Custom OpenVPN iOS client

Question

I'm working on a custom iOS OpenVPN client. I found this native OpenVPN client core sources https://staging.openvpn.net/openvpn3/

I can build it for the iOS platform.

How can I integrate this OpenVPNClient as an extension to set up an OpenVPN network for iOS devices from my application? Is it possible?

Hi Alex, Do you have any example or sample regarding this? Thanks — WinHtaikAung, Oct 20 '16 at 01:30
Hi Alex, Do you have any example or sample about your Custom OpenVPN iOS client? Thanks — Leon Guo, Jul 25 '17 at 11:05
Note that the oepnvpn3 library is under the GPL3/AGPL3 license which makes it impossible to use it in any Apple App Store app — plaisthos, Nov 10 '20 at 12:40

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered May 25 '16 at 14:40

I think you should use the Network Extension framework to extend VPN capabilities of an iOS device. The documentation can be found at the link:

https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/NetworkExtension/Reference/Network_Extension_Framework_Reference/

As stated at the beginning of the linked document in order for your app to be able to use the above framework you need a special permission from Apple:

IMPORTANT

Most Network Extension classes require you to obtain an entitlement from Apple before using them in your code. To request entitlements, visit https://developer.apple.com/contact/network-extension.

It may or may not be possible to test the framework without such permission in your development devices, however it is unlikely that you can publish the resulting application to the market.

How do you think is this OpenVPNClient is compatibly with Network Extension framework? I mean API interfaces. — Alex Bakhitn, May 25 '16 at 14:56
@AlexBakhitn I can imagine that they area bit different. openvpn was published in 2013, while the NetworkExtension API was first made public in 2016. You might try contacting Gert Doering though who wrote the openvpn client for ios though https://plus.google.com/u/0/102486415329787631392/posts/faSspbtGkcW — Moataz Elmasry, Aug 23 '16 at 22:29

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 19 '16 at 02:59

2

You could use NEPacketTunnelProvider api in Network Extension Framework. The packet tunnel provider allow you to create your own vpn tunnel in iOS and the network traffic (raw ip packet) would be routed to your own vpn tunnel. But you may need to handle raw ip packet and integrate with openvpn3.

answered Jul 19 '16 at 02:59

chienhong.yang

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1

Do you have any sample example regarding this ? – taha027 Aug 08 '16 at 16:04
@taha027 did you find ? – Shrikant K Nov 23 '17 at 13:39
@ShrikantK No but the only way is to use PacketTunnel sample code provided by apple and after customization may b you can achieve it. – taha027 Nov 27 '17 at 07:09

Custom OpenVPN iOS client

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