Requirements · App: Ubuntu, Debian or Fedora. Other distros: WireGuard or OpenVPN config files.
From install to connected
- 1Buy a VPN plan with your SoVPN balance.
- 2Download the Linux package from the Downloads tab: .deb for Ubuntu and Debian, .rpm for Fedora.
- 3Install it with apt or dnf. This needs sudo.
- 4Run the SoVPN login command in a terminal and paste your account token.
- 5List the available locations and pick a country or city.
- 6Run the connect command, then check the status output to see that the tunnel is up.
App or config file
The terminal app handles login, server choice, protocol and the kill switch. Run any command with the help flag to see what it accepts.
If you would rather not install anything, use a WireGuard file with wg-quick, or an .ovpn file with OpenVPN or NetworkManager. One file is tied to one server, so changing location means loading the file for another server.
Settings we suggest
On a box that runs unattended, such as a home server pulling updates at night, enable the app's kill switch. Nothing leaves outside the tunnel until the connection is back.
When using a config file, keep the DNS line that points to SoVPN's resolver. Remove it and your DNS queries go to your ISP while the tunnel is up.
Fixing common problems
On systems with systemd-resolved, DNS sometimes stays on the old server after you connect. Install the resolvconf compatibility package, or import the file through NetworkManager, and DNS will change along with the tunnel.
An error about a missing WireGuard kernel module usually means your kernel is older than the one your distro currently ships. Update the system, or install wireguard-tools from your distro's repository.