KDE- and GNOME Applets For Clients

The following subsections describe how to setup a OpenVPN connection with the GNOME and KDE desktops.

KDE

To setup an OpenVPN connection in KDE4 that can be easily turned on or off, proceed as follows:

  1. Make sure you have installed the package NetworkManager-openvpn-kde4 and have resolved all dependencies.

  2. Right-click on a widget of your panel and select Panel Options+Add Widgets....

  3. Select Networks.

  4. Right-click on the icon and choose Manage Connections.

  5. Add a new VPN connection with Add+OpenVPN. A new window opens.

  6. Choose the Connection Type between X.509 Certificates or X.509 With Password depending on what you have setup with your OpenVPN server.

  7. Insert the necessary files into the respective text fields. From our example configuration these are:

    CA file

    /etc/openvpn/ssl/ca.crt

    Certificate

    /etc/openvpn/ssl/client1.crt

    Key

    /etc/openvpn/ssl/client1.key

    Username

    The respective user

    Password

    The password for the user

  8. If you have not used the KDE Wallet System, you are asked if you want to configure it. Follow the steps in the wizard. After you have finished this step, you are reverted back to the Network Settings dialog.

  9. Finish with Ok.

  10. Enable the connection with your Network manager applet.

GNOME

To setup a OpenVPN connection in GNOME that can be easily turned on or off, proceed as follows:

  1. Make sure you have installed the package NetworkManager-openvpn-gnome and have resolved all dependencies.

  2. Start the Network Connection Editor with Alt+F2 and insert nm-connection-editor into the text field. A new window appears.

  3. Select the VPN tab and click Add.

  4. Choose the VPN connection type, in our case OpenVPN.

  5. Choose the Authentication type between Certificates (TLS) or Password with Certificates (TLS) depending on what you have setup with your OpenVPN server.

  6. Insert the necessary files into the respective text fields. From our example configuration, these are:

    Username

    The relevant user (only available when you have selected Password with Certificates (TLS))

    Password

    The password for the user (only available when you have selected Password with Certificates (TLS))

    User Certificate

    /etc/openvpn/ssl/client1.crt

    CA Certificate

    /etc/openvpn/ssl/ca.crt

    Private Key

    /etc/openvpn/ssl/client1.key

  7. Finish with Apply and Close.

  8. Enable the connection with your Network Manager applet.