Rolling out Windows OpenVPN clients

This guide is based on [http://openvpn.se/files/howto/openvpn-howto_roll_your_own_installation_package-Rev1.1.html HowTo Roll Your Own OpenVPN Windows Installation Package].

The Windows build machine must have [http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Download The Nullsoft Scriptable Install System] installed. Next obtain the [http://www.openvpn.se/files/install_packages_source/ installation source package]. If problems persist with differing versions of OpenVPN on the client and server try using the same version as the server on the client. E.g. Server version: 2.0.7, download [http://www.openvpn.se/files/install_packages_source/openvpn_install_source-2.0.7-gui-1.0.3.zip OpenVPN GUI install source 2.0.7]. In theory all 2.0.x releases should be compatible with each other.

Extract openvpn_install_source-2.0.7-gui-1.0.3.zip and open the newly created folder.

attachment:install_source_folder.png

In the openvpn\config folder place the generated key and config.ovpn files the ["OpenVPN"] document.

attachment:config_folder.png

Return back to the root of the openvpn_install_source folder and open openvpn-gui.nsi in an editor.

# Include your custom config file(s) here.
  SetOutPath "$INSTDIR\config"
  File "${HOME}\config\key"                     # Add this line
  File "${HOME}\config\config.ovpn"             # Add this line

Finally the openvpn-gui.nsi file needs to compile and build an installable executable. Right click on openvpn-gui.nsi and select Compile NSIS Script.

attachment:compile_nsis.png

If successful a file similarly named to openvpn-2.0.7-gui-1.0.3-install.exe will be generated. For easier management, include the client side IP address in the file name. E.g. openvpn-2.0.7-gui-1.0.3-install-10.3.0.2.exe.