Hello there! I’m Corels from Emmanuel Corels Creatives. In this guide, we’ll explore how to set up SoftEther VPN Client software on various operating systems—Windows, Linux, and macOS. SoftEther VPN isn’t just for servers; its client software is versatile, easy to configure, and works across multiple platforms. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to securely connect to your SoftEther VPN Server from any major OS.
What Is SoftEther VPN Client?
The SoftEther VPN Client allows you to establish a secure VPN connection to a SoftEther VPN Server. It supports multiple protocols (including SoftEther, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPsec) and offers robust encryption for secure data transfer. Whether you’re connecting from your home workstation, laptop, or mobile device, the client software makes it simple to get online securely.
Requirements
Before beginning, ensure you have:
- Access to the SoftEther VPN Server (its IP address or DDNS hostname and required credentials).
- A device running Windows, Linux, or macOS.
- Internet connectivity on the client device.
- For Windows, download the SoftEther VPN Client installer from the SoftEther VPN website.
- For Linux/macOS, you can use either the native SoftEther VPN Client (if available) or the OpenVPN-compatible configuration file generated by the server.
Configuring SoftEther VPN Client on Windows
-
Download and Install the Client:
- Visit the SoftEther VPN Download Page and download the Windows VPN Client installer.
- Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts to install the software.
-
Launch the VPN Client Manager:
- Open “SoftEther VPN Client Manager” from your Start Menu.
- Click “Add VPN Connection” to create a new connection.
-
Enter Connection Details:
- Host Name/IP Address: Enter the public IP address or DDNS hostname of your SoftEther VPN Server.
- Port: Default is usually
443
or5555
(check your server settings). - Virtual Hub Name: Type the name of the Virtual Hub you created on your VPN Server (e.g.,
MyVPNHub
). - User Name: Enter your VPN username (for example,
vpnuser
). - Password: Enter your VPN password.
- Click “OK” to save the connection settings.
-
Connect to the VPN:
- In the VPN Client Manager window, select your new VPN connection and click “Connect”.
- A log window will show the connection process. Once connected, your client receives an IP from the VPN pool and you can test connectivity by browsing or pinging the VPN gateway.
Configuring SoftEther VPN Client on Linux
For Linux, you have two common approaches:
Option 1: Using the SoftEther VPN Client for Linux
-
Download the Client Package:
- Go to the SoftEther VPN download page and download the Linux client package (typically provided as a tar.gz file).
- Extract the package:
tar -xzf SoftEtherVPN-Client-linux-x64-<version>.tar.gz
-
Install and Launch the Client:
- Navigate into the extracted directory and run the client manager:
cd vpnclient sudo ./vpnclient start sudo ./vpncmd
- At the
vpncmd
prompt, select “Client” mode.
- Navigate into the extracted directory and run the client manager:
-
Create a VPN Connection:
- Use the command:
AccountCreate MyVPNAccount /SERVER:<YourServer_IP_or_DDNS>:<Port> /HUB:MyVPNHub /USERNAME:vpnuser /NICNAME:MyVPNInterface
- Set the password for the account:
AccountPasswordSet MyVPNAccount
- Then, start the account:
AccountConnect MyVPNAccount
- Verify connection status with:
AccountStatusGet MyVPNAccount
- Use the command:
Option 2: Using an OpenVPN-Compatible Configuration
If you prefer a more universal solution, SoftEther VPN Server can generate an OpenVPN configuration file:
-
Generate the Configuration File on the Server:
- On your VPN Server, run:
OpenVpnMakeConfig vpnuser
- This creates a
.ovpn
file with all the necessary settings.
- On your VPN Server, run:
-
Install OpenVPN on Linux:
- Install OpenVPN if it’s not already installed:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install openvpn -y
- Install OpenVPN if it’s not already installed:
-
Connect Using OpenVPN:
- Run:
sudo openvpn --config /path/to/your/client.ovpn
- Once connected, your terminal will display connection logs. Use
ping
to test connectivity through the VPN.
- Run:
Configuring SoftEther VPN Client on macOS
For macOS, you can also use the OpenVPN configuration approach:
-
Generate the OpenVPN Configuration File:
- As described above, use the SoftEther VPN Server to generate a client configuration file.
-
Install an OpenVPN Client:
- Download an OpenVPN client like Tunnelblick (a free, open-source OpenVPN client for macOS) from Tunnelblick's website.
-
Import the Configuration File:
- Open Tunnelblick and import your
.ovpn
file. - Follow Tunnelblick’s prompts to configure and save the connection.
- Open Tunnelblick and import your
-
Connect to the VPN:
- Click on the Tunnelblick icon in the menu bar and select your VPN connection.
- Verify that you’re connected by checking the VPN status in Tunnelblick and testing network access (e.g., by browsing or pinging internal resources).
Final Thoughts
Setting up the SoftEther VPN Client is straightforward on any major platform. Whether you’re using the native client for Windows and Linux or leveraging an OpenVPN-compatible configuration on Linux and macOS, SoftEther VPN Client offers robust security and flexibility for your remote access needs.
Take your time following these steps, test your connections, and adjust settings as needed. With this setup, you’ll be securely connected to your network from anywhere in the world. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out. Happy VPN-ing!
Explained with clarity by
Corels – Admin, Emmanuel Corels Creatives