Import an openvpn file to Gnome NetworkManager

import-openvpn-networkmanager.md

Import OpenVPN file to NetworkManager

tags: linux, gnome, networkManager, pkcs12, p12

reference: askubuntu

This article intends to be reference when importing a openvpn file to NetworkManager on linux

• Save the files in a folder;
• Import the .ovpn file with the following command:

     sudo nmcli connection import type openvpn file your-file.ovpn

• If this command results in an error indicating that it don't support a PKCS#12 file (.p12), you'll need to run the following commands in order to be able to import the openvpn file:

     openssl pkcs12 -in [input.p12] -cacerts -nokeys -out ca.crt

  and add the following lines to your .ovpn file:

     ca ca.crt
  

  after that, run again the first command (sudo nmcli connection...) to import the openvpn configuration to NetworkManager.

It should be working after these steps.

Notes:

• use "viscosity" bundle to avoid the openssl part, as it usually comes with certs inline;
• importing the file with this nmcli command may solve problems with gnome's networkmanager-openvpn plugin (Refs: openvpn forum)
• when setting username and password in networkmanager vpn config, mark "store password for all users" to ensure that'll be saved.