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Tunnelblick

Tunnelblick is a free, open-source GUI (graphical user interface) for OpenVPN on macOS and OS X: More details can be found here. Access to a VPN server — your computer is one end of the tunnel and the VPN server is the other end.

Find your client account credentials

You need to contact your project administrator to get your own OpenVPN configuration file (file with .ovpn extension). Download it and Keep it in your local machine so in next steps we can use this configuration client profile file.

Download and install Tunnelblick

  1. Download Tunnelblick, a free and user-friendly app for managing OpenVPN connections on macOS.

    Tunnelblick Download

  2. Navigate to your Downloads folder and double-click the Tunnelblick installation file (.dmg installer file) you have just downloaded.

    dmg Installer File

  3. In the window that opens, double-click on the Tunnelblick icon.

    Tunnelblick Interface

  4. A new dialogue box will pop up, asking you if you are sure you want to open the app. Click Open.

    Popup Open Confirmation

    Access Popup

  5. You will be asked to enter your device password. Enter it and click OK:

    User Password prompt to Authorize

  6. Select Allow or Don't Allow for your notification preference.

    Notification Settings

  7. Once the installation is complete, you will see a pop-up notification asking you if you want to launch Tunnelblick now. (An administrator username and password will be required to secure Tunnelblick). Click Launch.

    Alternatively, you can click on the Tunnelblick icon in the status bar and select VPN Details...:

    VPN Details Menu

    Configuration

Set up the VPN with Tunnelblick

  1. A new dialogue box will appear. Click I have configuration files.

    Configuration File Options

  2. Another notification will pop-up, instructing you how to import configuration files. Click OK.

    Add A Configuration

  3. Drag and drop the previously downloaded .ovpn file from your Downloads folder to the Configurations tab in Tunnelblick.

    Load Client Config File

    OR,

    You can just drag and drop the provided OpenVPN configuration file (file with .ovpn extension) directly to Tunnelblick icon in status bar at the top-right corner of your screen.

    Load config on Tunnelblick

  4. A pop-up will appear, asking you if you want to install the configuration profile for your current user only or for all users on your Mac. Select your preferred option. If the VPN is intended for all accounts on your Mac, select All Users. If the VPN will only be used by your current account, select Only Me.

    Configuration Installation Setting

  5. You will be asked to enter your Mac password.

    User Login for Authentication

    Loaded Client Configuration

    Then the screen reads "Tunnelblick successfully: installed one configuration".

    VPN Configuration Installed Successfully

You can see the configuration setting is loaded and installed successfully.

Connect to a VPN server location

  1. To connect to a VPN server location, click the Tunnelblick icon in status bar at the top-right corner of your screen.

    Tunnelblick icon in status bar

  2. From the drop down menu select the server and click Connect [name of the .ovpn configuration file]..

    Connect VPN

    Alternatively, you can select "VPN Details" from the menu and then click the "Connect"button:

    Tunnelblick Configuration Interface

    This will show the connection log on the dialog:

    Connection Log

  3. When you are connected to OpenVPN server successfully, you will see popup message as shown below. That's it! You are now connected to a VPN.

    Tunnel Successful

  4. Once you are connected to the OpenVPN server, you can run commands like shown below to connect to the private instances:

    ssh ubuntu@192.168.0.40 -A -i cloud.key
    

    Private Instance SSH Accessible

Disconnect VPN server

To disconnect, click on the Tunnelblick icon in your status bar and select Disconnect in the drop-down menu.

Disconnect using Tunnelblick icon

While closing the log will be shown on popup as shown below: Preview Connection Log