---
title: How to use the RPN VPN with your Dedibox Servers
description: This page explains how to use the RPN VPN with your Scaleway Dedibox servers
tags: dedibox rpn vpn dedibox-server
dates:
  validation: 2025-08-27
  posted: 2021-10-07
---
import Requirements from '@macros/iam/requirements.mdx'

import image from './assets/scaleway-rpn-vpn-01.webp'
import image2 from './assets/scaleway-rpn-vpn-02.webp'
import image3 from './assets/scaleway-rpn-vpn-03.webp'


The RPN VPN service allows you to access machines inside your RPN from an external connection or from a Dedibox server that does not have an RPN interface.

The feature is based on [OpenVPN](/tutorials/install-openvpn/) and you can add the RPN VPN to your RPNv1 group like any other server.

The RPN VPN service allows you to:

* Connect from anywhere to your totally secure and private network.
* Connect servers which do not have an RPN interface to the RPN.

<Requirements />

- A Dedibox account logged into the [console](https://console.online.net)
- An RPN-compatible [Dedibox dedicated server](https://www.scaleway.com/en/dedibox/)
- Installed an OpenVPN client on your local computer

## How to download the RPN VPN configuration

1. Click **Storage** > **RPN VPN** in the top menu of the Dedibox console. A summary of your RPN VPN services displays.
    <Lightbox image={image} alt="" />
2. Click **Configure** next to the RPN VPN service you want to configure. The RPN VPN information displays.
    <Lightbox image={image2} alt="" />

    <Message type="tip">
      If you do not have any RPN VPN services yet, you can click **Order RPN VPN** directly on the page.
    </Message>
3. Download the certificate files for your RPN VPN. Click **Show Password** to display the password associated with your RPN VPN.
    <Lightbox image={image3} alt="" />

    <Message type="note">
      To use your RPN VPN in your RPNv1 group, you must add it to your group as an RPN server. For more information, follow our [RPN documentation](/dedibox-rpn/quickstart/).
    </Message>

## How to configure the RPN VPN client

<Message type="requirement">
  To complete the following steps, you must have the following information available on the client:
    * IP of the RPN VPN server
    * CA Certificate
    * Client Certificate
    * `.key` Certificate
    * RPN VPN Password
</Message>

### How to configure the Linux client

1.  Launch the installation of [OpenVPN](/tutorials/install-openvpn/) using the following command.
    ```
    root@<your-server-ip>:~# apt install openvpn
    ```
2. Edit the client configuration file `/etc/openvpn/client.conf` in a text editor. For example with `nano`:
    ```
    root@<your-server-ip>:~# nano /etc/openvpn/client.conf
    ```
    The configuration file looks like the following example:
    ```
    client
    dev tun
    ;proto tcp
    proto udp
    float
    remote <IP of the RPN VPN server> 1194
    nobind
    persist-key
    persist-tun
    ca <ca.crt>
    cert <cert.crt>
    key <cert.key>
    askpass <password file>
    ns-cert-type server
    comp-lzo
    verb 3
    ```
    Set the following values in the configuration file:
    * `<IP of the RPN VPN server>`: IP of the RPN VPN server
    * `<ca.crt>`: Path to ca.crt
    * `<cert.crt>`: Path to the client .crt
    * `<cert.key>`: Path to the client .key
    * `<password file>`: Path to the file containing your password

    Then save the file and exit the text editor.
3. To start the VPN automatically during the boot process of the server, edit the file `/etc/default/openvpn` and insert the following line:
    ```
    AUTOSTART="client"
    ```

    This line allows [OpenVPN](/tutorials/install-openvpn/) to start automatically with the configuration file located at `/etc/openvpn/client.conf`. 

    Once the connection to the RPN VPN server is established, you can use your RPN VPN IP to check whether a new interface displays:

    ```
    root@mydedibox:/etc/default# ifconfig tun0
    tun0      Link encap:UNSPEC  HWaddr 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00
            inet addr:10.90.250.25  P-t-P:10.90.250.26  Mask:255.255.255.255
    ```

    You can also check if the routes for the RPN network were set:

    ```
    root@mydedibox:/etc/default# route -n | grep 10.90
    10.90.0.0       10.90.250.26    255.255.0.0     UG    0      0        0 tun0
    10.90.250.1     10.90.250.26    255.255.255.255 UGH   0      0        0 tun0
    10.90.250.26    0.0.0.0         255.255.255.255 UH    0      0        0 tun0
    ```

    Now you can [configure your server](/dedibox-rpn/quickstart/) in your RPN group.