How to setup your own VPN server on Linux for Free

One of the best ways of securing data in and out of your network could be using a VPN. It masks your device's identity and establishes a secure connection for you to browse online.

You could host your own VPN server with any web hosting provider who offers this type of service. You’ll pay the hosting provider for the server hosting, and then install a VPN server on the server they've provided to you. In this article, we'll go through the VPN installation and setup process on the Linux server.

Prerequisites

Get Virtual Private Server (VPS) - You'll need a reliable and secure Linux Server to start setting up your VPN. There're several options available depending on your budget and requirements. If you already own a Linux box, you can simply follow the steps we've prepared for the easy VPN installation, alternatively you may check our hosting solutions to proceed further:

A Virtual Dedicated Server (VDS) is a budget option available for a VPN installation, while a Dedicated Server could be the powerful option for the corporate requirements.

Our dedicated and virtual private servers come with full root access and administrative privileges, which is mandatory for the VPN server setup.

Choosing a VPN protocol

VPN services use different VPN protocols for encrypting your connection. Some protocols are better for security, while others are better for offering a fast connection. For example, OpenVPN is considered to be the most secure protocol among the experts. You should choose a VPN service and protocols that meet your browsing needs.

Which is the best VPN protocol?

1. WireGuard - Considered as the fastest VPN protocol, offering quicker connection/reconnection times and improved battery life for mobile devices. There are also a few drawbacks with WireGuard. By default, WireGuard stores user IP addresses on the server and does not assign IP addresses dynamically. However, many VPNs have found good solutions to these problems that ensure WireGuard does not undermine privacy.

2. OpenVPN - The most secure protocol. It uses 256-bit encryption as a default but also offers other ciphers such as 3DES (triple data encryption standard), Blowfish, CAST-128, and AES (Advanced Encryption Standard). OpenVPN is very configurable and easy-to-us protocol, it has become a popular standard. We’ve seen no serious concerns that anyone (including the NSA) has compromised OpenVPN connections.
Although OpenVPN isn't integrated into popular desktop or mobile operating systems yet, connecting to an OpenVPN network requires a a third-party application — either a desktop application or a mobile app.

3. IKEv2/IPsec - Is the fast and most stable VPN protocol. It provides a strong connection and allows users to switch between networks without risking their security. In many cases IKEv2 is faster than OpenVPN, because it is less CPU-intensive. However, there're numerous variables that affect speed, so this may not apply in all use cases. From a performance standpoint with mobile users, IKEv2 may be the best option because it does well establishing a reconnection.

4. PPTP - protocol is built into many devices, making it one of easiest protocols to set up. However, since it is outdated and is well-known for security issues, we don’t recommend using it.

5. Pritunl - Originally built on OpenVPN protocol, also supports WireGuard and the client software can be installed on any device, it is open source and the one of the best solution for enterprise VPN server. Pritunl offers an efficient VPN with complex gateway links and site-to-site links and allows remote users to access local networks. Safeguard the network traffic and users through secure encryption while they connect to public networks. Pritunl is one of the best open-source alternatives to commercial VPNs. It can support thousands of users concurrently and get better control on your server without per-user pricing.

Below you can follow our step-by-step guide for the easy installation of your preferred VPN server:

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Published on: 24-10-2022