Book Image

OpenVPN: Building and Integrating Virtual Private Networks

Book Image

OpenVPN: Building and Integrating Virtual Private Networks

Overview of this book

OpenVPN is a powerful, open source SSL VPN application. It can secure site-to-site connections, WiFi and enterprise-scale remote connections. While being a full-featured VPN solution, OpenVPN is easy to use and does not suffer from the complexity that characterizes other IPSec VPN implementations. It uses the secure and stable TLS/SSL mechanisms for authentication and encryption. This book is an easy introduction to this popular VPN application. After introducing the basics of security and VPN, the book moves on to cover using OpenVPN, from installing it on various platforms, through configuring basic tunnels, to more advanced features, such as using the application with firewalls, routers, proxy servers, and OpenVPN scripting. While providing only necessary theoretical background, the book takes a practical approach, presenting plenty of examples.
Table of Contents (17 chapters)
OpenVPN
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
Preface
Index

OpenVPN on Microsoft Windows


During the process of installation OpenVPN has created the following entries in Windows' main menu:

Depending on your Windows version and installed programs, the exact location in the menu can vary.

At this point, only the following five entries in this menu are relevant (beginning from the top):

Title

Function

Generate a static OpenVPN key

Creates a static encryption key that can be used for creating tunnels

OpenVPN configuration file directory

Opens an Explorer window in the directory C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config, where the configuration data for OpenVPN is stored

OpenVPN GUI

Starts the OpenVPN GUI that plugs in the system tray of the taskbar

OpenVPN log file directory

Opens an Explorer window in the directory C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\log, where the log files for OpenVPN are kept

OpenVPN Sample Configuration Files

Opens an Explorer window in the directory C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\sample-config, where example configuration files for OpenVPN...