vpngate-with-proxy

VPN GATE client for linux

• Be able to connect to open vpn servers at http://www.vpngate.net/en/ directly or through proxy
• Auto add DNS to fix DNS leak.
• Auto filter out dead VPN servers.
• Can execute user defined script after vpn_tunnel is established or broken.

Note: Work on Debian and Redhat based system. Tested on Ubuntu, Raspbian, Fedora, Bunsen. New commit (2020/04/28) fixed it to work with python 3.6+ and only tested on Ubuntu 20.04.

I will wrap SoftEther_vpn later when I have time. You are welcome to fork this repo and wrap SoftEther_vpn yourself.

Indicator: is optional.

Tested on Ubuntu and is only enabled by default on Ubuntu.

For other unix os, you need to modify the run file and install packages below:

sudo apt-get install gir1.2-appindicator3-0.1 gir1.2-notify-0.7 python-gobject

If you have any trouble or request about the program, please make a new issue at https://github.com/Dragon2fly/vpngate-with-proxy/issues

Dependency:

• python 2.7.x 3.6+: should already be shipped with your linux

Except python 2.7.x3.6+, all below dependencies should be automatically installed at first run.

• openvpn: $ sudo apt-get install openvpn
• python-requests: $ sudo apt-get install python-requests
• python-urwid 1.3+: $ sudo apt-get install python-urwid , for tui version (terminal user interface)
• wmctrl: $ sudo apt-get install wmctrl, for Indicator of tui version, use for focusing window from indicator.

How to use:

0. Pre-installation

• If your network is behind a proxy

  $ export http_proxy="http://your_proxy:your_port"
  $ export https_proxy="http://your_proxy:your_port"

• If you has just installed your os, please update your os for it to fetch packages list and know where to download other packages later.

$ sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

• Please check the os clock and calendar if it is correct for openvpn authentication to work properly.

1. Installation:

Using git:

$ sudo apt-get install git
$ git clone https://github.com/Dragon2fly/vpngate-with-proxy.git

If your network is behind a proxy:

$ sudo -E apt-get install git
$ git clone https://github.com/Dragon2fly/vpngate-with-proxy.git

You can also download the zip file It contains the "vpngate-with-proxy" folder. Extract it into anywhere you want eg: $HOME.

user_script:

Within this folder, there should be a file user_script.sh. This file allow you to run extra commands to fit your need. You have to manually edit this file and don't change the file name. Commands are divided into 2 groups:

• up: execute after vpn tunnel is established successfully.
• down: execute after vpn tunnel is broken/terminated.

2. First run:

If you have configured system wide proxy or proxy in firefox, it'd better to turn it off. After vpn tunnel is established, the programs that use system wide proxy may failed to connect to the internet using your proxy.

Launch vpngate-with-proxy by

$ cd vpngate-with-proxy
$ ./run [arg]

• arg could be either none or tui or cli.
• vpnproxy_tui.py has better UI, colorful and easier to use. Run when arg is none or tui
• vpnproxy_cli.py is normal terminal application, lightweight and is aim to run on server (RaspberryPi ?). Run when arg is cli

Then the program will first setup a configuration file config.ini by asking you for proxy if needed to connect to the Internet. After that it will show the default configuration of the program. Change any parameter to suit you and press Enter to continue. Next time launching this program, you won't see this configuration again. Either modify config.ini or check 5. Some notes

If no thing goes wrong, the vpn server's list will show up.

3. Interaction:

• Connect to a specific vpn server by typing its index number (eg: 3) and then Enter. If nothing went wrong, a successfully message show up.

  

• Your currently chosen server will be highlighted with dark blue color.

• All connected servers before the current one is show in dark red color.

• Change your desire setting by press the F# key corresponding to that setting. Hit that F# key again to discard all changes and close setting popup. Setting will only be saved when you hit <OK> or Enter.

  • F2: Proxy, use http proxy? address? port?
  • F3: DNS, change DNS when connecting to vpn? which dns to change to?
  • F4: Country, looking for a specific country or all that available?
  • F5: Sort by, sort these servers by what parameter?

  

• Vpn command: As you mentioned above, give an index of the server then hit Enter will open a vpn tunnel from your to that server. And there are still some more.

  • r, refresh: fetch new server's data from vpngate.net or mirrors
  • restore: will restore your system DNS back to original one
  • kill: send SIGTERM to all openvpn processes
  • q: terminate vpn tunnel, then quit the program
  • log: check if current season is logged or not. Log file is vpn.log and is in the same folder with this program. Every time you start the program, log file is rewritten (old content will be lost) if log is turned on.
    • log on: turn on logging
    • log off: turn off logging

• Other keys and combinations:

  • Up, Down, PgUp, PgDown: scroll the server list
  • F10 : toggle logging on/off
  • Esc : clear the text in any input form (vpn command, Proxy, Country)
  • Ctrl + F5: the same as r or refresh command
  • Ctrl + r : the same as restore command
  • Ctrl + k : the same as kill command
  • Ctrl + c : if connected to vpn server, terminate vpn tunnel, turn back to normal state. Else, quit the program

4. After VPN Tunnel is established successfully:

A successful connection doesn't mean you have access to the Internet. If you can access the Internet through selected vpn server, that doesn't mean you are totally safe.

1. Check if you can access the Internet: * try browse some websites. Low score VPN servers tend to block you out of the Internet

2. Check DNS leak:

If you are serious about privacy, this is necessary. DNS server knows the web addresses that you connected to, unless you type IP address directly.

To know your current DNS provider, https://www.dnsleaktest.com or https://ipleak.net

• Turn on DNS fix by press F3 before connecting to vpn server. Choose some good DNS from http://pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstricks/a/free-public-dns-servers.htm
• Connect to any VPN server and test if your dns provider is changed.

If DNS is not changed, make sure that you have turned off your system wide proxy and try again. While using the ethernet for vpn, connected to wifi may reset your DNS.

You could also use below command in Ubuntu to see trace route:

$ mtr -rw google.com

5. Some notes:

• To view or change settings before the program fetches server's list, use one of below:

$ ./run config

$ ./run cli config

$ ./run tui config

• (vpnproxy_cli.py only) To view or change settings at server's list: type Vpn command c or config then Enter

• Ctrl+z: Try not to press this combination while program is running. It will not terminate the vpn tunnel nor kill the program properly. Which means iptable may be left messed up, DNS won't reset to original, you may be still in vpn.

• The program only shows the last log line at the bottom of terminal. In fact, there is 20 last lines of the log. To view these lines, you just need to extend the high of the terminal window.

The log is shown up side down so the latest information will be in the highest place

• If your terminal looks weird after program crashed or Ctrtl+z, $ reset would help

Troubleshoot:

If the program is unable to fetch new server data nor connect to any vpn server, your networking is not back to normal.

That is when restore, kill and log on command come in handy.

You will need to reset your network setting by:

1. kill all openvpn processes
2. $ sudo service network-manager restart

Restart your system or reconnect to wifi or ethernet will also help. If it still doesn't, your proxy may be offline or \etc\resolv.conf's content is incorrect. Ping your proxy from another computer to test. And double check \etc\resolv.conf

If your network is behind a proxy, there is a chance that your ip will be blocked. Testing if OpenVPN servers are dead or alive requires spamming many socket connection. Although the program has limited the number of socket connection per second, the proxy may think it is being DDoS. Search in the source code for test_interval and increase it a little bit.

If vpn_indicator is unresponsive, kill it by:

  $ kill -9 `pgrep -f vpn_indicator`

For other problems and bugs, please make an issue at https://github.com/Dragon2fly/vpngate-with-proxy/issues. State clearly the OS and what steps that you have taken that lead to the bug.