How to Modify the OpenVPN Interface Name in Windows

OpenVPN is one of the most popular applications for connecting to remote networks. Its wide support across different operating systems and devices helps it to remain an invaluable tool in the information security world. With the recent rise of container-based virtualization, it hasn’t been surprising to see people turn to OpenVPN in search of a private network replacement.

However, if you’re running OpenVPN on a Windows PC, you’ll inevitably encounter problems connecting to private networks due to the application’s default interface naming scheme. In this tutorial, we’ll discuss how to modify the OpenVPN interface name in Windows so that it matches the one shown on the OpenVPN server.

Step one: Ensure you have the latest version of OpenVPN

As the name would suggest, OpenVPN is continually updated to meet the needs of ever-evolving security threats. Because of this, you should always ensure that you have the latest version of the application installed on your PC.

You can check for updates by performing the following steps:

• From the Start menu, select “Windows Update”
• In the “Windows Update” window, click “Check for updates”
• A message will appear telling you that your PC is ready to update
• Click “Install updates” to begin installing the updates
• When all the updates have been installed, click “Close” to return to the “Windows Update” window

You should also ensure that your OpenVPN service is running properly by launching the application and connecting to a network.

Step two: Modify the OpenVPN server’s configuration file

If you’re using OpenVPN on a server, the majority of the configuration is handled by an XML file named “openvpn.conf”. The contents of this file determine the application’s behavior on a per-client basis, so it’s imperative that you make the appropriate changes in order to connect to a different network than the one the server is currently connected to.

If you’re connecting to a public network through an OpenVPN server, it’s usually a good idea to use a VPN tunnel, meaning that you’re encrypting all the data that you’re sending and receiving. This will help protect you from eavesdropping and connection hijacking by network adversaries.

If you’d like to connect to a VPN server using the OpenVPN client, make sure that you first launch the application and then click the “Connect” button. This will bring up the “Connect to a VPN server” dialog box, as shown below:

You can enter in the server’s VPN address and optionally its login credentials, as well as choose a name for the tunnel to be created. When you click “Connect”, a VPN connection will be created and OpenVPN will launch a server on the network indicated by you.

If you’re connecting to a public network, make sure that you use a VPN that encrypts all data that is sent and received. This is essential for maintaining confidentiality and preventing eavesdropping. If you want to learn more, you can consult the OpenVPN documentation which provides extensive information about the server’s configuration file.

Step three: Modify the OpenVPN client’s configuration file (optional)

If you’re using OpenVPN on a PC, you’ll usually have to modify two configuration files: one for the server and one for the client. The first step is to make sure that the OpenVPN client is connected to the correct server. In the example below, we’ve connected to the VPN server “vpn.company.com” (identified by the IP address 121.34.56.78):

Since we’ve connected to the VPN server using the OpenVPN client, the next step is to modify the client’s configuration file (normally named “openvpn.conf”) to match the server’s configuration. Follow these steps:

• Double-click the openvpn icon on your desktop
• A window will open, asking you to confirm the server’s credentials (if necessary)
• Open the “OpenVPN client configuration” file
• Find the section labeled VPN
• Look for the line that begins with “network={}”
• Insert the desired VPN server’s address and credentials (if necessary)
• Save the file and exit the OpenVPN client configuration window

The above steps should help ensure that you’re connecting to the correct VPN server. However, if you’re still experiencing issues, you can try troubleshooting with the help of the OpenVPN documentation. Additionally, you can always contact the server’s technical support team if you’re unable to connect due to an incorrect configuration or poor network performance.

Once you’ve successfully connected to the VPN server, you can use the application as usual, accessing private networks and securing your internet connection as necessary. If you’d like to modify the application’s interface name, simply locate the “Network” item in the menu bar and click it to bring up the context menu, as shown below:

Clicking the “Network” item on the menu will display a list of all the available networks from which you can connect. In the example below, we’ve selected “mycompany” as the desired network:

Now, whenever you connect to this network, the OpenVPN application will display the “mycompany” interface as shown above. However, if your company’s network uses a different naming convention, you can modify the VPN configuration file on your computer to change the application’s interface name to match your company’s network.