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macos-openvpn-server

macOS OpenVPN Server and Client Configuration

This repo describes how to build an OpenVPN VPN server on macOS using pfctl and Tunnelblick.

This configuration provides a TLS-based VPN server using EC ed25519 certificates and UDP port 443, accessible by any OpenVPN client, especially iOS with the OpenVPN app.

Installation and Configuration Notes

• Configuration for openvpn version 2.5 and easy-rsa version 3
• Presumes latest macOS versions that use editable /etc/sysctl.conf to set:

net.inet.ip.forwarding=1
net.inet6.ip6.forwarding=1

This is known to work for macOS 11+. See previous versions of this repo for a launchctl-based approach

• Uses Edwards curve ed25519 EC-based PKI for very fast VPN connections with 128-bit security

VPN Configuration Advantages

This OpenVPN configuration provides the following advantages:

• Secure VPN networking for all mobile clients
• Secure, certificate-based VPN
• PF-based firewall security on the server
• Privatizing Proxy Configuration for all mobile client devices
  • Mobile device networking through PF firewall security
  • Tracker blocking
  • Ad blocking
  • Malware blocking

Tunnelblick Configuration

Configure Tunnelblick settings so that the server connection persists over macOS Fast User Switching. Failure to do this is observed to cause routing problems beyond OpenVPN server accessibility. Use the recommended standard and advanced settings:

Tunnelblick Settings	Advanced…