Solved Install and connect to NordVPN, closed for now.

Solved issue
Sherri is a Cat

Sherri is a Cat

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I think this is the right forum to post this.

I'm having problems connecting to the NordVPN servers.

Think I've listed all the information necessary. Being so new to Linux, I can't say for sure.
  • Linux Mint 21.3 Cinnamon
  • Cinnamon version 6.0.4
  • Linux Kernel 5.15.0-92-generic
  • Memory 5.7 GiB
  • Hard Drives 1001.3 GB
  • Graphics Card Intel corp. Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller
  • Display Server X11

I'm tethering using a globally unlocked Samsung A51
  • USB C , at least 3.0 (Blue tongue port on PC and cable)
  • The phone charges using USB C 3.0
    • (may use a newer version USB C, not sure though.)
  • NordVPN is installed on the phone as well.
  • Using the VPN on my phone and PC has never been a problem. My connection faster is having it on both devices.

I have a copy of the entire system using inxi -Fxxxz
I have copies of the (codes?) (generated?) in the terminal when I installed NordVPN.

When I was still using the Giant, I would uninstall the program, clean up the registry and start over. I don't know do that in Linux yet. I also don't know if it's even necessary.

I think the relevant part is the network hardware shown below. If more of the system is necessary, the entire thing is in this link.
or I can post the entire thing here using </>

Network:
Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
vendor: Lenovo driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1
port: 4000 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
IF: enp1s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Device-2: Realtek RTL8723BE PCIe Wireless Network Adapter
vendor: Lenovo Z50-75 driver: rtl8723be v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s
lanes: 1 port: 3000 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:b723 class-ID: 0280
IF: wlp2s0 state: down mac: <filter>
IF-ID-1: usb0 state: unknown speed: -1 duplex: half mac: <filter>

I noticed that even though I'm using a wired connection, my phone shows up as a Bluetooth device. Bluetooth is turned off on my phone. I'm sure someone will explain that! :)

Bluetooth:
Device-1: Samsung GT-I9070 (network tethering USB debugging enabled)
type: USB driver: rndis_host v: kernel bus-ID: 2-2.2.1:23
chip-ID: 04e8:6864 class-ID: 0a00 serial: <filter>
Device-2: Realtek RTL8723B Bluetooth type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8
bus-ID: 2-7:7 chip-ID: 0bda:b728 class-ID: e001 serial: <filter>
Report: ID: hci0 rfk-id: 4 state: down bt-service: enabled,running
rfk-block: hardware: no software: yes address: <filter>


I have followed all directions on the NordVPN website and I'm running into problems.

1707254321486.png

How to install a VPN on Linux

These are the commands I entered in the terminal, the results and problems I"m running into. I copied and pasted the commands into the terminal.

  • sh <(wget -qO - https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/linux/install.sh)
    • Everything seemed to be okay
  • nordvpn login
    • Received this message
      • Permission denied accessing /run/nordvpn/nordvpnd.sock.
        Run 'sudo usermod -aG nordvpn $USER' to fix this issue and reboot your device afterwards for this to take affect
I waited to use that command. There is a note on the website.

I don't know if I have a curl package and I'm not clear on exactly what is for or what it does. I entered the alternative command.

  • sh <(wget -qO - https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/linux/install.sh)
    • I didn't go over it with a fine tooth comb, but the code looks the same as that generated by the first command.
  • nordvpn login.
    • Permission denied accessing /run/nordvpn/nordvpnd.sock.
      Run 'sudo usermod -aG nordvpn $USER' to fix this issue and reboot your device afterwards for this to take an effect.

This time I did enter the suggested command.
1707266085189.png


  • I tried logging in to my NordVPN account from Firefox before clicking the link shown in the terminal. Same error code.
  • I turned off Ublock Origin and Duck Duck Go. Still getting the same results.
  • I copied and pasted the link in Firefox, same results.

So far, every tutorial I've looked online seems to be sponsored by NordVPN. The instructions are exactly the same with links that take you to their website.
I tried doing this on, all day! But I'm very new to Linux and need some help! I don't know what else to try or everything was done right.

Thank you!
 

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very easy to do but I never used VPN provider's applications mainly because this is one more point of (potential) failure
for OpenVPN (looks like this is what you do)
1) check if openvpn is installed
2) check if wireguard is installed
3) install if not available
4) create a text file with your credentials in separate lines. save it in /etc/openvpn
5) edit Nordvpn *.ovpn file (you have download it first) and modify this line
auth-user-pass
to this
auth-user-pass some_file.txt
save it and run
6) cd /etc/openvpn && sudo openvpn *.ovpn &
where *.ovpn is the file that you downloaded from NordVPN site
at this point if all works add ovpn file to Network Manager

wireguard does not have this issue (but you need to configure it first)
nmcli connection import type wireguard file "wg0.conf"
 
I don't use VPNs so I can't help further here, but if it all goes pear-shaped, you could just use your most recent Timeshift snapshot to restore from, but we have not covered that yet, there.

Wiz
 
Aristarchus said:
very easy to do but I never used VPN provider's applications mainly because this is one more point of (potential) failure
for OpenVPN (looks like this is what you do)
1) check if openvpn is installed
2) check if wireguard is installed
3) install if not available
4) create a text file with your credentials in separate lines. save it in /etc/openvpn
5) edit Nordvpn *.ovpn file (you have download it first) and modify this line
auth-user-pass
to this
auth-user-pass some_file.txt
save it and run
6) cd /etc/openvpn && sudo openvpn *.ovpn &
where *.ovpn is the file that you downloaded from NordVPN site
at this point if all works add ovpn file to Network Manager

wireguard does not have this issue (but you need to configure it first)
nmcli connection import type wireguard file "wg0.conf"
Click to expand...
wizardfromoz said:
I don't use VPNs so I can't help further here, but if it all goes pear-shaped, you could just use your most recent Timeshift snapshot to restore from, but we have not covered that yet, there.

Wiz
Click to expand...
I'll hit you up in the Timeshift thread. I thought about that, the fact that I don't know how to restore anything. But I did it anyway. I still have the installation files on a USB.

I took another Snap shot BEFORE starting on this project.
 
If you have a chromium based browser, you can use:

chromewebstore.google.com

NordVPN - VPN proxy for privacy and security - Chrome Web Store

Connect to the fastest VPN out there — NordVPN. Hide your IP, block ads, and be safe online with our VPN proxy extension for Chrome.
chromewebstore.google.com chromewebstore.google.com

Which, among other things, says, :

How do I set up a VPN on Chrome?

1. Add the NordVPN extension to your Chrome browser.
2. Log in to your NordVPN account.
3. Click on the NordVPN extension icon in the top-right corner.
4. Click “Quick Connect,” and you’re done!

Chromium based browsers:

alvarotrigo.com

16 Best Chromium Browsers 2024 [Ranked & Reviewed] - Alvaro Trigo's Blog

Discover what are the Top Chromium-based Web Browsers and their pros and cons.
alvarotrigo.com alvarotrigo.com

Alternativeto.net:

 
Aristarchus said:
1) check if openvpn is installed
Click to expand...
Not installed
Aristarchus said:
2) check if wireguard is installed
Click to expand...
I only get as far as typing wire when Network shows up. If I finish typing the whole word nothing comes up.

So I don't have either
Aristarchus said:
3) install if not available
Click to expand...
This part worries me. Is that going to be as much work as installing NordVPN?

The rest of your instructions sounds like another lesson, AFTER I get past 1,2, and 3!
 
Ungoogled Chromium may be worthwhile looking at...

It is available in the Software Manager of LM 21.3, as a flatpak, meaning it will receive updates from Linux Mint via Update Manager.


2024-02-07_14-45.png
 
Condobloke said:
If you have a chromium based browser, you can use:

chromewebstore.google.com

NordVPN - VPN proxy for privacy and security - Chrome Web Store

Connect to the fastest VPN out there — NordVPN. Hide your IP, block ads, and be safe online with our VPN proxy extension for Chrome.
chromewebstore.google.com chromewebstore.google.com

Which, among other things, says, :

How do I set up a VPN on Chrome?

1. Add the NordVPN extension to your Chrome browser.
2. Log in to your NordVPN account.
3. Click on the NordVPN extension icon in the top-right corner.
4. Click “Quick Connect,” and you’re done!

Chromium based browsers:

alvarotrigo.com

16 Best Chromium Browsers 2024 [Ranked & Reviewed] - Alvaro Trigo's Blog

Discover what are the Top Chromium-based Web Browsers and their pros and cons.
alvarotrigo.com alvarotrigo.com

Alternativeto.net:

Click to expand...

I asked NordVPN about that. They told me that using the extension only protects me when I browsing. If I leave my PC connected to the internet, my PC isn't protected. Doing it that doesn't help my internet speed either.
 
OR....

The same thing is available via Firefox Extensions

addons.mozilla.org

NordVPN - a VPN proxy extension for Firefox â Get this Extension for ð¦ Firefox (en-US)

Download NordVPN - a VPN proxy extension for Firefox for Firefox. Looking for the best VPN extension for Firefox? NordVPN's Firefox VPN proxy extension lets you hide your IP, change your virtual location, and stay safe online with a click. Get a fast, secure, and unlimited VPN for Firefox!
addons.mozilla.org addons.mozilla.org


2024-02-07_14-49.png
 
All you need to do to be 'browsing' is leave the browser open in the task bar/panel

(panel is the Linux name for the task bar)
 
Condobloke said:
Ungoogled Chromium may be worthwhile looking at...

It is available in the Software Manager of LM 21.3, as a flatpak, meaning it will receive updates from Linux Mint via Update Manager.


View attachment 18161
Click to expand...

1707277830095.png


I know Firefox is a chromium based browser... I'm wondering about this Google web service dependency now.
 
Condobloke said:
(panel is the Linux name for the task bar)
Click to expand...

I figured that one out! Now I just have to remember to use that word instead, like a lot of things. This like it was when I was learning French.
 
Condobloke said:
All you need to do to be 'browsing' is leave the browser open in the task bar/panel
Click to expand...
I'm torn now. The challenge of figuring out how to install this on my PC... That's what I really want to do. But I have a lot of other things that need tending to.
 
Aristarchus said:
very easy to do but I never used VPN provider's applications mainly because this is one more point of (potential) failure
for OpenVPN (looks like this is what you do)
1) check if openvpn is installed
2) check if wireguard is installed
3) install if not available
4) create a text file with your credentials in separate lines. save it in /etc/openvpn
5) edit Nordvpn *.ovpn file (you have download it first) and modify this line
auth-user-pass
to this
auth-user-pass some_file.txt
save it and run
6) cd /etc/openvpn && sudo openvpn *.ovpn &
where *.ovpn is the file that you downloaded from NordVPN site
at this point if all works add ovpn file to Network Manager

wireguard does not have this issue (but you need to configure it first)
nmcli connection import type wireguard file "wg0.conf"
Click to expand...

This looks like a lot more work for me. There is a lot there that is totally foreign to me, which means a lot of learning before I can get there. And Wizardfromoz makes a good point. I don't know how to restore system yet. It sounds like a browser extension is my best realistic option right now.

I'm going to save your instructions and come back to them later. Rest assured, I'll be knocking on your door later on.

Thank you!
 
Thank God you told me that! Now, where exactly did I get that idea?
 
to install openvpn apt-get will do.
Also you are not editing Linux config files, only downloaded NordVPN files.

However it is better to read a bit before setting up vpn.

good luck
 
Nordlynx is wireguard with privacy fix (blocking client ip address retention on vpn server). Why NordVPN is messing with openvpn is beyond me.
 
Instead of debugging your current installation do
sudo apt purge nordvpn
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nordvpn
sudo usermod -aG nordvpn $USER
reboot
nordvpn login
*** follow the instructions in your browser
Click to expand...
 
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