Description: KOVpn is a simple OpenVPN GUI which is intended to fit end-user's needs. It runs without root privileges and can control the most important functions of openvpn:
* connect and disconnect * username and password input * private key passphrase input * show status * supports multiple openvpn connections * Store username and/or passwords in kwallet * Supports OpenVPN's management interface access control * Simple DCOP interface (status report, connect, disconnect) It requires some changes to your openvpn configuration file: You have to activate the management interface by adding these lines
Version 0.3_pre7: * Moved to new project home * Fixed compiler warnings * Made KOVpn compile on 64 bit targets
Version 0.3_pre6: * Added a simple but useful DCOP interface * Fixed a bug with resizing the config dialog. * Renamed "show more information" to "advanced mode" * Renamed "Quiet mode" to "Silent mode" * Updated German translation which is now complete again.
Version 0.3_pre5: * Added quiet mode (no more popups) * Added about dialog * Added advanced mode (more info about the connection and an input field to send commands to the openvpn daemon) * Fixed a lot of bugs with memory and cpu time consumption
Version 0.3_pre2: * Gentoo users just have to emerge it. It's in portage since some weeks. * Lot of Bug Fixes (and new bugs) * Lot of new features (inclusive OpenVPN 2.1 support) * More details will follow soon.
Version 0.2: * Added support for OpenVPN's management interface access control password. * Fixed all known bugs in the configuration dialog. * Fixed bug in the password storage. * Fixed some minor bugs in the status window. * Added a Gentoo ebuild file. * Added German translation * French and Chinese will follow soon
Version 0.1.2: * fixed wrong status icon in system tray when a OpenVPN daemon exits. * Documentation updated on the homepage.
Version 0.1.1: * fixed wrong status information in the system tray * make kovpn less noisy on the konsole.
1. This is great tool! I like it way more than kvpnc.
2. Is there KDE4 version planned?
3. When I used kovpnsetup and used passwords for multiple managed interfaces it did not create *_pw.txt files. When I used 'touch something_pw.txt' before running kovpnsetup it worked fine.
Enlighters project page is down and he doesn't reply to mails anymore. Since I found the tool useful nevertheless (NetworkManager's support is no alternative at this point), a friend and I fixed some issues on 64 Bit, brought the package up to shape and wrote spec/rule files for the OpenSUSE build service. We are still seeking out for someone who wants to test / help with Fedora packages, as the spec file is not yet working for Fedora/RHEL/CentOS. Enjoy!
Also, if there is interest in porting the tool to Qt4 (no need for a KDE dependency IMHO), please contact me.
well, I think I have to learn to use this comment function :-)
What I wanted to say is: kvpnc needs root privileges, because it doesn't use OpenVPN's management interface.
Well, you're right! It might have been better if I patched kvpnc. But there are some reasons _for me_ to write a new app:
1. I wanted to write a new one :-)
2. Patching an application is harder than writing a new one.
3. I wanted a "light" application, just for an end-user. I think kvpnc isn't such an app.
4. I think an end-user doesn't need more than kovpn provides. What do you think?
5. Keep it simple. Kvpnc is good if you have more than one VPN client on your computer. I have only OpenVPN.
Please don't think that I have anything against kvpnc. I'm sure, it's a good application. The main reason is really that I wanted to write my own application that is simple and does just the things I need every day - and it does.
Please keep developing this application, for me it suits my needs and I like the fact not having to be root to use it. Btw this app resembles very much to a Windows app that was written for GUI interaction with OpenVPN. I really liked the way how to use that one and am happy to see a similar one incorporated into my KDE desktop. Keep up the good work!
kvpnc has one big disadvantage (ok, i tried it a few month ago, maybe it is solved now, but the screenshots on the webpage told not). You can only connect to OpenVPN Server which are configured to listen on UDP-Ports. It is not possible to configure kvpnc to use TCP Ports to connect. There are many OpenVPN Servers out there, which are configured to listen on TCP Port 443, because this Port often available through Firewalls.
And personal i think, that kvpnc is overdressed.
Ratings & Comments
14 Comments
So good
^_^
1. This is great tool! I like it way more than kvpnc. 2. Is there KDE4 version planned? 3. When I used kovpnsetup and used passwords for multiple managed interfaces it did not create *_pw.txt files. When I used 'touch something_pw.txt' before running kovpnsetup it worked fine.
Enlighters project page is down and he doesn't reply to mails anymore. Since I found the tool useful nevertheless (NetworkManager's support is no alternative at this point), a friend and I fixed some issues on 64 Bit, brought the package up to shape and wrote spec/rule files for the OpenSUSE build service. We are still seeking out for someone who wants to test / help with Fedora packages, as the spec file is not yet working for Fedora/RHEL/CentOS. Enjoy! Also, if there is interest in porting the tool to Qt4 (no need for a KDE dependency IMHO), please contact me.
ah great news that kovpn is in active develop again. i like this tool.
kovpn is exactly what I was looking for. Simple and useful. Using the management interface is much better than starting openvpn directly.
Yes I do, but I doesn't use the management interface of OpenVPN as far as I know. And that means that it needs root privileges to work.
Did you know KVpnc? It does similar and other vpns.
Yes I do, but I doesn't use the management interface of OpenVPN as far as I know. And that means that it needs root privileges to work.
well, I think I have to learn to use this comment function :-) What I wanted to say is: kvpnc needs root privileges, because it doesn't use OpenVPN's management interface.
That doesn't explain why another application is needed :) kvpnc is under GPL, patching it is allowed .
Well, you're right! It might have been better if I patched kvpnc. But there are some reasons _for me_ to write a new app: 1. I wanted to write a new one :-) 2. Patching an application is harder than writing a new one. 3. I wanted a "light" application, just for an end-user. I think kvpnc isn't such an app. 4. I think an end-user doesn't need more than kovpn provides. What do you think? 5. Keep it simple. Kvpnc is good if you have more than one VPN client on your computer. I have only OpenVPN. Please don't think that I have anything against kvpnc. I'm sure, it's a good application. The main reason is really that I wanted to write my own application that is simple and does just the things I need every day - and it does.
Please keep developing this application, for me it suits my needs and I like the fact not having to be root to use it. Btw this app resembles very much to a Windows app that was written for GUI interaction with OpenVPN. I really liked the way how to use that one and am happy to see a similar one incorporated into my KDE desktop. Keep up the good work!
kvpnc has one big disadvantage (ok, i tried it a few month ago, maybe it is solved now, but the screenshots on the webpage told not). You can only connect to OpenVPN Server which are configured to listen on UDP-Ports. It is not possible to configure kvpnc to use TCP Ports to connect. There are many OpenVPN Servers out there, which are configured to listen on TCP Port 443, because this Port often available through Firewalls. And personal i think, that kvpnc is overdressed.