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613626 Samuli Seppänen 2025-02-27 12:52:06 1 
# OpenVPN `systemd` use
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This is only a *brief* summary of OpenVPN `systemd` usage.
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**Source** https://github.com/OpenVPN/openvpn/blob/master/distro/systemd/README.systemd
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## Verify OpenVPN `systemd` support
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```
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$ openvpn --version
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```
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Required FLAG `enable_systemd=yes` - This FLAG **must** be listed to continue.
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## Using OpenVPN with `systemd` support
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In order to use OpenVPN with `systemd` please use the correct `systemd` `.service` file.
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**Server**
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* Place your server configuration file in `/etc/openvpn/server`
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* Use the `openvpn-server@.service`
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```
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$ sudo systemctl start openvpn-server@{Server-config}
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```
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Replace `{Server-config}` with the `name` of your config file without the `.conf`
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**Client**
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* Place your client configuration file in `/etc/openvpn/client`
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* Use the `openvpn-client@.service`
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```
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$ sudo systemctl start openvpn-client@{Client-config}
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```
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Replace `{Client-config}` with the `name` of your config file without the `.conf`
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### Start at boot
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Replace `$ systemctl start ...` with `$ systemctl enable ...`
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## Interrogate `systemd`
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Show current `systemd-daemon` state
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```
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$ sudo systemctl
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```
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Show status for Openvpn
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```
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$ systemctl status openvpn-server@{Server-config}
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```
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### Use `journalctl`
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For a running server
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```
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$ journalctl -u openvpn-server@{Server-config}
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```
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To use `systemd-journald` Openvpn must **not** use `--log`/`--log-append`. Instead the log is redirected to `journald`.
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## Notes
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* `openvpn@.service` is **deprecated**.
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* `openvpn.service` is **obsoleted**. (This is only used for backward compatibility)
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## Known issues
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* https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/ticket/945
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* https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/ticket/1089