The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up a Debian OpenVPN Bridged Server
Greetings, tech enthusiasts and networking aficionados! Are you on the hunt for a reliable and secure method to connect multiple devices to your network? If so, an OpenVPN bridged server could be the solution you’ve been searching for. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the world of Debian OpenVPN bridged servers, exploring everything from their benefits and drawbacks to step-by-step instructions for setting one up. So, grab your coffee, take out your notebook, and let’s dive in!
Introduction
What is an OpenVPN Bridged Server?
First things first, let’s define what we mean by an OpenVPN bridged server. In short, an OpenVPN bridged server is a method of connecting multiple devices to your network via an encrypted VPN tunnel. It uses a bridged network adapter to allow devices to receive an IP address from your local network’s DHCP server.
Essentially, this means you can have multiple devices connected to your network, even if they’re physically located in different parts of the world. This allows you to access resources on your network, such as printers, files, or even other devices, from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection.
Why Choose a Debian OpenVPN Bridged Server?
There are many reasons why one might choose to set up a Debian OpenVPN bridged server. Here are just a few:
Increased Security
OpenVPN is widely regarded as one of the most secure VPN protocols available, providing you with encryption and authentication to keep your network safe. By using a Debian OpenVPN bridged server, you can take advantage of this security on your own network.
Remote Access
As mentioned earlier, a Debian OpenVPN bridged server allows you to access resources on your network from anywhere in the world. This can be a huge advantage for those who travel frequently or work remotely.
Cost-Effective
Setting up a Debian OpenVPN bridged server is relatively inexpensive, particularly when compared to other enterprise-level network solutions, such as virtual private networks.
Ease of Use
While setting up a Debian OpenVPN bridged server requires some technical expertise, once it’s up and running, it’s relatively easy to maintain, making it an ideal solution for small businesses or individuals.
How Does a Debian OpenVPN Bridged Server Work?
Before we dive into the step-by-step instructions for setting up a Debian OpenVPN bridged server, let’s take a moment to understand how it works.
First, you’ll need to install Debian on your server. Next, you’ll need to install OpenVPN and create private keys and certificates for your server. Once this is done, you’ll need to configure your OpenVPN server and create an OpenVPN client configuration file for each device you want to connect to your network.
The client configuration file tells each device how to connect to your VPN network and provides it with the necessary information, such as IP addresses, encryption keys, and more.
What You’ll Need
Before we begin, here’s a quick list of what you’ll need:
Item |
Description |
|---|---|
Debian server |
A dedicated server or virtual machine running Debian |
OpenVPN |
OpenVPN software installed on your server |
OpenVPN client software |
Downloaded and installed on each device you want to connect to your network |
Certificate authority |
A certification authority for creating SSL certificates |
Static IP address |
A static IP address assigned to your server |
Network bridge |
A network bridge configured on your server |
Firewall rules |
Firewall rules configured on your server to allow OpenVPN traffic |
Setting Up a Debian OpenVPN Bridged Server
Step 1: Install Debian on Your Server
The first step in setting up your Debian OpenVPN bridged server is to install Debian on your server. This process will vary depending on your hosting provider, but most providers offer images with preinstalled Debian operating systems, making installation a breeze.
Step 2: Install OpenVPN
Next, you’ll need to install OpenVPN on your server. This can be done using the following command:
sudo apt-get install openvpn
Once OpenVPN is installed, you can move on to the next step.
Step 3: Create Private Keys and Certificates
Next, you’ll need to create private keys and certificates for your server. These keys and certificates will be used to authenticate devices that connect to your VPN network.
You can do this using the easy-rsa script, which is included with the OpenVPN package. Here’s how:
Step 3.1: Copy Easy-RSA to a New Directory
First, copy the easy-rsa files to a new directory by running the following command:
cp -r /usr/share/easy-rsa/ /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa
Step 3.2: Edit the Configuration File
Next, edit the vars file to customize the RSA certificate keys. You can do this using the following command:
vim /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/vars
Update the following fields:
export KEY_COUNTRY="US"
export KEY_PROVINCE="CA"
export KEY_CITY="SanFrancisco"
export KEY_ORG="Fort-Funston"
export KEY_EMAIL="me@myhost.mydomain"
Step 3.3: Build the Certificate Authority
Now, initialize the certificates by running the following command:
cd /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa
./easyrsa init-pki
Next, create the certificate authority:
./easyrsa build-ca
Step 3.4: Create the Server Certificate and Key
Now, create the server certificate and key using the following command:
./easyrsa gen-req server nopass
Finally, sign the server certificate:
./easyrsa sign-req server server
Step 3.5: Create the Client Certificate and Key
Next, create the client certificate and key using the following command:
./easyrsa gen-req client nopass
Finally, sign the client certificate:
./easyrsa sign-req client client
Step 4: Configure Your OpenVPN Server
Now that you have your certificates and keys, you can move on to configuring your OpenVPN server. Here’s how:
Step 4.1: Create a Server Config File
Create a new file called server.conf in /etc/openvpn/, and add the following configuration:
dev tun
proto udp
port 1194
ca /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/pki/ca.crt
cert /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/pki/server.crt
key /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/pki/server.key
dh /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/pki/dh.pem
server 10.8.0.0 255.255.255.0
ifconfig-pool-persist ipp.txt
push "redirect-gateway def1 bypass-dhcp"
push "dhcp-option DNS 8.8.8.8"
push "dhcp-option DNS 8.8.4.4"
keepalive 10 120
tls-auth /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/pki/ta.key 0
cipher AES-256-CBC
auth SHA256
user nobody
group nogroup
persist-key
persist-tun
status openvpn-status.log
verb 3
Step 4.2: Configure the Network Bridge
Next, configure the network bridge by adding the following lines to your server.conf file:
up "/usr/local/sbin/bridge-start"
down "/usr/local/sbin/bridge-stop"
Create a new file called bridge-start in /usr/local/sbin/, and add the following code:
#!/bin/sh
BRIDGE=br0
ifconfig $BRIDGE 0.0.0.0 promisc up
iptables -A INPUT -i tap0 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -i $BRIDGE -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -i $BRIDGE -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -i tap0 -j ACCEPT
/etc/init.d/dnsmasq restart
Create a new file called bridge-stop in /usr/local/sbin/, and add the following code:
#!/bin/sh
BRIDGE=br0
ifconfig $BRIDGE down
iptables -D INPUT -i tap0 -j ACCEPT
iptables -D INPUT -i $BRIDGE -j ACCEPT
iptables -D FORWARD -i $BRIDGE -j ACCEPT
iptables -D FORWARD -i tap0 -j ACCEPT
/etc/init.d/dnsmasq stop
Step 4.3: Configure the Firewall
Finally, configure the firewall by adding these rules to your server’s firewall:
iptables -I FORWARD -m state --state RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT
iptables -I FORWARD -s 10.8.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s 10.8.0.0/24 -o eth0 -j MASQUERADE
Step 5: Create OpenVPN Client Configuration Files
Now that your server is configured, you can create client configuration files for each device you want to connect to your network. Here’s how:
Step 5.1: Create a Client Config File
Create a new file called client.ovpn in /etc/openvpn/, and add the following configuration:
client
dev tun
proto udp
remote YOUR_SERVER_PUBLIC_IP_ADDRESS 1194
nobind
persist-key
persist-tun
remote-cert-tls server
tls-auth ta.key 1
ca ca.crt
cert client.crt
key client.key
comp-lzo
verb 3
Step 5.2: Transfer Client Config File to Device
Transfer the client configuration file to the device you want to connect to your network. You can do this using a method of your choice, such as email or file transfer.
Step 5.3: Install OpenVPN on Device
Next, install OpenVPN on the device you want to connect to your network. This can be done using the appropriate package manager for your device.
Step 5.4: Import Client Config File
Finally, import the client configuration file into OpenVPN on your device. You should now be able to connect to your Debian OpenVPN bridged server!
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Debian OpenVPN Bridged Server
Advantages
Secure
OpenVPN is widely regarded as one of the most secure VPN protocols available, providing you with encryption and authentication to keep your network safe. By using a Debian OpenVPN bridged server, you can take advantage of this security on your own network.
Flexible
A Debian OpenVPN bridged server allows you to access resources on your network from anywhere in the world. This can be a huge advantage for those who travel frequently or work remotely.
Cost-Effective
Setting up a Debian OpenVPN bridged server is relatively inexpensive, particularly when compared to other enterprise-level network solutions, such as virtual private networks.
Ease of Use
While setting up a Debian OpenVPN bridged server requires some technical expertise, once it’s up and running, it’s relatively easy to maintain, making it an ideal solution for small businesses or individuals.
Disadvantages
Technical Expertise Required
Setting up a Debian OpenVPN bridged server requires a certain level of technical expertise. If you’re not familiar with networking and server administration, you may find the process challenging.
Limited Features
While a Debian OpenVPN bridged server is a great solution for remote access, it may not be the best option for more complex network environments. Virtual private networks, for example, offer more features and flexibility.
Requires Ongoing Maintenance
Like any network solution, a Debian OpenVPN bridged server requires ongoing maintenance to ensure its security and reliability. This can be time-consuming, particularly if you’re not familiar with server administration.
FAQs About Debian OpenVPN Bridged Server
Q1: What is the difference between an OpenVPN client and an OpenVPN server?
An OpenVPN client is a device that connects to an OpenVPN server to access resources on the network. An OpenVPN server, on the other hand, is the device that provides access to the network.