Set up your own IPsec VPN server in just a few minutes, with both IPsec/L2TP and Cisco IPsec on Ubuntu, Debian and CentOS. All you need to do is provide your own VPN credentials, and let the scripts handle the rest.
An IPsec VPN encrypts your network traffic, so that nobody between you and the VPN server can eavesdrop on your data as it travels via the Internet. This is especially useful when using unsecured networks, e.g. at coffee shops, airports or hotel rooms.
We will use <ahref="https://libreswan.org/"target="_blank">Libreswan</a> as the IPsec server, and <ahref="https://github.com/xelerance/xl2tpd"target="_blank">xl2tpd</a> as the L2TP provider.
Please see <ahref="https://blog.ls20.com/ipsec-l2tp-vpn-auto-setup-for-ubuntu-12-04-on-amazon-ec2/#vpnsetup"target="_blank">detailed instructions</a> and <ahref="https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/pricing/"target="_blank">EC2 pricing</a>.
A dedicated server or KVM/Xen-based virtual private server (VPS), freshly installed with one of the above OS. OpenVZ VPS is not supported, users could instead try <ahref="https://github.com/Nyr/openvpn-install"target="_blank">OpenVPN</a>.
This also includes Linux VMs in public clouds, such as <ahref="https://blog.ls20.com/digitalocean"target="_blank">DigitalOcean</a>, <ahref="https://blog.ls20.com/vultr"target="_blank">Vultr</a>, <ahref="https://blog.ls20.com/linode"target="_blank">Linode</a>, <ahref="https://cloud.google.com/compute/"target="_blank">Google Compute Engine</a>, <ahref="https://aws.amazon.com/lightsail/"target="_blank">Amazon Lightsail</a>, <ahref="https://azure.microsoft.com"target="_blank">Microsoft Azure</a>, <ahref="https://www.ibm.com/cloud/virtual-servers"target="_blank">IBM Cloud</a>, <ahref="https://www.ovh.com/world/vps/"target="_blank">OVH</a> and <ahref="https://www.rackspace.com"target="_blank">Rackspace</a>.
<ahref="azure/README.md"target="_blank"><imgsrc="docs/images/azure-deploy-button.png"alt="Deploy to Azure"/></a><ahref="http://dovpn.carlfriess.com/"target="_blank"><imgsrc="docs/images/do-install-button.png"alt="Install on DigitalOcean"/></a><ahref="https://cloud.linode.com/stackscripts/37239"target="_blank"><imgsrc="docs/images/linode-deploy-button.png"alt="Deploy to Linode"/></a>
<ahref="https://blog.ls20.com/ipsec-l2tp-vpn-auto-setup-for-ubuntu-12-04-on-amazon-ec2/#gettingavps"target="_blank">**» I want to run my own VPN but don't have a server for that**</a>
Advanced users can set up the VPN server on a $35 <ahref="https://www.raspberrypi.org"target="_blank">Raspberry Pi</a>. See <ahref="https://blog.elasticbyte.net/setting-up-a-native-cisco-ipsec-vpn-server-using-a-raspberry-pi/"target="_blank">[1]</a><ahref="https://www.stewright.me/2018/07/create-a-raspberry-pi-vpn-server-using-l2tpipsec/"target="_blank">[2]</a>.
\* Debian 10 users should use the standard Linux kernel (not the "cloud" version). Read more <ahref="docs/clients.md#debian-10-kernel"target="_blank">here</a>.
**Note:** If unable to download via `wget`, you may also open <ahref="vpnsetup.sh"target="_blank">vpnsetup.sh</a> (or <ahref="vpnsetup_centos.sh"target="_blank">vpnsetup_centos.sh</a>) and click the **`Raw`** button. Press `Ctrl-A` to select all, `Ctrl-C` to copy, then paste into your favorite editor.
**Windows users**: This <ahref="docs/clients.md#windows-error-809"target="_blank">one-time registry change</a> is required if the VPN server and/or client is behind NAT (e.g. home router).
The same VPN account can be used by your multiple devices. However, due to an IPsec/L2TP limitation, if you wish to connect multiple devices simultaneously from behind the same NAT (e.g. home router), you must use only <ahref="docs/clients-xauth.md"target="_blank">IPsec/XAuth mode</a>.
If you wish to add, edit or remove VPN user accounts, see <ahref="docs/manage-users.md"target="_blank">Manage VPN Users</a>. Helper scripts are included for convenience.
For servers with an external firewall (e.g. <ahref="https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/ec2-security-groups.html"target="_blank">EC2</a>/<ahref="https://cloud.google.com/vpc/docs/firewalls"target="_blank">GCE</a>), open UDP ports 500 and 4500 for the VPN. Aliyun users, see [#433](https://github.com/hwdsl2/setup-ipsec-vpn/issues/433).
Clients are set to use <ahref="https://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/"target="_blank">Google Public DNS</a> when the VPN is active. If another DNS provider is preferred, replace `8.8.8.8` and `8.8.4.4` in both `/etc/ppp/options.xl2tpd` and `/etc/ipsec.conf`, then reboot your server. Advanced users can define `VPN_DNS_SRV1` and optionally `VPN_DNS_SRV2` when running the VPN setup script.
Using kernel support could improve IPsec/L2TP performance. It is available on Ubuntu 16.04-20.04, Debian 9-10 and CentOS 6-8. Ubuntu users: Install `linux-modules-extra-$(uname -r)` (or `linux-image-extra`), then run `service xl2tpd restart`.
To modify the IPTables rules after install, edit `/etc/iptables.rules` and/or `/etc/iptables/rules.v4` (Ubuntu/Debian), or `/etc/sysconfig/iptables` (CentOS/RHEL). Then reboot your server.
The additional scripts <ahref="extras/vpnupgrade.sh"target="_blank">vpnupgrade.sh</a> and <ahref="extras/vpnupgrade_centos.sh"target="_blank">vpnupgrade_centos.sh</a> can be used to upgrade <ahref="https://libreswan.org"target="_blank">Libreswan</a> (<ahref="https://github.com/libreswan/libreswan/blob/master/CHANGES"target="_blank">changelog</a> | <ahref="https://lists.libreswan.org/mailman/listinfo/swan-announce"target="_blank">announce</a>). Edit the `SWAN_VER` variable as necessary. Check which version is installed: `ipsec --version`.
- Got a question? Please first search other people's comments <ahref="https://gist.github.com/hwdsl2/9030462#comments"target="_blank">in this Gist</a> and <ahref="https://blog.ls20.com/ipsec-l2tp-vpn-auto-setup-for-ubuntu-12-04-on-amazon-ec2/#disqus_thread"target="_blank">on my blog</a>.
- Ask VPN related questions on the <ahref="https://lists.libreswan.org/mailman/listinfo/swan"target="_blank">Libreswan</a> or <ahref="https://lists.strongswan.org/mailman/listinfo/users"target="_blank">strongSwan</a> mailing list, or read these wikis: <ahref="https://libreswan.org/wiki/Main_Page"target="_blank">[1]</a><ahref="https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/7/html/security_guide/sec-securing_virtual_private_networks"target="_blank">[2]</a><ahref="https://wiki.strongswan.org/projects/strongswan/wiki/UserDocumentation"target="_blank">[3]</a><ahref="https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/IPsec_L2TP_VPN_server"target="_blank">[4]</a><ahref="https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Openswan_L2TP/IPsec_VPN_client_setup"target="_blank">[5]</a>.
- If you found a reproducible bug, open a <ahref="https://github.com/hwdsl2/setup-ipsec-vpn/issues?q=is%3Aissue"target="_blank">GitHub Issue</a> to submit a bug report.
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