# Atlantic.Net – VPN Connection Guide > URL: https://www.atlantic.net/vps-hosting/atlantic-net-vpn-connection-guide/ | Published: 2016-01-27 | Updated: 2026-03-02 | Author: Alexander Wise ##### Verified and Tested 10/25/17 ## Introduction Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are a method of employing encryption to allow users to access a private network securely and share data remotely through public networks. Though VPNs connect over public interfaces, it’s secure and appears as a private network. Because VPNs offer an inherent increase in security, they are often used by enterprise corporations as a way of connecting to remote data centers. If you’d like to read up about VPNs further, head over to our [What Is a VPN](https://www.atlantic.net/vps-hosting/what-is-vpn/) series. This article will guide you through connecting to your Managed Atlantic.Net VPN. *Note: This article is for Atlantic.Net customers with Managed Hosting Services. If you are interested in [Managed Hosting Services](https://www.atlantic.net/dedicated-server-hosting/managed-private-cloud/), please contact our Sales team by emailing [sales@atlantic.net](mailto:sales@atlantic.net) or by calling [866-618-DATA (3282)](tel:+18666183282).* Following completion of your VPN by our Network Operations Center, you will receive an e-mail with the information necessary to setup your VPN connection. The information you need before configuring your connection is below. If you do not have this information, contact our Support team by emailing [support@atlantic.net](mailto:support@atlantic.net) or calling [866-618-DATA (3282)](tel:+18666183282). --- ### Choose Your VPN Type: OpenVPN | OpenVPN on Mac | OpenVPN on Linux --- ## OpenVPN ### Prerequisites - **OpenVPN Configuration file** – This file will be provided to you either by your company or by the Atlantic.Net Network Operations Center. Place this on your computer in a place that is easy to find, like the Desktop. (*the file ends in .ovpn*) - **VPN Username** – This is your user. - **VPN Password** – This is your password. ## Setup OpenVPN for Windows ### Installing OpenVPN [Download the latest version of OpenVPN here](https://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/downloads.html). Click on the OpenVPN installer for ***Windows Vista and later***. ![OpenVPN download page with the Windows client and Get OpenVPN button highlighted](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/OpenVPN-Downloads-1.jpg) ![Windows Save As dialog for downloading the OpenVPN Connect installer](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/OpenVPN-SaveAs.jpg) In most web browsers, once the file has finished downloading, it will appear at the bottom. ***Click on this*** to run the OpenVPN installation program. *Note: If you do not see it at the bottom of your web browser, the program that was downloaded can be found in whatever folder your downloads normally go to.* ![Browser download bar showing the OpenVPN Connect installer file after downloading](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/OpenVPN-DownloadFile.jpg) On most versions of Windows, you will get a popup box asking if you want to allow this program to make changes to your device. Should you get this popup box, answer ***Yes**.* ![Windows User Account Control prompt with Yes highlighted to run the OpenVPN installer](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Do-you-want-to-allow-Yes.png)   The OpenVPN installer should now be loaded. Click ***Next*** on the Welcome screen. ![OpenVPN Connect Setup Wizard welcome screen with the Next button](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/OpenVPN-Setup-Wizard.jpg) Next, click ***I Agree*** if you agree to the terms of the license. ![OpenVPN Connect installer End User License Agreement screen with the accept checkbox](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/OpenVPN-EULA.jpg) On the Driver selection screen, keep TAP driver selected, and click ***Next**.* ![OpenVPN Connect installer driver selection screen with TAP driver recommended](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/OpenVPN-Driver.jpg) Click ***Install** *to begin the installation. ![OpenVPN Connect installer Ready to Install screen with the Install button](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/OpenVPN-Install.jpg) ![OpenVPN Connect installer showing the Copying new files progress bar](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/OpenVPN-Installing.jpg) Once the installation has completed, click ***Finish**.* ![OpenVPN Connect installer completion screen with the Finish button](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/OpenVPN-Install-Complete.jpg) ### Logging in to OpenVPN Now that OpenVPN is installed, you should see an icon on your desktop called ***OpenVPN GUI***. Double click this to open OpenVPN. You should now see the OpenVPN icon in the system tray. ![Windows desktop with an arrow pointing to the OpenVPN GUI icon](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/double-click-openvpn.png)   Now, right-click the OpenVPN icon in the system tray, and select ***Import File***. ![OpenVPN GUI system tray menu with the Import file option highlighted](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/import-openvpn-configuration.png)   Select your OpenVPN configuration file (the .ovpn file that was provided by Atlantic.Net), and then click ***Open***. ![Windows file picker for selecting the OpenVPN configuration file to import](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/selecting-import-openvpn-config.png)   If successful, you will be notified that the configuration important successfully. Click ***OK**.* ![OpenVPN GUI dialog confirming the configuration file imported successfully](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/file-imported-successfully.png)   Right-click the OpenVPN icon that’s in the system tray again, and then click ***Connect**.* ![OpenVPN GUI system tray menu with the Connect option highlighted](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/click-connect.png)   Finally, enter your VPN username and password, and click ***OK***. ![OpenVPN User Authentication dialog with username and password fields](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/enter-username-and-password.png)   If you connected successfully, the OpenVPN Connection window will disappear, and the OpenVPN icon in your system tray will be green. ![Windows desktop with an arrow pointing to the connected OpenVPN icon in the system tray](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/shows-connected.png)   Congratulations! You’ve successfully connected to your Atlantic.Net VPN with OpenVPN. ### Accessing Your Server Now that you’re connected to the VPN, it’s very easy to access your server(s). You will connect to your server(s) how you would normally (be it via Remote Desktop or SSH, depending on the system), except you will use the provided ***private IP address***. --- ## OpenVPN on Mac ### Prerequisites - **OpenVPN Configuration file** – This file will be provided to you either by your company or by the Atlantic.Net Network Operations Center. Place this on your computer in a place that is easy to find, like the Desktop. (*the file ends in .ovpn*) - **OpenVPN Private Key password** ## Setup OpenVPN for Mac ### Installing OpenVPN Download the latest version of OpenVPN[from here as shown below.](https://openvpn.net/vpn-client/) ![Download OpenVPN](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/download-openvpn-1024x566.png) Click on the **Download OpenVPN Connect for Mac** to download it on your system. Begin installation of OpenVPN for Mac OS, navigate to your Downloads folder, and double click the **openvpn-connect-v3-macos.dmg** (DMG) file you just downloaded to start the installation. Click **Continue** on the Welcome screen. ![OpenVPN Welcome screen](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/a2.png) Next, read the licensing terms. Then click on **Continue**. ![OpenVPN read license](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/a3.png) Click on the **Install** to start the installation. ![OpenVPN start installation](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/a4.png) You will be asked to provide your device password, if you have one configured, and click **Install** **Software**. Wait for the installation process to complete. ![OpenVPN ask device password](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/a5.png) Once the installation has been completed successfully, you should see the following screen: ![OpenVPN installation finished](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/a6.png) Click on the **Close** to end the installation process. ### Connect to OpenVPN Server Now that OpenVPN is installed, you should see an icon on the Applications menu. Double click on to open OpenVPN. ![Launch OpenVPN client](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/aa.png) In the **FILE** tab, click on the **BROWSE** then select the .**ovpn** file that was provided by Atlantic.Net. ![OpenVPN select profile](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/a7.png) OpenVPN client automatically fills the Profile name and Server Hostname from the .ovpn file which we have selected in the previous step. Click on the **Save** **Private Key Password** and then enter the Private Key password. ![Provide OpenVPN private key password](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/a8.png) Click on the **CONNECT** to connect to the OpenVPN server. After the successful connection, you should see the following screen: ![OpenVPN connected](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/a9.png) To disconnect the OpenVPN server, click on the **Disconnect** button as shown in the below picture. ![Disconnect OpenVPN](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/a10.png) --- ## OpenVPN on Linux First, install the OpenVPN software packages for Network Manager and Gnome: ``` sudo apt-get install -yq \  network-manager-openvpn \  network-manager-openvpn-gnome; ``` Once installed, your network manager will now have a new VPN type available. Next, Save the VPN profile that was email to you to your desktop, download folder, or documents folder. We are now going to import the VPN profile into the Network Manager configuration. Click on the Network Manager and select “Edit Connections…” ![Ubuntu Network Manager menu with the Edit Connections option highlighted](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/OpenVPN-Linux-Edit-Connections.png) Next, click on the PLUS (+) icon at the lower left of the window. ![Ubuntu Network Connections dialog with the add connection button highlighted](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/OpenVPN-Linux-Add-Connection.png) From the new window that opens, select the drop-down selection, go to the last entry, and select “Import a saved VPN configuration,” then press the [CREATE] button. ![Choose a Connection Type dialog with Import a saved VPN configuration selected](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/OpenVPN-Linux-Import-Connection.png) Now locate the saved VPN profile that was saved to your local PC and double click the file. The application will then import all of the settings from the VPN profile into the Network Manager settings.  Click the [SAVE] button at the bottom of the window. The VPN connection will now show up under your available VPN connections. ![Ubuntu network menu showing the imported OpenVPN Client Connection under VPN Connections](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/OpenVPN-Linux-Available-Connection.png)     Learn more about Atlantic.Net’s [Dedicated Server Hosting](https://www.atlantic.net/dedicated-server-hosting/) and [Dedicated Servers](https://www.atlantic.net/dedicated-server-hosting/).