# Systemd

# OpenVPN systemd use

This is only a *brief* summary of OpenVPN systemd usage.

 OpenVPN **must** be compiled with systemd support.

 Use the correct OpenVPN supported systemd `.service` files.

### Build OpenVPN with systemd support

When you build the openvpn binary use the configure option `--enable-systemd` like so:

```
./configure --enable-systemd
```

Verify OpenVPN systemd support has been enabled like so:

```
$ openvpn --version
```
Look for `enable-systemd=yes` in the output.

### Using OpenVPN with systemd support

In order to use OpenVPN with systemd please use the correct systemd `.service` file.

**Server**:

* Place your server configuration file in `/etc/openvpn/server`
* Use the `openvpn-server@.service` like so:

```
$ sudo systemctl start openvpn-server@{Server-config}
```
   Replace `{Server-config}` with the `name` of your config file without the `.conf`
**Client**:

   * Place your client configuration file in `/etc/openvpn/client` (notice however that, due to an outdated version of openvpn, some distributions, like Ubuntu 20.10, look for configuration files under `/etc/openvpn` instead of `/etc/openvpn/client`. In case of doubt, check the specific error message in `journalctl -xe`)
   * The filename must end in `.conf`, so if your client config file is something like `profile.ovpn` rename it to `somename.conf` (where `somename` is meaningful to you, to describe where you are connecting.)
   * Use the `openvpn-client@.service` like so:
```
$ sudo systemctl start openvpn-client@{Client-config}
```
Replace `{Client-config}` with the `name` of your config file without the `.conf`

**Start at boot**:

Replace `start` with `enable`

Other systemd questions are probably best answered by reading `man systemctl` etc ..

**Note**:

   * `openvpn@.service` is **deprecated**.
   * `openvpn.service` is **obsoleted**. (This is only used for backward compatibility)

### Known issues

* https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/ticket/945 
* https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/ticket/1089