Using Network Manager and VPN with WiFi Connection

English Network/Internet
#1

I have openVPN installed and have been able to create and use VPN connections which have been set up and saved in NM when working with lan connection but am stuck when I move to wifi on same PC. Please could I have some help with using Network Manager (NM) and VPN when connecting through WiFi.
When I use NM to connect to a wifi AP all is well but if I change to a VPN which has been setup previously I end up getting nowhere. Selecting the VPN connection disconnects the wifi connection. Clearly I am missing a step or two trying to connect through wifi.
Budge.

#2

Observe the NetworkManager logging in a terminal

sudo journalctl -fu NetworkManager

Attempt to start the VPN connection and observe/capture the log. Post back here with that information. That might help others advise further.

#3

Hi Deano,
I have not been able to get VPN to work on wifi or lan. Here is log of my last wifi attempt:-

alastair@localhost:~> sudo journalctl -fu NetworkManager 
[sudo] password for root:  
-- Logs begin at Sat 2020-06-06 23:02:26 BST. -- 
Oct 20 21:34:11 localhost.localdomain nm-openvpn[7403]: **NOTE: UID/GID downgrade will be delayed beca**
use of --client, --pull, or --up-delay
Oct 20 21:34:12 localhost.localdomain nm-openvpn[7403]: **[fra-c15.ipvanish.com] Peer Connection Initi**
ated with [AF_INET]5.183.94.78:443
Oct 20 21:34:13 localhost.localdomain nm-openvpn[7403]: **AUTH: Received control message: AUTH_FAILED**
Oct 20 21:34:13 localhost.localdomain nm-openvpn[7403]: **SIGUSR1[soft,auth-failure] received, process**
 restarting
Oct 20 21:34:13 localhost.localdomain nm-openvpn[7403]: **SIGTERM[hard,init_instance] received, proces**
s exiting
Oct 20 21:34:13 localhost.localdomain NetworkManager[1316]: **<warn>  [1603226053.7524] vpn-connection**
[0x55fa2edb4370,047664b6-1116-414e-9e81-1e443e8b38e8,"ipvanish-DE-Frankfurt-fra-c15",0]: VPN plugin:
 failed: login-failed (0)
Oct 20 21:34:13 localhost.localdomain NetworkManager[1316]: **<warn>  [1603226053.7526] vpn-connection**
[0x55fa2edb4370,047664b6-1116-414e-9e81-1e443e8b38e8,"ipvanish-DE-Frankfurt-fra-c15",0]: VPN plugin:
 failed: connect-failed (1)
Oct 20 21:34:13 localhost.localdomain NetworkManager[1316]: <info>  [1603226053.7529] vpn-connection
[0x55fa2edb4370,047664b6-1116-414e-9e81-1e443e8b38e8,"ipvanish-DE-Frankfurt-fra-c15",0]: VPN plugin:
 state changed: stopping (5) 
Oct 20 21:34:13 localhost.localdomain NetworkManager[1316]: <info>  [1603226053.7533] vpn-connection
[0x55fa2edb4370,047664b6-1116-414e-9e81-1e443e8b38e8,"ipvanish-DE-Frankfurt-fra-c15",0]: VPN plugin:
 state changed: stopped (6) 
Oct 20 21:34:13 localhost.localdomain NetworkManager[1316]: <info>  [1603226053.7579] vpn-connection
[0x55fa2edb4370,047664b6-1116-414e-9e81-1e443e8b38e8,"ipvanish-DE-Frankfurt-fra-c15",0]: VPN service
 disappeared 
^C                           
alastair@localhost:~>

I hope it means more to me. If there are other things I should try please let me know. I am away from lan connection as I type but can return there it needed.
BTW my firestick connection does work and gives me a vpn connection when tried!
Thanks again.
Budge.

#4

Hi Deano,
Red faces here, the passwords are all obscured so I didn’t see that they have been changed until I made one visible and fortunately I recognised an old PW.
Please forgive me. Assume I have solved the problem unless I ask again.
Budge.

#5

Yes, the log said it all. :wink:

All good.

#6

Not quite there yet. I deleted all the old connections and created a new one. What happens is that when I create a new openVPN connection using NM and select an .ovpn connection from the list, the connection does not include the username and password when the connection is created so I have missed a step somewhere. Where should I look? Of course I can enter it by hand for each connection created but it should be done during the creation process.
Many thanks again.
Budge

#7

You should probably start a new thread for this. The thread title doesn’t match your current issue with creating an openVPN connection via NM.

Just in case the following thread is useful…
https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/301845/scripting-a-way-to-quickly-import-ovpn-files-to-networkmanager-on-ubuntu/456889

#8

FWIW, similar thread here
https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/f1or5n/openvpn_and_network_manager_how_to_get/

#9

Hi Deano,
Many thanks for the links. The stackexchange thread seems helpful. Meanwhile I have posted a new thread as you suggested which I hope is clearer.

Many thanks,
Budge