Openvpn

Introduction To OpenVPN Server

OpenVPN is open-source commercial software that implements virtual private network (VPN) techniques to create secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections in routed or bridged configurations and remote access facilities. It uses a custom security protocol that utilizes SSL/TLS for key exchange. It is capable of traversing network address translators (NATs) and firewalls.

OpenVPN allows peers to authenticate each other using pre-shared secret keys, certificates, or username/passwords. When used in a multi-client-server configuration, it allows the server to release an authentication certificate for every client, using signatures and certificate authority. It uses the OpenSSL encryption library extensively, as well as the TLS protocol, and contains many security and control features.

OpenVPN is available in two versions

OpenVPN Community Edition: which is an open-source and free version
OpenVPN Access Server : (OpenVPN-AS) is based on the Community Edition but provides additional paid and proprietary features like LDAP integration, SMB server, Web UI management and provides a set of installation and configuration tools that are reported to simplify the rapid deployment of a VPN remote-access solution.

main differences between OpenVPN CE and OpenVPN As

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Introduction to OpenVPN Access Server

OpenVPN Access Server is a set of installation and configuration tools that come in one package that simplifies the rapid deployment of a VPN remote access solution. At its core it is based on the popular OpenVPN open-source software project, and maintains compatibility with it, making the deployed VPN immediately compatible with OpenVPN client software across multiple platforms and devices.

Where the open-source solution requires a high degree of knowledge regarding all the configuration options possible with the software, OpenVPN Access Server instead offers a web-based interface where the options are laid out in a graphic user interface that helps ease the learning curve. It also comes with a built-in set of installer files for OpenVPN Connect Client, the client software used to connect Windows and macOS computers to an OpenVPN Access Server, and these come preconfigured for use immediately after installation.

There are also clients available for Android, and iOS and these clients have a built-in option to import the required settings from an Access Server, making deployment on a client device very easy. Linux is supported through the use of the open-source OpenVPN project available by default on most major distributions of Linux. Thus, OpenVPN Access Server streamlines the configuration and management of an OpenVPN-based secure remote access deployment.