= OpenVPN systemd integration

This is only a brief summary of OpenVPN systemd integration.

If you use systemd then OpenVPN **must** be compiled with systemd support.[[br]]

=== 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.

Openvpn server:

  * Place your server configuration file in `/etc/openvpn/server`
  * Use the `openvpn-server@.service` like so:
{{{
$ sudo systemctl start openvpn-server@{Server-config}
}}}

Openvpn client:

  * Place your client configuration file in `/etc/openvpn/client`
  * Use the `openvpn-client@.service` like so:
{{{
$ sudo systemctl start openvpn-client@{Client-config}
}}}

Start at boot:
  
  Replace `start` with `enable`

**Note**:

  * `openvpn@.service` is deprecated.
  * `openvpn.service` is only used for backward compatibility.

=== Known issues

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