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You can run an OpenVPN server on a Linux VPS with Docker Compose by combining the kylemanna/openvpn image, the NET_ADMIN capability, UDP port 1194, and persistent storage for the OpenVPN PKI. The deployment has three separate one-time operations—generate the server configuration, initialize the certificate authority, and create each client certificate—followed by a normal background container.
This guide uses the current docker compose syntax, shows a bind-mounted configuration directory, and keeps the certificate authority and client keys persistent. Use a currently published, explicitly pinned image tag after checking the project’s documentation; the tag is intentionally not hard-coded here because image releases can change.
What this setup creates
The VPS runs one OpenVPN server process inside a container. Docker publishes the container’s UDP 1194 listener on the VPS, while NET_ADMIN gives the container the network-administration capability the image expects. The host directory ./openvpn-data/conf is mounted at /etc/openvpn, so the server configuration, certificate authority, certificates, keys and generated client profiles survive container recreation.
The initial setup is deliberately separate from normal startup:
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| Phase | Command family | What it produces |
|---|---|---|
| Server configuration | ovpn_genconfig |
OpenVPN server configuration based on the public address or DNS name |
| Public-key infrastructure | ovpn_initpki |
Certificate authority and server certificates |
| Runtime | docker compose up -d |
Running OpenVPN service |
| Client enrollment | easyrsa build-client-full |
A certificate and private key for one named client |
| Profile export | ovpn_getclient |
One portable .ovpn profile containing the client’s connection material |
Do not treat the exported profile as a harmless text file. It contains private key material and should be delivered and stored like a password.
Prerequisites and decisions
VPS and network requirements
- A Linux VPS with a publicly reachable IPv4 address or a DNS name that resolves to it.
- Docker Engine and the Docker Compose plugin installed for the account that will run the commands.
- Inbound UDP port 1194 allowed by both the VPS operating-system firewall and any provider-level security group or firewall.
- Shell access with permission to run Docker commands and create files in the deployment directory.
The standard port in the project’s documented example is UDP 1194. You can choose a different external port, but then the published port, firewall rule and generated client configuration must agree. This walkthrough keeps the documented port to reduce moving parts.
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The example below uses a bind mount, which makes backups and inspection straightforward:
mkdir -p ~/openvpn-docker/openvpn-data/conf
cd ~/openvpn-dockerRun every Compose command from this directory. If you instead use a named Docker volume, keep the same volume for every initialization, client-creation and export command; switching volumes midway makes the container appear to have lost its CA and certificates.
Pin the image
Replace PINNED_TAG in the compose file with a tag that is currently published by the project. An explicit tag makes upgrades deliberate and reproducible. Avoid silently tracking latest on a production VPN, and read the current project documentation before changing tags because image behavior and supported Compose syntax are volatile.
Create the Docker Compose service
Create docker-compose.yml (the filename is still accepted) or compose.yml in ~/openvpn-docker:
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services:
openvpn:
image: kylemanna/openvpn:<PINNED_TAG>
cap_add:
- NET_ADMIN
ports:
- "1194:1194/udp"
volumes:
- ./openvpn-data/conf:/etc/openvpnThe important settings are:
image: the OpenVPN image and the release tag you selected.cap_add: NET_ADMIN: grants the container the network capability required by this setup.ports: maps UDP 1194 on the VPS to UDP 1194 in the container. The/udpsuffix matters; a TCP mapping is a different service.volumes: persists everything under/etc/openvpnon the host.
Current Compose does not require a top-level version key. Older examples often show version: '2' and the hyphenated docker-compose command. Use the modern docker compose command shown here; do not mix command styles while troubleshooting.
Open the firewall before testing
Allow inbound UDP 1194 in the VPS firewall and, if applicable, in the hosting provider’s network firewall. Firewall tooling differs by Linux distribution, so use the method documented for your operating system. A rule that opens TCP 1194 does not permit this configuration. Keep the port restricted to UDP and verify that the VPS has a public route rather than only a private address.
Do not assume a successful container start proves reachability. The process can be healthy while an upstream security group silently drops packets. Test the network path only after the service is running and a client profile has been imported.
Generate the server configuration
From the directory containing the Compose file, run:
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docker compose run --rm openvpn ovpn_genconfig -u udp://YOUR_SERVER_OR_DOMAINReplace YOUR_SERVER_OR_DOMAIN with the public IP address or DNS name that clients will use. Include the udp:// scheme exactly as shown. This command writes the generated server configuration into the mounted /etc/openvpn directory. It does not start the long-running server, and it does not create client certificates.
Before proceeding, check that the value is externally reachable and stable. If you use a DNS name, make sure it resolves to the VPS from the networks where clients will connect. The generated endpoint is embedded in exported profiles, so an incorrect address requires regenerating or otherwise updating profiles rather than merely restarting the container.
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Initialize the certificate authority
Create the PKI with:
docker compose run --rm openvpn ovpn_initpkiThe command asks you to create and confirm a CA passphrase. Use a strong, unique passphrase and store it in an offline password manager or another protected recovery location. The CA passphrase protects the authority that signs server and client certificates; you will need it for certificate-management operations, including issuing client certificates.
This passphrase is different from a client’s private-key passphrase. Never put either secret in the Compose file, shell history committed to a repository, ticket, or chat transcript. If the command reports that a PKI already exists, stop and verify that you are using the intended persistent directory before overwriting or reinitializing anything.
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- Start the service in the background:
docker compose up -d openvpn - Follow its logs while it initializes:
docker compose logs -f openvpn - In a second shell, confirm the container is running:
docker compose ps
Use Ctrl+C to leave the log view; it does not stop the background service. If the container is not listed as running, inspect the complete log output before creating client certificates. A profile generated from a failed or incomplete server initialization will not fix a startup problem.
Create a separate certificate for each client
Give every person or device its own certificate name. Descriptive names such as alice-laptop, phone-2026 or branch-router make later inventory and incident response easier. Do not share one profile among several users when individual revocation and auditing matter.
Issue a client certificate and key with Easy-RSA through the container:
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docker compose run --rm openvpn easyrsa build-client-full CLIENTNAMEReplace CLIENTNAME with the unique name you selected. The command prompts for the CA passphrase and, following the project’s recommended approach, asks you to protect the client private key with its own passphrase. The documentation advises against the nopass option because an unencrypted private key is easier to misuse if the profile file is copied.
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Repeat the command for each device, using a new name every time. Keep the CA passphrase available during issuance, but do not distribute it to clients. A client needs its own profile and private-key passphrase, not the CA secret.
Export the client .ovpn profile
After the certificate has been issued, export a self-contained profile:
docker compose run --rm openvpn ovpn_getclient CLIENTNAME > CLIENTNAME.ovpnUse the same CLIENTNAME supplied to build-client-full. The resulting file bundles the CA certificate, that client’s certificate and key, and the connection settings generated for your server. This is why a client can import one file instead of separately installing several certificate files.
Check that the file exists and has nonzero size before transferring it:
ls -l CLIENTNAME.ovpnSend it through a secure, access-controlled channel. Do not publish it in a public repository, attach it to an unprotected support ticket, or leave it in a shared download directory. Delete temporary copies from shell hosts and desktops that do not need them, while retaining an encrypted administrative backup if your recovery policy requires one.
Import and test a client
Install an OpenVPN-compatible client on the target device, import the corresponding .ovpn file, and enter the client private-key passphrase when the client requests it. Client application labels differ by operating system, so follow the import workflow for the client you selected rather than changing the server’s generated profile.
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Test from a network outside the VPS itself, such as a home or cellular connection. A successful test should show the client as connected in its OpenVPN application and allow it to reach the resources your server configuration is intended to expose. If the connection never establishes, start with UDP reachability and the endpoint in the profile before changing certificates.
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Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely check | Action |
|---|---|---|
| The container exits immediately | Configuration, image tag or capability error | Read docker compose logs openvpn. For a verbose diagnostic run, set DEBUG=1 as documented by the project, for example DEBUG=1 docker compose run --rm openvpn ovpn_genconfig -u udp://YOUR_SERVER_OR_DOMAIN, then correct the reported error. |
| Client times out with no handshake | UDP path or wrong endpoint | Confirm the profile’s address, VPS firewall, provider firewall and the 1194:1194/udp mapping. A TCP rule will not help a UDP profile. |
| Initialization appears to have vanished | Different working directory or volume | Run commands from the directory containing the same Compose file and inspect the bind-mounted openvpn-data/conf directory. Do not create a second volume accidentally. |
| Certificate issuance asks for a CA passphrase you cannot provide | CA secret unavailable | Locate the protected recovery copy. Do not guess repeatedly or reinitialize the PKI on a live deployment; doing so creates a different authority and invalidates the relationship with existing certificates. |
| The exported file is missing or empty | Wrong client name or failed issuance | Verify that easyrsa build-client-full completed successfully for the exact same name, then rerun ovpn_getclient from the original deployment directory. |
When a failure is ambiguous, capture the relevant logs and the exact command, but redact private keys, CA secrets and complete profile contents before sharing diagnostics.
Back up the deployment before upgrades
The bind-mounted openvpn-data/conf directory is the critical state. Back it up using an encrypted method that preserves file permissions and restricts access to administrators. Include the CA, server keys, client certificates and generated configuration; losing the CA prevents you from managing the same certificate hierarchy normally.
Record the image tag used in production and the date of each intentional change. Before upgrading, read the current kylemanna/docker-openvpn documentation and release information, test the new tag with a copy of the configuration, and keep the previous image tag available for rollback. Do not delete the persistent directory as part of an image update.
Operational security practices
- Use a unique CA passphrase and protect it separately from the VPS.
- Use a distinct client certificate and profile for every user or device.
- Prefer passphrase-protected client keys; avoid
nopassunless you have a documented compensating control. - Transfer profiles only over secure, authenticated channels and remove unneeded copies.
- Limit administrative access to the VPS and protect Docker access, because Docker users can generally control the host.
- Keep the image tag pinned, review changes before upgrading, and re-check the project’s current instructions because tags and syntax can change.
- Plan how you will disable a lost or compromised client. The exact revocation workflow is version-sensitive; use the current project documentation rather than applying an unverified command to production.
Compose command reference
| Purpose | Command |
|---|---|
| Generate server configuration | docker compose run --rm openvpn ovpn_genconfig -u udp://YOUR_SERVER_OR_DOMAIN |
| Initialize the CA and PKI | docker compose run --rm openvpn ovpn_initpki |
| Start the service | docker compose up -d openvpn |
| Follow logs | docker compose logs -f openvpn |
| Issue a client certificate | docker compose run --rm openvpn easyrsa build-client-full CLIENTNAME |
| Export a client profile | docker compose run --rm openvpn ovpn_getclient CLIENTNAME > CLIENTNAME.ovpn |
Pre-production checklist
- The VPS has a public address or stable DNS name, and that value appears in the generated endpoint.
- Docker and the Compose plugin run successfully for the deployment account.
- UDP 1194 is allowed at every firewall layer.
- The Compose service has
NET_ADMIN, the UDP port mapping and persistent/etc/openvpnstorage. - The CA passphrase is stored in a protected recovery location.
- The container starts cleanly and its logs show no unresolved errors.
- Each client has a unique certificate name, a passphrase-protected key and a securely delivered
.ovpnfile. - The image tag and configuration directory are recorded for repeatable upgrades and backups.
The Bottom Line
A reliable OpenVPN Docker Compose deployment depends less on a single startup command than on preserving the PKI, opening the correct UDP port, and keeping each client profile separate. Use the documented sequence—generate configuration, initialize the CA, start the service, issue individual certificates, and export profiles—then pin and periodically revalidate the image tag against the current project documentation.
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