= OpenVPN `systemd` use

This is only a ''brief'' summary of OpenVPN `systemd` usage.

**Source** https://github.com/OpenVPN/openvpn/blob/master/distro/systemd/README.systemd

[[TOC(notitle, inline)]]

== Verify OpenVPN `systemd` support

{{{
$ openvpn --version
}}}
  Required FLAG `enable_systemd=yes` - This FLAG **must** be listed to continue.

== 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`
{{{
$ 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`
  * Use the `openvpn-client@.service`
{{{
$ sudo systemctl start openvpn-client@{Client-config}
}}}
  Replace `{Client-config}` with the `name` of your config file without the `.conf`

=== Start at boot
  
  Replace `$ systemctl start ...` with `$ systemctl enable ...`

== Interrogate `systemd`

Show current `systemd-daemon` state
{{{
$ sudo systemctl
}}}

Show status for Openvpn
{{{
$ systemctl status openvpn-server@{Server-config}
}}}

=== Use `journalctl`

For a running server
{{{
$ journalctl -u openvpn-server@{Server-config}
}}}
  To use `systemd-journald` Openvpn must **not** use `--log`/`--log-append`. Instead the log is redirected to `journald`.


== Notes

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

== Known issues

* https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/ticket/945 [[br]]
* https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/ticket/1089