Introduction
On Linux you can use NetworkManager’s OpenVPN plugin or the openvpn CLI with a VPN Safe .ovpn from the UDP or TCP zip. Auth is your Client Area VPN username and password.
Zips: vpnsafe.net/downloads/openvpn-udp.zip / vpnsafe.net/downloads/openvpn-tcp.zip
CLI (any distro)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install openvpn # Fedora: sudo dnf install openvpn unzip openvpn-udp.zip -d ~/vpnsafe-ovpn sudo openvpn --config ~/vpnsafe-ovpn/10gb-ireland-dublin1.ovpn --auth-user-pass
When prompted, enter the VPN Safe username, then the password. Leave the terminal open. Ctrl+C disconnects. Confirm with curl -s https://vpnsafe.net/whats-my-ip.
To avoid typing the password, create a file only you can read:
printf '%s\n%s\n' 'YOURUSER' 'YOURPASS' | sudo tee /root/vpnsafe-auth.txt sudo chmod 600 /root/vpnsafe-auth.txt sudo openvpn --config ~/vpnsafe-ovpn/10gb-ireland-dublin1.ovpn --auth-user-pass /root/vpnsafe-auth.txt
NetworkManager (GNOME / KDE)
- Install the plugin:
sudo apt install network-manager-openvpn-gnome(or your distro’s equivalent). - Settings > Network > VPN > + > Import from file > pick the
.ovpn. - Fill username/password, save, and toggle the VPN on.
If UDP hangs, import the matching city from the TCP zip. Port is 1194. Do not run WireGuard wg-quick and OpenVPN at the same time.
