How to setup OpenVPN Client

I'm trying to setup OpenVPN using NetworkManager. The GUI seems buggy and unresponsive. Are there any other tools for setting up a VPN client?

Yes, you can use OpenVPN directly. This way you can use more settings as well.

First you need the openvpn package:

sudo apt-get install openvpn

Then you can connect like this:

sudo openvpn --config /path/to/config.ovpn

The sudo is important because OpenVPN won't be able to connect otherwise (I think because it has to change the routes).

Easiest method is running this command:

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

And then add a OpenVPN connection from Network Manager which after above command supports importing .ovpn files.

As Louis has explained installing openvpn client can be done with command

sudo apt-get install openvpn

However if you are using dual authentication mechanism for your vpn server, simple connection with

sudo openvpn --config /path/to/config.ovpn

will not be sufficient. You need some extra setup.

1. Make sure your config file has auth-user-pass line.

2. Next add --auth-retry interact to your connection command. So your entire command would look like

   sudo openvpn --config /path/to/config.ovpn --auth-retry interact
   

I'm coming here from the locked How to setup VPN using an .ovpn file? [duplicate], because I wanted to give an answer to problems of importing *.ovpn files in the GUI, which some users experience.

Just like others, I've made sure to install:

$sudo apt-get install network-manager-openvpn-gnome

However, on Ubuntu 18.04 (had same problem on 16.04), I've not been able to import a *.ovpn file using the GUI (Settings -> Network -> VPN + -> 'Import from file'). I always get:

Cannot import VPN connection

The file "foo.ovpn" could not be read or does not contain recognized VPN connection information

Error: the plugin does not support import capabilities

However, I just stumbled upon the following instruction from nixCraft for importing a *.opvn file:

$ sudo nmcli connection import type openvpn file /path/to/foo.ovpn

After running that command, my VPN connection gets listed under 'Settings -> Network -> VPN'. After editing the password, my VPN connection works. The VPN connection is also listed in top-panel menu that shows connections, power, users among other things.