OpenVPN won't start on Ubuntu

Question

I was trying to setup an OpenVPN server on LinuxMint 17.1 using the following guide: Click me.

I followed up to the part where you start up OpenVPN with the following command: service openvpn start

That brought the following response:

* Starting virtual private network daemon(s)... * Autostarting VPN 'server' foo-server random-folder #

But when I check the service status it says that OpenVPN isn't running. Any ideas? This is my /var/log/syslog: PasteBin.

Thanks.

Two things, can you doublecheck that openvpn isn't running? ps -ef | grep -i vpn. I'm really not an openvpn expert but I seem to remember that this behavior is caused by mistakes in your server config file. — Some Linux Nerd, Mar 18 '16 at 22:21
@SomeLinuxNerd I ran the command and got the following output: root 2972 2592 0 18:24 pts/2 00:00:00 grep --colour=auto -i vpn — Njinx, Mar 18 '16 at 22:28
Add the following lines 'log /var/log/openvpn.log' and 'verb 3' to a conf file, restart the openvpn and check the log file — ALex_hha, Mar 18 '16 at 22:52
In the /etc/openvpn should be created configuration file, for e.g. server.conf — ALex_hha, Mar 18 '16 at 22:57

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 18 '16 at 23:24

0

First of all, you can use grep to filter only the error related to openvpn, for example:

tail -f /var/log/syslog | grep ovpn-server

Anyway, from the syslog error you are getting:

ovpn-server[16840]: Options error: --ifconfig-pool/--ifconfig-pool-persist requires --mode server

It is very clear, you need to add the option --mode server too, in the config file for the --ifconfig-pool or --ifconfig-pool-persist to work.

So add a line with mode server in the server conf file and see.

answered Mar 18 '16 at 23:24

Diamond

sorry, I'm a bit of an OpenVPN noobie, so may I ask. Where do I put what? – Njinx Mar 19 '16 at 00:25
Which guide have you followed? – Diamond Mar 19 '16 at 07:30
It's the hyperlink labeled click me – Njinx Mar 19 '16 at 11:42
Oops. I hyper linked the wrong thing. Sorry – Njinx Mar 19 '16 at 11:43
Here: https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-set-up-an-openvpn-server-on-ubuntu-14-04 – Njinx Mar 19 '16 at 11:44
Pls post your /etc/openvpn/server.conf file – Diamond Mar 19 '16 at 12:25
Here you go: pastebin.com/R5banmGN – Njinx Mar 19 '16 at 12:30
It looks good. You have the entry, `mode server` at the end. It should work. – Diamond Mar 19 '16 at 13:14
Do you have any other ideas? – Njinx Mar 19 '16 at 13:28
You can comment both the line with ifconfig and mode Server and restart and check syslog or openvpn.log – Diamond Mar 19 '16 at 13:34
I got the following in openvpn.log: Options error: Parameter ca_file can only be specified in TLS-mode, i.e. where --tls-server or --tls-client is also specified. Use --help for more information. – Njinx Mar 19 '16 at 13:36
Comment the line with ca_file and restart. At best, chek the tutorial again and uncomment only those that are mentioned and See. – Diamond Mar 19 '16 at 13:51
there isnt a line called ca_file. – Njinx Mar 19 '16 at 13:59
@Njinx, add the line `tls-server` in server.conf and see. Also you have the option `verb 3` twice, can remove once. – Diamond Mar 22 '16 at 14:25

1 Answers1