Debian OpenVPN Bridged Server: A Comprehensive Guide

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.

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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.

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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.

Q2: Can I use a Debian OpenVPN bridged server to access resources on my local network from another location?Video:Debian OpenVPN Bridged Server: A Comprehensive Guide