![]() The first two figures below pertain to the initial installation of OpenVPN:įigure 2 – Before Making Changes – Default Server and First client File Expiry is Ten Years!įigure 3 – After Making Changes – Default Server and First client File Expiry are more reasonable Note that the value for EASYRSA_CRL_DAYS is not used for SSL certificate expiration date lengths and it does not need to be modified. These, of course, can be suited to individual tastes, but it is better to err on the conservative side “just in case.” ![]() This demonstration will use the following expiration timelines: This clearly is not acceptable, even for an experimental endpoint setup, much less a production setup.Īs the openvpn-install.sh script has the ten year interval hardcoded as 3650 days, the easiest way to correct this is to open the openvpn-install.sh script in a text editor and search for all instances of “ 3650” being used as a certificate expiration timeline and change them as encountered. For instance, the default validation period for both the server and client OpenVPN SSL certificates is ten years. Note that this file will be downloaded to the Pi user’s home directory and all of the further work will be done from this directory.įigure 1 – Downloading the Installation Script Raspberry Pi OpenVPN Server Security Considerationsīefore beginning the OpenVPN Server installation, it is critical that some very generous default settings in the installation script be corrected. To download it, use the command: $ wget -O openvpn-install.sh The OpenVPN Server is maintained via a public GitHub repository. Read: Getting Started with the Raspberry Pi Downloading the OpenVPN Server Installer Most residential internet providers universally – and many business internet providers by default – block inbound connections on most low-numbered ports, but impose no such restriction on higher numbered ports (typically 50000 and over). This demonstration is also built on the assumption that the Internet Service Provider allows for inbound connections on high-numbered ports. All of the commands are entered using the Terminal. Once the configuration is complete, the software boots right into the Raspberry Pi OS graphical interface. The software is not being “installed”, because it runs right off of the Micro SD Card directly. Once the OS is written to the card, it can then be configured on the Raspberry Pi device by inserting the card into the device, powering it on, and then following the on-screen prompts to complete the configuration. The Raspberry PI OS can be written to the Micro SD Card using an installer that is provided by the Raspberry Pi website at. A router or gateway that allows for port forwarding.A 64GB Micro SD Card and a suitable reader/writer for the same.The following hardware was used for this demonstration: Read: 6 Best Python IDE and Code Editors Getting Started with Raspberry Pi OpenVPN Server On top of that, if there really is a major security problem related to OpenVPN or the Raspberry Pi OS, unplugging it from the network will stop the threat without disrupting other users of the network. End users using that functionality are at the mercy of their router manufacturer for these updates, and they may not be timely. Contrast this to many routers which offer built-in VPN Server functionality. This allows for the end user to update and patch the software as needed. Like all modern distributions of Linux, the Raspberry Pi OS is regularly updated with security-related patches that will mitigate concerns related to security. The device used for this article, along with the case, Micro SD card, and a few accessories all came to around US$100 – and even that can be pared down significantly, if needed.Īnother major benefit of this setup is leveraging the security that Linux provides. The single greatest benefit of using a Raspberry Pi device for this purpose is the cost. The Raspberry Pi device already has all the needed hardware built right in, so hitting the ground running is a quick and metaphorically painless process. ![]() ![]() The focus of this article is to demonstrate how a less-than-$50 Raspberry Pi device can be used as an OpenVPN Server, which will allow for secure remote connections into a private network. However, when coupled with the highly capable Raspberry Pi OS (formerly known as Raspbian), this device can do nearly anything that any Linux-enabled computer can do. The Raspberry Pi device has proven to be a very useful “beginners tool” for aspiring programmers, engineers, and hobbyists who are looking for a low cost, but good quality, piece of hardware with which to experiment. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. content and product recommendations are editorially independent.
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