How to Connect to WhoVPN on Linux Using OpenVPN

Looking for a simple way to use OpenVPN on Ubuntu or Linux? This guide explains how to connect to WhoVPN using the official OpenVPN command-line client.

The terminal client is the recommended connection method because it works consistently across Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, and most other Debian-based Linux distributions. It also makes troubleshooting much easier than graphical VPN managers.

By the end of this guide, you'll know how to:

• install OpenVPN on Linux;
• download and extract your WhoVPN configuration files;
• connect to a VPN server from the terminal;
• verify that your VPN connection is working correctly.

Requirements

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• an active WhoVPN subscription;
• the OpenVPN configuration archive sent to your email after purchasing the subscription;
• a Linux account with sudo privileges;
• an active Internet connection.

Update your package index.

sudo apt update

If OpenVPN is not installed, install it.

sudo apt install openvpn unzip

Verify that OpenVPN is available.

openvpn --version

If version information is displayed, the client is installed correctly.

Download the Configuration Files

After purchasing WhoVPN, you'll receive an email containing:

• your subscription details;
• an archive with OpenVPN configuration files.

If you've lost the email, you can recover your configuration files at:

Enter the email address associated with your WhoVPN subscription. A new email containing your available configuration files will be sent automatically.

Extract the Configuration Archive

If the unzip utility isn't installed, install it first.

sudo apt install unzip

unzip whoerconfigs_openvpn.zip -d whoerconfigs_openvpn

Open the extracted directory.

cd whoerconfigs_openvpn

List the available server profiles.

ls

Example:

Whoer_Austria_at.ovpn
Whoer_Germany_de.ovpn
Whoer_France_fr.ovpn
Whoer_United_States_us.ovpn

Each configuration file represents a different VPN server location.

Choose the country you want to connect through.

Tip

In most cases, the configuration files are ready to use. No manual changes are required.

Check Your OpenVPN Version

Before connecting, check which version of OpenVPN is installed.

openvpn --version

If you're running OpenVPN 2.4 or later, continue to the next step.

If you're using OpenVPN 2.3 or an older release and receive TLS-related errors during connection, open the .ovpn file in a text editor.

Locate the following line:

#tls-cipher "DEFAULT:@SECLEVEL=0"

Remove the leading # so it becomes:

tls-cipher "DEFAULT:@SECLEVEL=0"

Newer versions of OpenVPN already include the required compatibility settings, so this modification is only necessary for older clients.

Connect to WhoVPN

Navigate to the directory containing your configuration files.

Launch OpenVPN using the configuration file for the country you want to connect to.

For example:

sudo openvpn Whoer_Austria_at.ovpn

You can also specify the configuration file explicitly.

sudo openvpn --config Whoer_Austria_at.ovpn

Both commands produce the same result.

OpenVPN will initialize the encrypted tunnel and establish a connection to the selected WhoVPN server.

When the connection has been established successfully, you'll see:

Initialization Sequence Completed

Once this message appears, your VPN connection is active and all network traffic is routed through the selected VPN server.

Disconnect

The VPN connection remains active while the OpenVPN process is running.

To disconnect, return to the terminal and press:

Ctrl + C

The VPN tunnel will close immediately, and your system will return to its normal network connection.

Verify Your VPN Connection

After connecting, it's a good idea to confirm that everything is working correctly.

Check that:

• your public IP address has changed;
• DNS requests are routed through the VPN;
• there are no DNS or WebRTC leaks.

You can verify your connection using Whoer.net or by following our VPN Privacy Checklist.

Related articles:

• How to Check if Your VPN Really Works
• Why Websites Show the Wrong Location

FAQ

Where can I download my OpenVPN configuration files?

Your configuration files are included in the welcome email sent after purchasing WhoVPN.

If you've lost the email, you can recover your configuration files at https://whovpn.net/recovery

Which Linux distributions are supported?

This guide works with Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, Debian, and most Debian-based Linux distributions that support the OpenVPN client.

Can I switch to another VPN server?

Yes.

Each .ovpn file in the configuration archive corresponds to a different VPN server location.

To connect to another country, stop the current VPN connection and launch OpenVPN using a different configuration file.

Do I need to edit the .ovpn configuration file?

Usually, no.

WhoVPN configuration files are ready to use out of the box.

The only exception is older OpenVPN clients (2.3 or earlier) that may require a small compatibility change described in this guide.

Can I keep the VPN running in the background?

Yes.

You can keep the terminal window open while using the VPN, or configure OpenVPN as a system service if you need the connection to start automatically.

This guide focuses on manual connections because they're easier to configure and troubleshoot.

Why does OpenVPN ask for root privileges?

Creating a VPN tunnel requires administrative access to configure network interfaces and routing tables.

That's why OpenVPN is typically started with: