How to Set Up a VPN on Linux Server

You may be running a personal or business website, or maybe even both. Whatever the reason, you need a way to keep your personal and business data secure while browsing the web. One way to do that is through a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN server allows you to securely access private and public networks from anywhere, giving you the freedom to work remotely without compromising your security.

The best VPNs for Linux are versatile enough to allow you to connect via TCP, UDP, or SOCKS. In addition, you need a VPN that supports IPv6 for complete portability. This guide will help you set up a VPN on your Linux server so you can begin using it to secure your network connections and browse the web privately.

Use The Right Software

When choosing a software solution for setting up a VPN, you need to consider a few things. First, make sure that the program you select can run on a Linux server. Second, look for a VPN that has a flexible license so you can run it on multiple servers if you choose. Third, you need a VPN for which you can download the required open-source software. Finally, consider the security of the software you choose. Does it come with a warranty? Can you install it on multiple servers with ease? Are they competent enough to keep your personal and business data secure?

To answer these questions, let’s first take a look at some of the most popular Linux distributions and their associated software.

Popular Linux Distributions

There are a variety of reasons why a business, personal, or academic Linux user might want to set up a VPN. To make your life easier, the Open Source community has created multiple Linux distributions just for the purpose of VPN setup. These distributions include:

OpenVPN

One of the first and most popular open-source VPN solutions is OpenVPN. OpenVPN is developed by a team of programmers and administrators based in the USA. This means that you have the freedom to use it anywhere in the world. In addition, since OpenVPN is open-source, you have the freedom to review the source code. If you’re comfortable doing so, you can even contribute to the software’s development.

The best part of OpenVPN is its ease of use. Once you have the software installed, you simply need to enter your public and private IP addresses and connect to the VPN. From there, you can easily access all of your private networks, regardless of whether they’re on the same server or another. While there are other solutions available that are simpler and easier to use than OpenVPN, the developer community behind OpenVPN continues to improve and extend its capabilities.

PCLinuxOS

Another popular choice for Linux distributions is PCLinuxOS. Like other Linux distributions, PCLinuxOS is completely free and open-source. This means that you have full freedom to install it on any type of server you choose, even a personal one. What makes PCLinuxOS special is that it is designed to be easy to use for anyone, even those with no previous software installation experience.

Just like with OpenVPN, you only need to enter your public and private IP addresses to connect to the VPN. From there, you can easily access all of your private networks. In addition, since PCLinuxOS is based on Ubuntu, a well-known and popular Linux distribution, you can expect to find a lot of support and documentation available online. If you’re looking for a simple and easy-to-use VPN solution that can help you get up and running quickly, then PCLinuxOS is a great choice.

KVM/QEMU

If you’re using a server with either a virtual machine (VM) or a bare-metal installation, you may want to consider using a virtual private network (VPN) to secure your connection. The best solution for this scenario is KVM/QEMU. These are different names for the same software, and both are open-source. What makes them special is the fact that they allow you to run virtual servers without the need for a physical server.

You simply need to install KVM/QEMU on your Linux server and then run Virtual Machines (VMs) with the required packages installed. You then just need to enter your public and private IP addresses to connect to the VPN. From there, you can easily access all of your private networks. In addition, if you’re using QEMU, you can even install a Linux distribution inside of a VM for a more traditional desktop experience. This is similar to how you might use VirtualBox to run a Windows VM.

Best VPN For Linux

Now that you have the basics down, it’s time to pick a specific VPN solution that meets your needs. Keep in mind that your choice will greatly affect the performance of your VPN and, in turn, how you use it. Therefore, finding the right solution takes a bit of research.

Let’s say you’re using the OpenVPN software solution, but want to use a hardware VPN connector rather than the default software one. In this case, you would want to try out the PPTP protocol rather than L2TP. For those unfamiliar, PPTP is the successor to the PP protocol, which was first used in 1997. It was designed to provide better security and faster speeds than its predecessor. Specifically, a Hardware VPN Connector can take advantage of faster encryption algorithms, like SRP or 3DES, and offer more secure file transfers.

Now, you might be tempted to try out the OpenVPN software solution because it’s one of the most popular and most visible in the market. However, you should know that not all open-source software is created equal, and you should try out a variety of free and open-source software solutions before making a decision. In addition, OpenVPN’s performance can be improved by using a Hardware VPN Connector, as you saw in the previous example. This way, your VPN is always open to the highest performance without needing to open a port on your firewall and risking exposure to hackers and potential data breaches.

Choosing A VPN For Linux

Since you’re reading this article, I assume that you’re either already using a VPN or are at least entertaining the idea. Perhaps you’re even reading this on one right now. If so, then you know how important it is to find a good VPN for Linux, especially since so many of the VPNs out there are notoriously insecure. That’s why you need a hardware VPN connector to improve performance. Keep in mind: you’ll always be vulnerable to a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack, which enables a third party to intercept and decrypt all of your communications, even if you’re using a secure connection (like TLS) or a VPN.

On the other hand, a VPN without proper authorization can still be vulnerable to hacking, as the provider has no control over the devices used to connect to their network. This means that you should exercise extreme caution when choosing a VPN. In the next section, we’ll discuss some important considerations to make before choosing a VPN for Linux.

1. Consider Your Needs

Before you make a decision about which VPN to use, it’s important to determine what you need. The first step is to determine what kind of VPN server you need. A few of the most popular choices are listed below.

Pure VPN

If you have a specific need for a VPN that is just for connecting to private networks, then you should try out the Pure VPN. This is a free and open-source VPN solution that is highly versatile and can be used to create secure connections to private, company, and public networks. In addition, it can be used to manage and monitor Cisco VPN firewalls, as well as those from other vendors, such as Juniper.

IPv6-only

If you have a need for a VPN that only supports IPv6, then you should try out the StrongArmv6 VPN. IPv6 is the next generation of the internet protocol and is much more secure than the IPv4 version. It’s also the only protocol that can provide native IP connectivity. (Note: IPv4 is the version that most people are more familiar with.) With only IPv6 enabled, your connection is completely encrypted, which prevents eavesdropping.

2. Consider Your Budget

Another important factor to consider when choosing a VPN is your budget. Just like with any other appliance or piece of equipment, the cost of a VPN can range from nothing to several hundred dollars a year. That said, there are cheaper solutions out there, such as the one below from NordVPN. This particular solution costs just $2.95/mo, which makes it one of the more affordable choices.