LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

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LarsG
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LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by LarsG »

Hi,

I've been using Mint since many years back, and it have been very easy to add a VPN account, and easy to select that when I needed the privacy now and then.
Now I have switched to LMDE 4 with Cinnamon desktop, and I find it hard to understand how I could add my current VPN account to be able to connect as before.
Searching the internet didn't point me to any howto on LMDE 4. Just to inform that I'm not using Wifi, only networking CAT 6 cable on my workstation.

I would appreciate any comment on this.

Thanks
Lars
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Moonstone Man
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by Moonstone Man »

LarsG wrote: Wed Oct 28, 2020 4:21 am I've been using Mint since many years back, and it have been very easy to add a VPN account.
Nothing has changed. You need the .ovpn files from your VPN service provider, which you then import into Network Manager.
LarsG
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by LarsG »

Kadaitcha Man wrote: Wed Oct 28, 2020 4:32 am
LarsG wrote: Wed Oct 28, 2020 4:21 am I've been using Mint since many years back, and it have been very easy to add a VPN account.
Nothing has changed. You need the .ovpn files from your VPN service provider, which you then import into Network Manager.
Sorry to say, but I can't find any Network Manager, and the Network Settings have no import function. Only possible to add a new profile, but I guess that is not the right thing. Searching for Network Manager within, Software Manager, it only finds the "Network-manager-openvpn-gnome" but how should I start it. No icon could be found within the menus. Also tried something called, "Wicd" (wired and wireless network manager), but didn't had any import feature.
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antikythera
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by antikythera »

The network icon on your panel is Network Manager. Left click it and click Network Connections. Click the + Symbol and choose to 'Import a saved VPN Connection'.
I’ll tell you a DNS joke but be advised, it could take up to 24 hours for everyone to get it.
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by Hoser Rob »

You should really post LMDE support questions in the LMDE section of this forum. Debian isn't Ubuntu and you will get answers for Ubuntu based Mint that won't work in LMDE. It may not matter for a Cinnamon related question but if you're talking about network connectivity per se it probably would.
For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong - H. L. Mencken
LarsG
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by LarsG »

Hoser Rob wrote: Wed Oct 28, 2020 8:58 am You should really post LMDE support questions in the LMDE section of this forum. Debian isn't Ubuntu and you will get answers for Ubuntu based Mint that won't work in LMDE. It may not matter for a Cinnamon related question but if you're talking about network connectivity per se it probably would.
Sorry about that. I will remember that for future issues.
antikythera wrote: Wed Oct 28, 2020 7:33 am The network icon on your panel is Network Manager. Left click it and click Network Connections. Click the + Symbol and choose to 'Import a saved VPN Connection'.
If have tried that, since I have my .ovpn file saved for years back, but have trouble to figuring out what's causing the problem. I've checked the /var/log/syslog on every try, so I tried to find why it times out every time. A friend of mine have also an account with the same VPN provider with no problem, thats why I think there is no problem at the provider end. The logs look like below. I have changed some privacy related data. Hope you can see anything that I seem to have missed.

Code: Select all

Oct 30 08:37:56 my-computer NetworkManager[717]: <info>  [1604043476.4678] keyfile: add connection /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/VPNprovider-LMDE4-Password.nmconnection (a8871188-ef5e-4868-af83-f3e360fd68f6,"VPNprovider-LMDE4-Password")
Oct 30 08:37:56 my-computer NetworkManager[717]: <info>  [1604043476.4693] audit: op="connection-add" uuid="a8871188-ef5e-4868-af83-f3e360fd68f6" name="VPNprovider-LMDE4-Password" pid=1277 uid=1000 result="success"
Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer NetworkManager[717]: <info>  [1604043485.2354] audit: op="connection-activate" uuid="a8871188-ef5e-4868-af83-f3e360fd68f6" name="VPNprovider-LMDE4-Password" pid=1569 uid=1000 result="success"
Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer NetworkManager[717]: <info>  [1604043485.2449] vpn-connection[0x55af5b3946e0,a8871188-ef5e-4868-af83-f3e360fd68f6,"VPNprovider-LMDE4-Password",0]: Started the VPN service, PID 1370
Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer NetworkManager[717]: <info>  [1604043485.2641] vpn-connection[0x55af5b3946e0,a8871188-ef5e-4868-af83-f3e360fd68f6,"VPNprovider-LMDE4-Password",0]: Saw the service appear; activating connection
Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer NetworkManager[717]: <info>  [1604043485.3612] vpn-connection[0x55af5b3946e0,a8871188-ef5e-4868-af83-f3e360fd68f6,"VPNprovider-LMDE4-Password",0]: VPN plugin: state changed: starting (3)
Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer NetworkManager[717]: <info>  [1604043485.3613] vpn-connection[0x55af5b3946e0,a8871188-ef5e-4868-af83-f3e360fd68f6,"VPNprovider-LMDE4-Password",0]: VPN connection: (ConnectInteractive) reply received
Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: WARNING: file '/home/myuser/Downloads/VPNprovider/2020-10-28/VPNprovider.se.ta.key' is group or others accessible
Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: OpenVPN 2.4.7 x86_64-pc-linux-gnu [SSL (OpenSSL)] [LZO] [LZ4] [EPOLL] [PKCS11] [MH/PKTINFO] [AEAD] built on Feb 20 2019
Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: library versions: OpenSSL 1.1.1d  10 Sep 2019, LZO 2.10
Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: WARNING: --ns-cert-type is DEPRECATED.  Use --remote-cert-tls instead.
Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: NOTE: the current --script-security setting may allow this configuration to call user-defined scripts
Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: TCP/UDP: Preserving recently used remote address: [AF_INET]xx.xxx.40.130:1194
Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: Attempting to establish TCP connection with [AF_INET]xx.xxx.40.130:1194 [nonblock]
Oct 30 08:38:06 my-computer systemd[1]: systemd-hostnamed.service: Succeeded.
Oct 30 08:38:12 my-computer brltty[434]: DBus error: send message: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.TimedOut: Failed to activate service 'org.bluez': timed out (service_start_timeout=25000ms
Oct 30 08:38:12 my-computer brltty[434]: brltty: DBus error: send message: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.TimedOut: Failed to activate service 'org.bluez': timed out (service_start_timeout=25000ms
Oct 30 08:38:12 my-computer dbus-daemon[715]: [system] Activating via systemd: service name='org.bluez' unit='dbus-org.bluez.service' requested by ':1.5248' (uid=0 pid=434 comm="/bin/brltty --no-daemon ")
Oct 30 08:38:12 my-computer systemd[1]: Condition check resulted in Bluetooth service being skipped.
Oct 30 08:38:16 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: TCP connection established with [AF_INET]xx.xxx.40.130:1194
Oct 30 08:38:16 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: TCP_CLIENT link local: (not bound)
Oct 30 08:38:16 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: TCP_CLIENT link remote: [AF_INET]xx.xxx.40.130:1194
Oct 30 08:38:16 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: NOTE: chroot will be delayed because of --client, --pull, or --up-delay
Oct 30 08:38:16 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: NOTE: UID/GID downgrade will be delayed because of --client, --pull, or --up-delay
Oct 30 08:38:25 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: Server poll timeout, restarting
Oct 30 08:38:25 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: SIGUSR1[soft,server_poll] received, process restarting
Oct 30 08:38:25 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: WARNING: --ns-cert-type is DEPRECATED.  Use --remote-cert-tls instead.
Oct 30 08:38:25 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: NOTE: the current --script-security setting may allow this configuration to call user-defined scripts
Oct 30 08:38:25 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: TCP/UDP: Preserving recently used remote address: [AF_INET]xx.xxx.41.130:1194
Oct 30 08:38:25 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: Attempting to establish TCP connection with [AF_INET]xx.xxx.41.130:1194 [nonblock]
Oct 30 08:38:37 my-computer brltty[434]: DBus error: send message: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.TimedOut: Failed to activate service 'org.bluez': timed out (service_start_timeout=25000ms
Oct 30 08:38:37 my-computer brltty[434]: brltty: DBus error: send message: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.TimedOut: Failed to activate service 'org.bluez': timed out (service_start_timeout=25000ms
Oct 30 08:38:37 my-computer dbus-daemon[715]: [system] Activating via systemd: service name='org.bluez' unit='dbus-org.bluez.service' requested by ':1.5248' (uid=0 pid=434 comm="/bin/brltty --no-daemon ")
Oct 30 08:38:37 my-computer systemd[1]: Condition check resulted in Bluetooth service being skipped.
Oct 30 08:38:45 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: TCP: connect to [AF_INET]xx.xxx.41.130:1194 failed: Connection timed out
Oct 30 08:38:45 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: SIGUSR1[connection failed(soft),init_instance] received, process restarting
Oct 30 08:38:50 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: WARNING: --ns-cert-type is DEPRECATED.  Use --remote-cert-tls instead.
Oct 30 08:38:50 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: NOTE: the current --script-security setting may allow this configuration to call user-defined scripts
Oct 30 08:38:50 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: TCP/UDP: Preserving recently used remote address: [AF_INET]xx.xxx.42.2:1194
Oct 30 08:38:50 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: Attempting to establish TCP connection with [AF_INET]xx.xxx.42.2:1194 [nonblock]
Oct 30 08:39:02 my-computer brltty[434]: DBus error: send message: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.TimedOut: Failed to activate service 'org.bluez': timed out (service_start_timeout=25000ms
Oct 30 08:39:02 my-computer brltty[434]: brltty: DBus error: send message: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.TimedOut: Failed to activate service 'org.bluez': timed out (service_start_timeout=25000ms
Oct 30 08:39:02 my-computer dbus-daemon[715]: [system] Activating via systemd: service name='org.bluez' unit='dbus-org.bluez.service' requested by ':1.5248' (uid=0 pid=434 comm="/bin/brltty --no-daemon ")
Oct 30 08:39:02 my-computer systemd[1]: Condition check resulted in Bluetooth service being skipped.
Oct 30 08:39:05 my-computer nm-openvpn-serv[1370]: Connect timer expired, disconnecting.
Oct 30 08:39:05 my-computer NetworkManager[717]: <warn>  [1604043545.1657] vpn-connection[0x55af5b3946e0,a8871188-ef5e-4868-af83-f3e360fd68f6,"VPNprovider-LMDE4-Password",0]: VPN connection: connect timeout exceeded.
Oct 30 08:39:05 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: SIGTERM[hard,init_instance] received, process exiting
Oct 30 08:39:05 my-computer NetworkManager[717]: <warn>  [1604043545.1692] vpn-connection[0x55af5b3946e0,a8871188-ef5e-4868-af83-f3e360fd68f6,"VPNprovider-LMDE4-Password",0]: VPN plugin: failed: connect-failed (1)
Oct 30 08:39:05 my-computer NetworkManager[717]: <info>  [1604043545.1693] vpn-connection[0x55af5b3946e0,a8871188-ef5e-4868-af83-f3e360fd68f6,"VPNprovider-LMDE4-Password",0]: VPN plugin: state changed: stopping (5)
Oct 30 08:39:05 my-computer NetworkManager[717]: <info>  [1604043545.1694] vpn-connection[0x55af5b3946e0,a8871188-ef5e-4868-af83-f3e360fd68f6,"VPNprovider-LMDE4-Password",0]: VPN plugin: state changed: stopped (6)
Oct 30 08:39:05 my-computer NetworkManager[717]: <info>  [1604043545.1706] vpn-connection[0x55af5b3946e0,a8871188-ef5e-4868-af83-f3e360fd68f6,"VPNprovider-LMDE4-Password",0]: VPN service disappeared
Thanks
Moonstone Man
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by Moonstone Man »

LarsG wrote: Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:01 am thats why I think there is no problem at the provider end.
That's why you can't solve this, you've created an XY problem, and in doing so have convinced yourself that the problem is not what it actually is, thereby failing to recognise a probable cause of the issue, if not the actual cause...
LarsG wrote: I have my .ovpn file saved for years back
And ...

Code: Select all

Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: WARNING: --ns-cert-type is DEPRECATED.  Use --remote-cert-tls instead.
Oct 30 08:38:25 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: Server poll timeout, restarting
1 + 1 = 2

Your .ovpn files are old and need to be refreshed by re-downloading and replacing them.
LarsG
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by LarsG »

Kadaitcha Man wrote: Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:14 am
LarsG wrote: Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:01 am thats why I think there is no problem at the provider end.
That's why you can't solve this, you've created an XY problem, and in doing so have convinced yourself that the problem is not what it actually is thereby failing to recognise a probable cause of the issue, if not the actual cause...
LarsG wrote: I have my .ovpn file saved for years back
And ...

Code: Select all

Oct 30 08:38:05 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: WARNING: --ns-cert-type is DEPRECATED.  Use --remote-cert-tls instead.
Oct 30 08:38:25 my-computer nm-openvpn[1382]: Server poll timeout, restarting
1 + 1 = 2

Your .ovpn files are old and need to be refreshed by re-downloading and replacing them.
Okey, the last I said about "having the .ovpn files for years", sound bad. Sorry about that, but the same VPN was working a month ago on my previous Mint 20 install, that crashed during an initramfs issue after a simple update that I couldn't solve. Therefore to be able to have a more stable workstation, I thought I try to install LMDE 4
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by Moonstone Man »

LarsG wrote: Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:29 am Okey, the last I said about "having the .ovpn files for years", sound bad. Sorry about that, but the same VPN was working a month ago on my previous Mint 20 install, that crashed during an initramfs issue after a simple update that I couldn't solve. Therefore to be able to have a more stable workstation, I thought I try to install LMDE 4
You are, of course, absolutely free to pointlessly ignore the advice to eliminate the flaming obvious but you are only allowed to do that on your own time, not on mine. I'll leave you to fix it and any future problems without my assistance.
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by LarsG »

Kadaitcha Man wrote: Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:33 am
LarsG wrote: Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:29 am Okey, the last I said about "having the .ovpn files for years", sound bad. Sorry about that, but the same VPN was working a month ago on my previous Mint 20 install, that crashed during an initramfs issue after a simple update that I couldn't solve. Therefore to be able to have a more stable workstation, I thought I try to install LMDE 4
You are, of course, absolutely free to pointlessly ignore the advice to eliminate the flaming obvious but you are only allowed to do that on your own time, not on mine. I'll leave you to fix it and any future problems without my assistance.
Sorry you feel that way. Maybe I didn't be clear enough here. I did actually follow what you advice me to. I have downloaded new .ovpn, .crt and .key files from the provider, but it didn't seem to work anyway, but that must be my lack of understanding the log outputs.
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Moem
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by Moem »

Moved into the LMDE area.
Note to all: if you see, or have posted, a topic in the main edition area that belongs in the LMDE area (or the other way around), please let the mods know by using the Report button on a post in the topic. We can easily move it and a lot of potential for confusion can be eliminated. It saves time and energy.
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If your issue is solved, kindly indicate that by editing the first post in the topic, and adding [SOLVED] to the title. Thanks!
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by mike acker »

I have tried ExpressVPN in LMDE/4
It worked very well (it's not free though )

However: I'm not sure what a VPN is supposed to protect us from unless we are using a laptop in a coffee shop ??

granted a VPN can stop your ISP from monitoring your browsing habits. BUT: I think the real tracking goes on in MY computer inside MY browser. That's why every mfr -- Google/Chrome MSFT/Edge -- is so anxious to make sure I use THEIR browser: they want to receive the tracking info ( called "telemetry")

thoughts ?
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by LarsG »

mike acker wrote: Sun Nov 01, 2020 8:55 am I have tried ExpressVPN in LMDE/4
It worked very well (it's not free though )

However: I'm not sure what a VPN is supposed to protect us from unless we are using a laptop in a coffee shop ??

granted a VPN can stop your ISP from monitoring your browsing habits. BUT: I think the real tracking goes on in MY computer inside MY browser. That's why every mfr -- Google/Chrome MSFT/Edge -- is so anxious to make sure I use THEIR browser: they want to receive the tracking info ( called "telemetry")

thoughts ?
Exactly, that why I use Firefox almost always in privacy mode, but I would like to stop my ISP from monitoring, I would prefer a VPN no and then. Since I still I have VPN problem I maybe need to change provider to one that are more simple to setup
Moonstone Man
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by Moonstone Man »

LarsG wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2020 6:07 am ... I would like to stop my ISP from monitoring, I would prefer a VPN no and then. Since I still I have VPN problem I maybe need to change provider to one that are more simple to setup
I use Goldenfrog's VyprVPN. They provide downloadable .ovpn files that can be imported by adding a network connection. A couple of tips; first, in your router, make sure that your DNS is set to 1.1.1.1, with 1.0.0.1 as the secondary DNS. Also add those IP addresses to your network connection and use a fixed IP address normally provided by your router. Finally, go here: https://www.dnsleaktest.com/ and select the extended test. Neither your public IP address nor your ISP's DNS should appear. At that point, you are browsing in relative privacy but there are still mechanisms available in javascript to take a footprint of your system to allow some tracking tracking. My understanding is that at least firefox blocks such activity but I still use tracker blockers. uBlock Origin and AdGuard and Privacy Badger are worthwhile add-ons.
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by ellie145 »

I had the same issue. I use cyberghost vpn. What I did is that I set everything up using the "other devices" section in my provider. Then I downloaded the files.
  • Under the wireless connection there's an option "Network Connections", by clicking the + then go down and click "Import a saved VPN configuration".
  • Then select the downloaded file from your provider. A window will open with all the keys and certification files put into position.
  • It will somewhere ask you for username and password, all these are on your provider's site under the configuration you made for the "other device". Copy those, both username and password and paste them there. Click save and then a VPN selection will appear in the task bar under the wifi list. Activate it and after a while a notification window should pop up with a VPN logging message that connection is succesful.
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Re: LMDE 4 - Add a VPN account

Post by Barnabyh »

Why not use a VPN that actually provides you with a client, GUI or console. Windscribe, Surfshark and Nord come to mind. PIA has a top notch desktop GUI. I used it for several years and was fast enough but I would not recommend it currently due to certain changes in ownership, just to be sure. Which is a shame really, since they did about the best management interface available for Linux. But things may change again.
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