Network client installer

install_openvpn_client_ubuntu.sh

Designed for Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04, and 24.04 LTS hosts that use username/password OpenVPN client authentication and need a repeatable way to install, copy client files, and start the service.

One-liner

curl -fsSL helper.sh/install_openvpn_client_ubuntu.sh | sudo bash

sudo bash install_openvpn_client_ubuntu.sh --source-conf ./client.conf --source-login ./login.txt

Raw file

Raw script

Bundled in this site

Requirements

Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04 / 24.04 LTS
root privileges or sudo
Optional: client.conf in the current directory
Optional: login.txt in the current directory

Best for

Bring up an OpenVPN client quickly on a fresh Ubuntu host
Standardize username/password client deployment for server handoff
Avoid manual file copy mistakes when enabling openvpn-client@client

Highlights

Never fails when config files are missing: installs OpenVPN, creates /etc/openvpn/client/, and prompts you to drop the files in
Picks up client.conf and login.txt from the current directory, or reuses them if already placed in /etc/openvpn/client/
Uses a local update-resolv-conf if present and adds DNS hooks only in that case
Enables and restarts openvpn-client@client automatically

Recommended procedure

Optionally put client.conf and login.txt in the current working directory; if you skip this, the script still installs OpenVPN and prepares /etc/openvpn/client/ for you to add them later.
Run the helper.sh installer with sudo or as root.
Let the script install OpenVPN, copy the client files when present, optionally attach a local DNS helper, and restart the OpenVPN client service.
Review systemctl status and ip addr show tun0 to verify the tunnel. If you provided update-resolv-conf, also review cat /etc/resolv.conf.

Safety notes

Keep login.txt protected with chmod 600 and do not commit it to Git.
Review client.conf carefully before copying it onto a production host.
If the service does not start, inspect journalctl before retrying multiple times.
If you provide update-resolv-conf, remember that the DNS values are defined inside that helper script.
On Ubuntu hosts using systemd-resolved, prefer a resolvectl-aware update-resolv-conf instead of writing /etc/resolv.conf directly.

Scenario article

Install an OpenVPN client on Ubuntu with local client.conf and login.txt checks

A practical guide to using install_openvpn_client_ubuntu.sh to install OpenVPN, verify local client files, optionally copy update-resolv-conf, and enable the openvpn-client@client service on Ubuntu.

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OpenVPN client access and DNS handling

Set up OpenVPN client access on Ubuntu and CentOS 7 hosts, keep login files in the expected place, and handle DNS switching safely when private domains depend on the tunnel.

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Problem pages

Why OpenVPN update-resolv-conf is not working

Troubleshoot login files, CRLF script issues, and Ubuntu systemd-resolved behavior when private DNS is expected over OpenVPN.

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