# Connect to an AWS Client VPN endpoint using an OpenVPN client application
<a name="linux"></a>

These sections describe how to establish a VPN connection using either OpenVPN - Network Manager or OpenVPN.

Before you begin, ensure that your Client VPN administrator has [created a Client VPN endpoint](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/vpn/latest/clientvpn-admin/cvpn-working-endpoints.html#cvpn-working-endpoint-create) and provided you with the [Client VPN endpoint configuration file](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/vpn/latest/clientvpn-admin/cvpn-working-endpoint-export.html). If you want to connect to multiple profiles simultaneously, you'll need a configuration file for each profile.

For troubleshooting information, see [Troubleshooting AWS Client VPN connections with Linux-based clients](linux-troubleshooting.md).

**Important**  
If the Client VPN endpoint has been configured to use [SAML-based federated authentication](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/vpn/latest/clientvpn-admin/client-authentication.html#federated-authentication), you cannot use the OpenVPN-based VPN client to connect to a Client VPN endpoint. This includes any ARM-based architectures. If you are using a device with an ARM processor (such as Apple Silicon Macs or ARM-based Windows devices), you must use SAML-based VPN endpoints with the AWS provided client instead of OpenVPN clients.

**Topics**
+ [Establish a VPN connection on Linux](ubuntu-network-manager-openvpn.md)

# Establish an AWS Client VPN connection on Linux
<a name="ubuntu-network-manager-openvpn"></a>

Establish a VPN connection using the using either the Network Manager GUI on an Ubuntu computer or the OpenVPN application.

**To establish a VPN connection using OpenVPN - Network Manager**

1. Install the network manager module using the following command.

   ```
   sudo apt-get install --reinstall network-manager network-manager-gnome network-manager-openvpn network-manager-openvpn-gnome
   ```

1. Go to **Settings**, **Network**.

1. Choose the plus symbol (**\$1**) next to **VPN**, and then choose **Import from file...**.

1. Navigate to the configuration file that you received from your VPN administrator and choose **Open**.

1. In the **Add VPN** window, choose **Add**.

1. Start the connection by enabling the toggle next to the VPN profile that you added.

**To establish a VPN connection using OpenVPN**

1. Install OpenVPN using the following command.

   ```
   sudo apt-get install openvpn
   ```

1. Start the connection by loading the configuration file that you received from your VPN administrator.

   ```
   sudo openvpn --config /path/to/config/file
   ```