Connect to VPN Gate by Using OpenVPN Protocol

This document describes how to use OpenVPN Client developed by OpenVPN Technologies, Inc. to connect to a VPN Relay Server of VPN Gate.

Alternative easy methods to connect a VPN

Other methods are easier than OpenVPN. Try OpenVPN after they are failed to connect a VPN.

In Windows, SoftEther VPN Client is very easy to use.
OpenVPN Client configurations are difficult than SoftEther VPN Client.
If you are using Windows, using SoftEther VPN Client is recommended because it is very easy to configure and stable. SoftEther VPN Client can show the list of currently running VPN Gate Servers on the software screen.
In Mac OS, iOS and Android, L2TP/IPsec is very easy to use.
OpenVPN VPN Client software is built-in on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. L2TP is easier to be configured than OpenVPN. We recommend to try L2TP/IPsec before trying OpenVPN. Some firewalls may filter L2TP/IPsec packets. In such a network, you should use OpenVPN.

VPN on Windows step by step guide (Using OpenVPN)

This instruction describes how to connect to a Public VPN Relay Server of VPN Gate by using OpenVPN Client developed by OpenVPN Technologies, Inc. on Windows XP, 7, 8, 10, Server 2003, 2008, 2012.

SoftEther VPN Client is recommended on Windows.
L2TP/IPsec Client configurations are difficult than SoftEther VPN Client.
If you are using Windows, using SoftEther VPN Client is recommended because it is very easy to configure and stable. SoftEther VPN Client can show the list of currently running VPN Gate Servers on the software screen.

On this instruction, we use Windows 7 screens. Windows XP and Windows 8 are similar, however there are a little number of differences.

1. Install OpenVPN Client (only once at the first time)

Download and install the OpenVPN software. It is developed by OpenVPN Technologies, Inc. and distributed as an open-source.

Download OpenVPN for Windows

Double-click the downloaded OpenVPN program file.

Setup wizard appears. Proceed to install along the instructions on the wizard.

2. Download and install a connection setting file (.ovpn file) of OpenVPN (only once at the first time)

You have to download an OpenVPN connection setting file (.ovpn) in order to connect to a VPN Gate Public VPN Relay Server by using OpenVPN.

OpenVPN connection setting files are downloadable on the Public VPN Relay Servers List page.
Select a VPN server which you want to connect to, and click the ".ovpn" file to download to the desktop.

If you save the .ovpn file on the desktop, the file will be displayed as OpenVPN icon as the following figure. However, you cannot double-click this file to initiate a VPN connection.

You have to install the downloaded .ovpn file into the "config" folder of OpenVPN.

Open the "C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config" folder, and copy the .ovpn file into this folder.

3. Connect a VPN

Right-click the "OpenVPN GUI" icon on the desktop, and click "Run as administrator" .
After Windows Vista, you need to use "Run as administrator" . Otherwise, VPN connection will fail.

OpenVPN GUI icon will be appeared on the task-tray of Windows at the bottom-right of the screen.
(Icon sometimes hides. Click the up arrow icon to show all hidden icons.)

Right-click the OpenVPN GUI icon, and click "Connect" .

The VPN connection will be started. The connecting status will be displayed on the screen.
You may see the username and password prompts on the screen. Specify "vpn" (3-letters) on the prompt. (It seldom appears.)

If the VPN connection is successfully established, the message appears as following.

4. Enjoy Internet via VPN relaying

While a VPN connection is established, a Virtual Network Adapter on Windows will be created and the adapter will be assigned an IP address which begins with the "10.211." block. The default gateway address will be designated on the Virtual Network Adapter. You can confirm these network configuration by running "ipconfig /all" command on the Windows Command Prompt.

While VPN is established, all communications towards the Internet will be relayed via the VPN Server. You can verify that by using "tracert 8.8.8.8" command on the Windows Command Prompt.

As the above figure, if the packet-path are through "10.211.254.254" , your communication is now relayed via one of VPN Gate Public VPN Servers.

You can also visit the VPN Gate Top Page to see your current global IP address. You can see your source country or region has been changed to other if you are connecting to a VPN server which is located on oversea country.

Enjoy YouTube, Facebook or Twitter while your VPN connection is established.
Facebook, Twitter and Gmail uses HTTPS (SSL) encrypted communication protocols. Regardless of VPN or non-VPN, no one can tap these encrypted communications.

VPN on Mac step by step guide (Using OpenVPN)

This instruction describes how to connect a VPN Gate Relay VPN Server by using Tunnelblick. Tunnelblick is a GUI version of OpenVPN Client for Mac OS X.

On this instruction, every screen-shots are taken on Mac OS X Mountain Lion. Other versions of Mac OS X are similar to be configured, however there might be minor different on UIs.

These screen-shots are in English version of Mac OS X. If you use other language, you can still configure it easily by referring the following instructions.

In Mac OS X, L2TP/IPsec is very easy to use.
OpenVPN VPN Client software is built-in on Mac. L2TP is easier to be configured than OpenVPN. We recommend to try L2TP/IPsec before trying OpenVPN. Some firewalls may filter L2TP/IPsec packets. In such a network, you should use OpenVPN.

1. Install Tunnelblick (only once at the first time)

Download and install Tunnelblick from the following URL. You should download the latest version (beta version if exists) to use.

http://code.google.com/p/tunnelblick/

Installation should be conducted along to the screen instructions.

After installation completed, the following screen will appear. Click "I have configuration files" .

Click the "OpenVPN Configuration(s)" button.

Click the "Create Tunnelblick VPN Configuration" button.

A new folder, "Empty Tunnelblick VPN Configuration", will be created on the desktop.

2. Download and Install a connection setting file (.ovpn file) of OpenVPN (only once at the first time)

You have to download an OpenVPN connection setting file (.ovpn) in order to connect to a VPN Gate Public VPN Relay Server by using OpenVPN.

OpenVPN connection setting files are downloadable on the Public VPN Relay Servers List page.
Select a VPN server which you want to connect to, and click the ".ovpn" file to download to the desktop.

The icon of .ovpn file will be as the below figure.

Move or copy this OpenVPN connection setting file (.ovpn file) into the "Empty Tunnelblick VPN Configuration" folder on the desktop automatically created in the previous step.

Next, rename the "Empty Tunnelblick VPN Configuration" folder on the desktop to "anyname.tblk" . (The part "anyname" may vary.) You must specify the suffix ".tblk" after any name.
When you try to rename it, the following message will be displayed. Click the "Add" button.

Double-click the .tblk folder, and the following screen will appear. Click "Only Me" .

You will have to enter username and password for Mac OS X.

The above steps imports the OpenVPN connection setting file (.ovpn file) into Tunnelblick,

3. Connect a VPN

Click the Tunnelblick icon on the menu bar of Mac OS X, and click "Connect vpn" . (The "vpn" part varies.) The VPN connection will be initiated.

The VPN connecting status screen will appear as following.

After the VPN connection will be established, Tunnelblick's main screen shows "Connected" .

4. Enjoy Internet via VPN relaying

While VPN is established, all communications towards the Internet will be relayed via the VPN Server.
You can also visit the VPN Gate Top Page to see your current global IP address. You can see your source country or region has been changed to other if you are connecting to a VPN server which is located on oversea country.

VPN on iPhone / iPad step by step guide (Using OpenVPN)

This instruction describes how to connect a VPN Gate Relay VPN Server by using OpenVPN Connect. OpenVPN Connect is an OpenVPN Client for iOS, developed by OpenVPN Technologies, Inc.

On this instruction, every screen-shots are taken on iOS 6. Other versions of Mac OS X are similar to be configured, however there might be minor different on UIs.

These screen-shots are in English version of iOS. If you use other language, you can still configure it easily by referring the following instructions.

In iOS, L2TP/IPsec is very easy to use.
OpenVPN VPN Client software is built-in on iOS. L2TP is easier to be configured than OpenVPN. We recommend to try L2TP/IPsec before trying OpenVPN. Some firewalls may filter L2TP/IPsec packets. In such a network, you should use OpenVPN.

1. Install OpenVPN Connect (only once for the first time)

Start "App Store" , search and download the "OpenVPN Connect" .

If you are browsing this web site on iPhone / iPad, Click Here to install it.

2. Download and install a connection setting file (.ovpn file) of OpenVPN (only once at the first time)

You have to download an OpenVPN connection setting file (.ovpn) in order to connect to a VPN Gate Public VPN Relay Server by using OpenVPN.

OpenVPN connection setting files are downloadable on the Public VPN Relay Servers List page.

After you install OpenVPN Connect, you can open the Public VPN Relay Servers List page, click a .ovpn file and import it into OpenVPN Connect directly.

You can also open the Public VPN Relay Servers List page in your PC, download a .ovpn file, attach it on an e-mail and send it to iPhone / iPad.

When you attempt to open .ovpn file on iOS, OpenVPN Connect will start automatically. A question whether you want to install the .ovpn file will be displayed.
Tap the "+" button to install the .ovpn file.

3. Connect a VPN

To connect a VPN connection, start OpenVPN Connect, select an imported .ovpn file, and tap the "OFF" button.

After the VPN is established, the "Connected" status will be displayed as follow.

4. Enjoy Internet via VPN relaying

While VPN is established, all communications towards the Internet will be relayed via the VPN Server.
You can visit the VPN Gate Top Page to see your current global IP address. You can see your source country or region has been changed to other if you are connecting to a VPN server which is located on oversea country.

iOS displays the "VPN" indicator on the top bar of the screen while VPN is established.

VPN on Android step by step guide (Using OpenVPN)

This instruction describes how to connect a VPN Gate Relay VPN Server by using OpenVPN Connect. OpenVPN Connect is an OpenVPN Client for Android, developed by OpenVPN Technologies, Inc.

On this instruction, every screen-shots are taken on Android 4.x. Other versions of Android 4.x are similar to be configured, however there might be minor different on UIs.

These screen-shots are in English version of Android. If you use other language, you can still configure it easily by referring the following instructions.

In Android, L2TP/IPsec is very easy to use.
OpenVPN VPN Client software is built-in on Android. L2TP is easier to be configured than OpenVPN. We recommend to try L2TP/IPsec before trying OpenVPN. Some firewalls may filter L2TP/IPsec packets. In such a network, you should use OpenVPN.

1. Install OpenVPN Connect (only once for the first time)

Start "Google Play Store" , search "OpenVPN Connect" application and download it.

If you are browsing this web site on Android, Click Here to install it.

2. Download and install a connection setting file (.ovpn file) of OpenVPN (only once at the first time)

You have to download an OpenVPN connection setting file (.ovpn) in order to connect to a VPN Gate Public VPN Relay Server by using OpenVPN.

OpenVPN connection setting files are downloadable on the Public VPN Relay Servers List page.

After you install OpenVPN Connect, you can open the Public VPN Relay Servers List page, click a .ovpn file and import it into OpenVPN Connect directly.

You can also open the Public VPN Relay Servers List page in your PC, download a .ovpn file, attach it on an e-mail and send it to Android.

3. Connect a VPN

To connect a VPN connection, start OpenVPN Connect, select an imported .ovpn file, and tap the "Connect" button.
After the VPN is established, the "Connected" status will be displayed as follow.

4. Enjoy Internet via VPN relaying

While VPN is established, all communications towards the Internet will be relayed via the VPN Server.
You can visit the VPN Gate Top Page to see your current global IP address. You can see your source country or region has been changed to other if you are connecting to a VPN server which is located on oversea country.

Any errors using OpenVPN?

Make sure that the destination hostname or IP address are correct, viewing the VPN Servers List page.
If the hostname and IP address data on the .ovpn file you imported become too old, you have to download the latest .ovpn file again.
In some countries or regions, specifying DDNS Hostname (.opengw.net) might fail. In such an environment, specify the IP address directly instead of DDNS hostname.
Your local firewall might filter any OpenVPN packets. In such a network, OpenVPN cannot be used. If you use Windows, try Using SoftEther VPN Client. Mac, iOS or Android, try L2TP/IPsec.

Copyright © 2024 VPN Gate Academic Experiment Project at National University of Tsukuba, Japan. All Rights Reserved.
VPN Gate is based on SoftEther VPN Software which is developed by SoftEther VPN Project.
Flag Icons Supplier | About VPN Gate Academic Project | Support Forums | List of Mirror Sites | Compliance with Local Laws | University of Tsukuba Web Site | WinPcap for Windows 10