Understanding the most common log messages present at --verb 4
allows you to quickly scan the log file for errors while also comprehending the events taking place. The messages described here are a mix of both affirmative (good) messages, as well as the most common messages indicating errors.
OpenVPN will evoke a number of messages upon startup. Some of these messages are informational, others are warnings of perhaps new options, or options that are potentially dangerous if used or omitted.
The first line to explore is the OpenVPN version string. This string will indicate the actual release of the software used along with some important build and compile-time information. The first two examples show OpenVPN version 2.3.11 compiled with OpenSSL, LZO, PKCS11, MH (extended IP packet information), and IPv6.
The second piece of the string lists the processor platform and additional data about the system that performed the compile. Our...