A Beginner's Guide to Setting up an OpenVPN Server on a Raspberry Pi using PiVPN

If you're looking for a way to secure your internet connection and protect your privacy, setting up an OpenVPN server is an excellent solution. And, if you're looking for a low-cost, low-power platform to host your OpenVPN server, the Raspberry Pi is a fantastic option. In this beginner's guide, I'll show you how to set up an OpenVPN server on a Raspberry Pi using the PiVPN setup script.

What is PiVPN?

PiVPN is a setup script that simplifies the process of installing and setting up an OpenVPN server on a Raspberry Pi. The script automates much of the setup process and makes it possible to have your OpenVPN server up and running in a matter of minutes.

Preparation

Before you start setting up your OpenVPN server, you'll want to make sure your Raspberry Pi is up-to-date and has the necessary dependencies installed. To update your Raspberry Pi, run the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade

Installing PiVPN

To install PiVPN, you'll need to download the setup script from the PiVPN website. Run the following command to download and run the script:

curl -L https://install.pivpn.io | bash

 

 The script will guide you through the installation process, asking you to select your preferred OpenVPN version, client options, etc. When the installation process is complete, you will be prompted to reboot the raspberry pi.  Once it boots the OpenVPN server will start automatically.

Creating a Client Profile

To create a client profile, run the following command. This will be needed for each device that you want to connect to the VPN server.

sudo pivpn add

The script will prompt you to provide a name for the client profile and generate a client certificate. The necessary files will be generated and stored in the /home/pi/ovpns directory.

Connecting to the OpenVPN Server

To connect to your OpenVPN server, you'll need to install an OpenVPN client on the device you want to use. There are many OpenVPN clients available for different platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Once you've installed the OpenVPN client, import the client profile you created earlier. This will allow you to connect to your OpenVPN server and start using the internet securely.

Wrap-Up

Setting up an OpenVPN server on a Raspberry Pi with PiVPN is a great way to secure your internet connection and protect your privacy. The process is straightforward, and with the PiVPN setup script, you can have your OpenVPN server up and running in no time. Whether you're at home or on the go, you can enjoy secure and private access to the internet with your own OpenVPN server.