC or Laptop running on Windows 7 or a later version
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* An active Internet connection
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*The computer in question must have a '''[[Private_and_Public_IP_Addresses#Public_IP_address|Public IP address]]'''
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*And an active Internet connection
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'''Objective''':
 
'''Objective''':
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The purpose of this article is to provide the know-how needed to configure a working OpenVPN server on a Windows PC.
 
The purpose of this article is to provide the know-how needed to configure a working OpenVPN server on a Windows PC.
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==Step 1: installing OpenVPN software==
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{{Template:installing openvpn software}}
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{{Template:preparing easyrsa}}
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* The first thing that we'll to do is to install the necessary software needed in order to run an OpenVPN server. You can download the OpenVPN installer file from '''[https://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/downloads.html here]'''. <br> Simply run the downloaded file and follow the instructions of the installation guide.
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{{Template:generating certificates and keys}}
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* '''Important note''': at one point before the installation process, you will be prompted to select which components should be included in the installation. Make sure to select '''EasyRSA''' as it will be needed later on to generate keys and certificates. You can leave the rest as defaults:
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[[File:Openvpn windows server setup step 1 openvpn installation part 1.png]]
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==Step 2: generating TLS certificates and keys==
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* Now we'll need to generate TLS certificates that will later be used for authentication purposes when clients connect to the OpenVPN server. For this we'll be using the '''EasyRSA''' application that was installed along with OpenVPN. <br> EasyRSA commands have to be executed via the Windows Command Prompt. It can be opened by typing '''cmd''' in the Windows search bar ('''Windows button + S'''). When you launch it, make sure you run it '''as administrator''':
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[[File:How to generate tls certificates windows part 1 v2.png]]
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* Change the current directory to the EasyRSA folder. To do so, execute this command:
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cd "C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\easy-rsa"
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==Step 4: OpenVPN server configuration==
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* Initialize the OpenVPN configuration with the following command:
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init-config
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In this section we'll be discussing how to configure an OpenVPN Tunnel (TUN) server that uses:
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----
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* Open the '''''vars.bat''''' file with the Notepad text editor:
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notepad vars.bat
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*The UDP protocol
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*TLS authentication
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* This is the template file for generating certificates, i.e., the information stored here will be offered as default values during certificate generation. Locate and edit the following lines in accordance with your needs:
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set KEY_COUNTRY=US
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As a template, we'll be using the sample configuration file that comes along with the OpenVPN installation, but we'll be adding with some minor changes to it. You can find it in the ''OpenVPN'' installation directory, ''sample-config'' folder (default: ''C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\sample-config'') under the name '''''server.ovpn'''''.
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set KEY_PROVINCE=CA
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set KEY_CITY=SanFrancisco
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set KEY_ORG=OpenVPN
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set KEY_EMAIL=mail@host.domain
   
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* You can also set the size for the Diffie Hellman parameters:
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<ul>
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  <li>When you locate the file, make a copy, rename it and place it in the '''''config''''' directory of the OpenVPN folder (default path: ''C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config''). You should also copy the certificates and keys to this directory (required files: ''ca.crt'', ''server.crt'', ''server.key'', ''dh2048.pem'').
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  </li>
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  <li>Open the config file with a text editor. You can use the Notepad, but for editing configuration files we recommend using '''Notepad++''' for a better experience (you can download it from '''[https://notepad-plus-plus.org/download/v7.5.8.html here]''').
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  </li>
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  <li>Locate the following lines:
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    <ul>
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      <pre>ca ca.crt
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cert server.crt
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key server.key
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dh dh1024.pem</pre>
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    </ul>
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  </li>
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  <li>Edit the lines in a way that corresponds with the actual file paths. The defaults used in this example are:
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    <ul>
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      <pre>ca "C:\\Program Files\\OpenVPN\\config\\ca.crt"
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cert "C:\\Program Files\\OpenVPN\\config\\server.crt"
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key "C:\\Program Files\\OpenVPN\\config\\server.key"
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dh "C:\\Program Files\\OpenVPN\\config\\dh2048.pem"</pre>
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    </ul>
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'''NOTE''': Diffie Hellman parameters file name will depend on the key size that you specified in the ''vars.bat'' file. Don't forget to change it accordingly.
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  </li>
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  <li>Next comes the preferential configurations, i.e., whether you want UDP or TCP, Tunnel or Bridge, server's network, keep alive, cipher values, etc. You should configure these options in accordance with your needs. Bellow is an image of what the final configuration from this example looks like (with the comments present in the sample deleted file for more clarity):
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    <ul>[[File:Openvpn windows server setup step 4 server config.png]]
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    </ul>
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The following changes were made to the sample file:
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    <ul>
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      <li>Changed ''udp'' to ''udp4'' to indicate that the connection should use only IPv4</li>
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      <li>Added ''client-config-dir'' option for possible TLS client configuration</li>
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      <li>Changed the ''ifconfig-pool-persist'' file path</li>
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      <li>Changes to the certificate and key file paths</li><li>Note: cipher AES-256-CBC is deprecated in v.2.5. Change CBC to GCM
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</li><li>You can harden (add security) to the VPN by creating a ta.key (''openvpn--genkey --secret keys/ta.key'') file on the server, placing it in the config folder and copying it to the config folder of all client machines.
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</li><li>Edit the server.ovpn file found in the OpenVPN/sample-config folder. Lines that begin with # or ; will be ignored.) Feel free to change it however you want.</li></ul>
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  </li></ul>
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set DH_KEY_SIZE=2048
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==Step 5: configuring clients==
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* Once you're done, save the file and close the editor
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* Run the following commands:
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vars
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Install OpenVPN on all client machines, but omit Steps 2, 3 and 4 above. Just copy the ca.crt , client.crt and client.key files already created on the server machine in Step 4 above to the config folder of the relevant client machine.
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clean-all
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* Now we can start generating the certificates. Begin with the '''certificate authority''' ('''CA''') file:
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  build-ca
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The next step is to create a configuration file for the clients. Edit the client.ovpn file found in the sample-config folder and save it. Now open the separate article: '''[[OpenVPN client on Windows]],''' but note that only the latter part is relevant to this page. Begin at the line "• Save the file with an '''.ovpn''' extension."
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'''NOTE''': you can press the "Enter" key when prompted to enter the values set in the ''vars.bat'' file earlier. Doing this will set the values to the default specified in ''vars.bat''. However, you should type in a meaningful '''Common Name'''.
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Note: The edited client.ovpn file can be copied to all the client machines unless specific changes need to be made.
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* Next, build the '''server''' certificate and key:
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build-key-server server
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==Step 6: launching the server==
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'''NOTE''': once again, don't forget to specify a different Common Name (use the name "server" for easier management purposes). When prompted the sign and commit the certificate, type '''y''' and press "Enter".
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If you've followed all the steps until now, your OpenVPN server configuration is complete! The next thing to do is to simply launch the server.  
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* Next, build certificates and keys for the '''clients''':
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  build-key Client1
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<ul>
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  <li>Run the '''OpenVPN GUI''' application '''as administrator''' in order for the application to be able to fill log files.</li>
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  <li>Locate OpenVPN GUI in the Windows system tray. Right click it and click '''Connect''':
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    <ul>
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[[File:Openvpn windows server setup step 6 launching the server.png]]
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    </ul>
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  </li>
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</ul>
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'''TIP''': use the same Common Name as the certificate name (Client1 in this example). This will help you differentiate different clients easier. Pick meaningful names like "toms_PC", "company_maintenance", etc. Repeat this step as many times as you need, depending on the client quantity.
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==See also==
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* Lastly, generate '''Diffie Hellman parameters''':
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build-dh
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*[[OpenVPN client on Windows]]
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*[[OpenVPN configuration examples]]
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*[[OpenVPN traffic split]]
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==Step 3: OpenVPN server configuration==
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==External links==
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*
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*OpenVPN downloads: https://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/downloads.html
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*OpenVPN manual: https://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/manuals.html
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*Notepad++ downloads: https://notepad-plus-plus.org/download/v7.5.8.html
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[[Category:Windows]]
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