OpenVPN not connecting

Hello!

openSUSE newbie here tries to get VPN working with 13.1 (KDE).

I earlier had Kubuntu and managed to set its network connections work through VPN. I use PIA OpenVPN.

The openvpn itself is installed in my system with its dependencies. In NetworkManager I can configure the VPN connection and I used the import option for the .ovpn file. Configuration seems thus okay.

Now when I try to connect the VPN from the NetworkManager icon at lower right corner of the screen it states that its Configuring interface for VPN connection. After a while, without notice, it stops and VPN is presented again in Not connected state.

What I have missed? Does anyone have any idea?

Anaconda

Start by examining var/log/NetworkManager for any relevant messages during the connection process

Open a terminal, and do

tail -f /var/log/NetworkManager

then attempt to start the VPN connection.

Hopefully, that will reveal the precise issue for you. (Share the output here if necessary.)

Hey thanks!

Here’s what I got:

2014-08-08T21:14:23.491745+03:00 linux-ia20 NetworkManager[9451]: <info> Starting VPN service ‘openvpn’…
2014-08-08T21:14:23.504462+03:00 linux-ia20 NetworkManager[9451]: <info> VPN service ‘openvpn’ started (org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.openvpn), PID 17562
2014-08-08T21:14:23.705615+03:00 linux-ia20 NetworkManager[9451]: <info> VPN service ‘openvpn’ appeared; activating connections
2014-08-08T21:14:23.707588+03:00 linux-ia20 NetworkManager[9451]: <info> VPN plugin state changed: init (1)
2014-08-08T21:14:23.720891+03:00 linux-ia20 NetworkManager[9451]: <info> VPN plugin state changed: starting (3)
2014-08-08T21:14:23.750776+03:00 linux-ia20 NetworkManager[9451]: <info> VPN connection ‘VPN’ (Connect) reply received.
2014-08-08T21:14:24.010106+03:00 linux-ia20 nm-openvpn[17568]: OpenVPN 2.3.2 x86_64-suse-linux-gnu [SSL (OpenSSL)] [LZO] [EPOLL] [eurephia] [MH] [IPv6] built on May 31 2013
2014-08-08T21:15:04.067284+03:00 linux-ia20 NetworkManager[9451]: <warn> VPN connection ‘VPN’ (IP Config Get) timeout exceeded.
2014-08-08T21:15:04.068607+03:00 linux-ia20 NetworkManager[9451]: <info> Policy set ‘Anaconda’ (wls1) as default for IPv4 routing and DNS.
2014-08-08T21:15:04.069454+03:00 linux-ia20 nm-openvpn[17568]: ERROR: could not read Auth username/password/ok/string from management interface
2014-08-08T21:15:04.069873+03:00 linux-ia20 nm-openvpn[17568]: Exiting due to fatal error
2014-08-08T21:15:09.071452+03:00 linux-ia20 NetworkManager[9451]: <info> VPN service ‘openvpn’ disappeared

I see the warning and error but I don’t how to interpret them.

I don’t have a definite answer, but the error suggests the problem is with authentication. I have read of other problematic situations relating to the importing of .ovpn files, and wonder whether it was correctly read during the VPN configuration. Are you using KDE or Gnome? (I’ve read that KDE NM can have problems with imorting .ovpn files, but I don’t have direct experience with OpenVPN)

I recall this old thread, which may be relevant to your situation
https://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/465319-config-networkmanager?p=2389215#post2389215

More recently, an openSUSE user reported the same
https://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/486949-After-reinstall-of-12-3-(and-then-12-2)-no-VPN-connection-(timed-out)

This (Ubuntu-based) guide shows how to ‘break up’ the .ovpn file in to the required key and certificate files, and configure the connection manually. Perhaps the might work for you?
http://naveensnayak.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/ubuntu-openvpn-with-ovpn-file/

I’m using PIA with openVPN and openSUSE 13.1 KDE 32-bit. I set it up basically following the procedure at https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/client-support/#ubuntu_openvpn, which does not use the import option. I downloaded the file https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/openvpn/openvpn.zip, then did:
Extract the files from openvpn.zip.
Move ca.crt to /etc/openvpn
Click the Network Manager icon, then Manage Connections.
Choose Add and select the OpenVPN connection type.
Enter your choice for the Connection Name.
Enter the appropriate Gateway address from the list at https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/client-support/#regional_gateways
For Connection Type, select Password and enter your login credentials.
Browse and select the CA Certificate saved earlier.
Click the Optional Settings tab and check Use LZO Compression.
Click OK on two windows.
Connect using the Network Manager.

I have to connect to PIA VPN manually each time the system resumes from standby.

Regards,
Howard

Thanks for chiming in Howard. I’m hoping that approach will be the solution to the OP’s problem with getting connected.

Thanks Howard!

It worked. I also took advantage of those PIA’s Ubuntu instructions earlier. Only difference was that I used that import option and now with Create… I could make it work.

Cheers,

Anaconda

Glad to read of of your success. You experience with the .ovpn file seems to match others that have reported the similar issues.