Question

OpenVPN Server Not Starting

I have followed the tutorial at https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-set-up-and-configure-an-openvpn-server-on-ubuntu-20-04 but when I get to the bottom of Chapter 10, my server is not running. Any suggestions. Server status is below.

dave@ubuntu-1gb-lon1-01:~$ sudo systemctl start openvpn-server@server.service
dave@ubuntu-1gb-lon1-01:~$ sudo systemctl status openvpn-server@server.service
● openvpn-server@server.service - OpenVPN service for server
     Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/openvpn-server@.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
     Active: activating (auto-restart) (Result: exit-code) since Fri 2021-01-29 11:25:46 GMT; 1s ago
       Docs: man:openvpn(8)
             https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/wiki/Openvpn24ManPage
             https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/wiki/HOWTO
    Process: 3521 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/openvpn --status /run/openvpn-server/status-server.log --status-version 2 --suppress-timestamps --config server.conf (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
   Main PID: 3521 (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
     Status: "Pre-connection initialization successful"

Jan 29 11:25:46 ubuntu-1gb-lon1-01 systemd[1]: openvpn-server@server.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Jan 29 11:25:46 ubuntu-1gb-lon1-01 systemd[1]: openvpn-server@server.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
dave@ubuntu-1gb-lon1-01:~$

Are there any logs files that I can send to assist in resolving this issue?

I have rebooted the droplet and also gone over the instructions with a fine tooth comb. I did omit most of the options marked as ‘optional’ in the tutorial.

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alexdo
Site Moderator
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February 6, 2021
Accepted Answer

Hello there

I’ve just setup a droplet using the one click install for the OpenVPN Access Server and everything is working normal:

https://marketplace.digitalocean.com/apps/openvpn-access-server

Could you please make sure that you’re accessing the page with https:// included? The admin URL login is provided at the end of the installation process:

Initial Configuration Complete!

You can now continue configuring OpenVPN Access Server by
directing your Web browser to this URL:

https://IP:943/admin
Login as "openvpn" with the same password used to authenticate
to this UNIX host.

During normal operation, OpenVPN AS can be accessed via these URLs:
Admin  UI: https://IP:943/admin
Client UI: https://IP:943/

The port will be 943 if you haven’t changed it during the install process.

Let me know how it goes. Regards, Alex

I know it is an old post, but I believe I had the same error following the same guide for Ubuntu 22.04.

Please run this command to check the logs of OpenVPN service:

sudo journalctl -u openvpn-server@server.service

I had the following error:

failed to find GID for group nobody

Just run this to add a nobody group:

sudo groupadd nobody

Hope this will help someone :)

Can you post your server.conf file with the cert and key info removed?

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