OpenVPN is the gold standard for creating secure, encrypted tunnels between devices and servers. While many commercial VPN providers use its technology, the OpenVPN Community Edition remains a free, open-source powerhouse for IT professionals, developers, and privacy enthusiasts who want full control over their networking environment.
If you are comfortable with configuration files and the Linux command line, OpenVPN Community Edition is an incredibly powerful, secure, and free tool. If you need a GUI and simple setup, consider the commercial Access Server or a third-party solution built on OpenVPN.
As he worked through the configuration, John couldn't help but think about the importance of online security. As a freelancer, he often worked with sensitive client information, and having a secure connection was paramount.
After installation, you won't have a "connection" immediately. You must provide a configuration file (usually ending in .ovpn ).
systemctl start openvpn@server