How To Use Your Raspberry Pi as a VPN Router

Using a VPN (virtual private network) router can make your internet connection much more secure. We show you how to use your Raspberry Pi as a VPN router by outlining the steps to set it up for this purpose.

Initial OpenVPN Setup

We’ll start by installing OpenVPN, which is a free software that allows you to use a VPN with your network. To begin, go into your Raspberry Pi’s command line and type in sudo apt-get install openvpn. Input the letter Y and press the return key to continue. After this, you’ll need to restart your Pi with sudo reboot.

You’ll need to download the OpenVPN configuration files of your choice from a VPN service provider based on your preferred locations and unzip them, so they appear as accessible files. Here, we’ll use the VyperVPN provider as an example, though you aren’t limited to this choice. NordVPN is another provider you could use. To do this, enter cd/etc/openvpn in the command line to view the files that you have available. Next, type in sudo wget https://support.goldenfrog.com/hc/article_attachments/214728647/GF_OpenVPN_10142016.zip to download your files, and type in sudo unzip GF_OpenVPN_10142016.zip to unzip them. Write ls in the command line and enter it to see the list of .ovpn files that you can use.

Connecting To a Server

Before proceeding, you must have authorization for VyprVPN. Put in sudo nano /etc/openvpn/auth.txt. This will create a file where you will write your VyprVPN username and password on two separate lines, in that order. Press Ctrl+X to exit, and save by typing Y again.

Choose a configuration file and connect to that server with sudo openvpn --config on one line and “/etc/openvpn/GF_OpenVPN_10142016/OpenVPN256/[the file’s name].ovpn” --auth-user-pass /etc/openvpn/auth/txt on the next line. When you write the file’s name in this command, don’t include the brackets.

Automating the VPN Connection

Your Pi is now a working VPN router, but you’ll need to go in and configure it every time you turn it on. Automate this process, so it connects with VPN without your commands by typing sudo nano /etc/rc.local. This will take you to the rc.local file. Inside this file, find the code line that includes the word and number exit 0. You’ll need to enter in three lines directly over this one. The first line is sleep 5, the second is sudo openvpn --config, and the final and longest one is “/etc/openvpn/GF_OpenVPN_10142016/OpenVPN256/[the file’s name].ovpn” --auth-user-pass /etc/openvpn/auth/txt. Make sure, once again, that you have the correct file name in this third line without the brackets. Exit with Ctrl+X and save by entering the letter Y in the command line.

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