Hello, all
As part of my shift away from Ubuntu, it appears, I also need to ditch PIA VPN. I just can’t get their GUI client to work on Tumbleweed (connecting to servers fail post install) and their browser extension (in Brave) keeps prompting me for creds when I try to connect and then rejects them. Any decent suggestions for a replacement 100% known to work on on the tumbler?
Thx.
Networkmanager is part of nearly all actual linux distributions, also openSUSE. It supports the import of VPN configuration files out of the box. Also PIA VPN provides openVPN configuration files.
Simply import them into Networkmanager…
Uh, there should be no reason what so ever that you would have to move away from your vpn. Have you tried setting up OpenVPN? There is even a guide to set it up on the official site:
Most vpn gui’s won’t work on Linux(some work on Debian based distros). However, you don’t actually need the gui to run the vpn. As far as the browser extension, it may work after the actual vpn is connected. If it does not, then it may be an issue with the browser itself. Try using OpenVPN first.
Mullvad works I think, I have it running inside a distrobox container but not outside it.
As others have pointed out, it’s possible to import an ovpn or wireguard config from your DE’s network settings but if you need some of the extra features (killswitch, app specific routing) provided by their client it would of course not be available! 
Thx, but the “Import a saved VPN Connection” option at the bottom of the dialogue where you select the connection type to create is not selectable in NetworkManager. It’s “untouchable”.
Simply click “Import a saved VPN Connection” which will activate the “+ Create” Button. Hit the “+ Create” button and a file picker will open which lets you select the configuration file…
Funny thing: I have a dual monitor set-up. One monitor above the other. When I tried to select that last option on my bottom monitor, I couldn’t. It wouldn’t mark the selection with the cursor for clicking. On my top monitor, it would. Whatever, I got past it.
I followed these instructions on the PIA website under Linux VPN Setup with Network Manager
But I can’t save.
Using VPN provider’s clients gives some additional features such as kill switch, split tunnel, etc. Manual configurations lack those features. Some VPN providers officially release Snap packages, or there are VPN providers with community-maintained Flatpak packages. However, these packages may not have all the features of traditional package types.
Did you check the other tabs in this window? It seems you are missing to do some settings before you can save.
The PIA instruction doesn’t say to do that.
I would check first. The PIA instruction also uses old screenshots of networkmanager…
At the very least you could finally tell your desktop environment and what GUI program you are using. “The NetworkManager GUI” does not exist - the NetworkManager is background server. There are a lot of GUI clients talking to this server though.
And you can always use nmcli to import VPN connection.
No matter what I pick under the tabs, I am not allowed to save. I think this may just be a perms issue. But then I don’t understand why I am even allowed to start NetworkManager up for meddling, without being prompted for PW first:
I managed to get a config to show up for selection by using the builtin SuSE tool to manage networks (which does prompt for PW), but I am not only asked for my account password when trying to connect by that config, also a “secret”. This is also not mentioned as something needing doing anywhere in the PIA How-To.
I succeeded with adding a connection by this GUI instead:
I have never been given a “secret” by PIA at account creation, only username and PW and that is apparently not enough.
KDE Plasma.
PIA VPN has not stopped working for me for some time now. To download a new version I go to their website, login, then click on the Download menu option under ‘Account settings’ and choose the Linux option. It opens the download in a ‘Save as’ dialog and the displayed browser page provides the instructions for installing via the terminal.
I just did an update via this method, downloading a new version, and it installed and works fine for me.
BTW, I’m using KDE Plasma - updated with the latest tumbleweed snapshot.
? That was of course the fist thing I tried. I also installed and extra RPM package that is apparently required to get PIA’s GUI solution working with SuSE. Did you do that too?
The instructions I used for the GUI solution differed a bit from these:
I will give these a go and report back.
I can’t remember ever having to install a separate RPM package as a dependency. As per those instructions you linked to, I believe the GUI is/was installed as part of the pia-linux installation.
I’ve been using(dare i say this) Nordvpn they have complete instructions on installation in OpenSuse it’ll run you about 85-95USD for about 2 years plus the staff there is on a chat but very helpful and don’t make you feel dumb.
I’ve been with them for 6 years another thing is youcan also put your phone into their system its part of the plan they make it sooo easy!
@ Linstronaut, Hi, I use PIA VPN on one of my work laptops with opensuse tumbleweed with KDE plasma and it works just fine, I just downloaded the correct versión for my system and followed the installation instructions on their website, I didn’t have to use any Brave extensions or equivalent in order for it to work, you need to check if you made a mistake trying to install it, I wish you good luck anyways!
