This article explains what Tunnelblick is when you need it and how to install/uninstall it. Further, a useful list of VPN providers that allow Tunnelblick connections is included.
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I have a Mac OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 and latest Tunnelblick 3.5.5 (build 4270.4461) client installed. After successfully connecting to the OpenVPN server, client disconnects after approximately 5 seconds. What is weird that native openvpn client installed on my iPhone connects and keeps connection without any issues to the same server. The most popular OpenVPN client application for Mac is Tunnelblick (alternatively you may install Viscosity for Mac). Here is how to proceed: Download and install Tunnelblick. Search the.ovpn on your Mac. Drag and drop it on the Tunnelblick icon in the menu bar or on the list of configurations in the Configurations tab of the VPN Details window.
If you are running Mac Os you have probably heard people talking about Tunnelblick and how it can be used to set up a VPN connection. You may find below all you need to know about Tunnelblick in order to make the most of it.
What is Tunnelblick?
Tunnelblick is an open source MacOS application that provides secure access to an OpenVPN server. For those of you who don’t know, OpenVPN implements VPN techniques for creating secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections. The server running OpenVPN securely connects the Mac machine to the Internet, bypassing restrictions and censorship.
Tunnelblick is free and comes with easy to use graphic user interface for the control of OpenVPN client and/or server connections. All necessary binaries and drivers, including OpenVPN and tun/tap drivers, are installed and configured by the Tunnelblick VPN package.
What you need to run Tunnelblick
Tunnelblick runs on OS X 10.4 through 10.9.
It is important to understand that it does not provide VPN by itself. It only helps a Mac OS computer to connect to a VPN server.
Thus, you need access to a VPN server with OpenVPN software installed. The OpenVPN server can be:
- Provided by your company (if you are using it for business purposes). Then you need to get the connection configuration from the network administrator (OpenVPN configuration files: .ovpn / .conf with the appropriate certificate and key files, or a Tunnel blick VPN Configuration: .tblk file).
- A server provided by a VPN service (take a look below to a list of recommended VPN providers).
- A more advanced option is to connect to another computer that you have access to or to a router that acts as VPN server. You may consider ZeroShell or Untangle to configure the computer you want to access or OpenVPN on DD-WRT to configure your router.
VPN services that support Tunnelblick
Regarding the VPN service providers, you need to know that not all of them allow their users to connect to their servers using Tunnel blick. Many of them use their own Mac VPN clients or Viscosity to connect with their clients.
You may find below a list with several good VPN providers that allow Tunnelblick VPN connections.
| VPN Provider | Tunnelblick | Own Mac VPN Client | Viscosity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirVPN | Yes | Yes | – |
| ExpressVPN | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HideMyAss | Yes | Yes | – |
| ibVPN | Yes | Yes | – |
| IPVanish | Yes | Yes (OSX 10.6.8+) | – |
| Private Internet Access | Yes | Yes (10.6+) | Yes |
| PureVPN | Yes | Yes | – |
| StrongVPN | Yes | – | Yes |
| VyprVPN | Yes | Yes | – |
How to install it
Before starting the installation you need to get the config files from the VPN service provider or from the network administrator (in case you want to connect to the company network). Save them on your Mac OS computer.
Next, here is a quick start guide:
- Download the software GUI for Mac OS.
- Install it following the onscreen instructions.
- Launch it.
- Add configuration files by clicking on ‘I have configuration files‘.
- Select ‘OpenVPN Configuration(s)‘.
- Next, select ‘Open Private Configurations Folder‘.
- Select ‘Done‘.
- A new window with the folder ‘Configurations‘ will appear.
- Now you need the OpenVPN configuration files. Extract the entire contents into the ‘Configurations‘ folder. Close the window when done.
- Launch it from ‘Applications‘.
- Click on the icon on the taskbar.
- Select a VPN location you would like to connect to and it will prompt you for your VPN username and password.
- Connect to the VPN server.
More detailed tutorials (including screenshots) may be found on the VPN providers setup pages: HideMyAss, ibVPN, VyprVPN, Private Internet Access, StrongVPN.
How to uninstall it
When you no longer need to use it to connect to a VPN server, follow the below-described actions:
- Drag the program from your ‘Applications’ folder to your Trash.
- Click your hard disk icon on your desktop (or open your Finder).
- Click on ‘Library’->’Application Support’, and ‘Delete’/Trash it folder if it exists.
- Click on ‘Library’->’Preferences’, and ‘Delete’/Trash the “com.tunnelblick.Tunnelblick.plist” file if it exists.
- Empty your Trash.
- Restart your Mac computer.
Can you run Tunnelblick on iPad and iPhone?
No, it is for MacOS only. But you may connect from your iPad or iPhone to an OpenVPN server using applications like OpenVPN Connect.
Tunnelblick for Windows
The app is only available on Mac computers and there is no Windows version. OpenVPN provides easy to use Windows application to connect to the VPN servers running OpenVPN.
Is it vulnerable to the OpenSSL Heartbeat attack?
Several versions of Tunnelblick include a version of the OpenSSL library that is vulnerable to the heartbleed attack:
- All 3.4 versions before 3.4beta22 (build 3789)
- All 3.3 versions before 3.3.2 (build 3518.3792)
If you are running one of these versions you need to update to the latest version!
Tunnelblick vs Viscosity
Viscosity is a paid alternative to Tunnelblick and it provides a rich user interface for creating, editing, and controlling VPN connections. Basically, it performs the same job, but it looks nicer. Plus, Viscosity is available for both Mac and Windows, unlike Tunnelblick that only runs on Mac computers.
Moreover, Viscosity can run AppleScript or Batch/VBS scripts before connecting/on connect/on disconnect per tunnel.
Thus, if you plan to go with Viscosity, take into account that there are significantly fewer VPN providers that accept Viscosity connections.
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The subscription costs $9 and includes email support and free updates for all future 1.x versions.
Conclusion
Tunnelblick is an excellent solution for creating VPN connections on your Mac computers and to secure your Internet traffic. It is simple to install and to use even by those that are not computer freaks. It does not provide VPN by itself, it only helps the Mac to connect to an OpenVPN server. There are plenty of VPN providers that accept such connection (check the list provided in the article). You may consider Viscosity as an alternative to Tunnelblick if you need detailed traffic statistics, enterprise support or script control. Enjoy!
An OpenVPN VPN for remote users is automatically configured the first time theinstance is booted. In order to use it, you will need an OpenVPN client appinstalled on your device and you will need to import a configuration thatspecifies how to connect to the instance.
An OpenVPN configuration can be downloaded by visiting the page/openvpn_connect_profile.php on your instance. If the instance IP addresswere 23.30.204.54, the correct URL to visit would behttps://23.20.204.54/openvpn_connect_profile.php. You will need to authenticateto the web interface by typing the username (admin) and password prior to beingallowed to download the configuration.
The profile should be downloaded and saved automatically upon opening the page.The file that it was saved in should be imported into the OpenVPN client on thedevice that you wish to connect with.
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Tips for configuring OpenVPN based on platform/client¶
OpenVPN Connect App on iOS (iPhone/iPad/iPod)¶
The iOS version of the OpenVPN Connect App allows you to import an OpenVPNprofile by opening an attachment to an email message. Save the config to a filenamed remote-access-vpn.ovpn and send it to an email account that the iOS deviceis configured to retrieve mail for. Open the email message and touch theattachment to open it. You will be presented with Open in OpenVPN as one ofthe available options. Touch the OpenVPN icon to select that option. The OpenVPNConnect App should then open and list the profile under a heading that saysNew profiles are available…. Click on the green ball with the + sign in itto import the profile. Type in the username, admin, and password then changethe On/Off switch to On.
OpenVPN Connect App on Android¶
The Android version of the OpenVPN Connect App allows you to import an OpenVPNprofile from an SD card. Save the configuration file to the SD card. Launch theOpenVPN Connect App. From the menu, select Import, then Import Profile from SDcard. Browse to the location of the configuration file and select it. Enter theusername, admin, and password to connect to the VPN. Press Connect.
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TunnelBlick on MacOS X¶
The TunnelBlick App for MacOS allows you to import an OpenVPN configurationfile. Save the configuration to a file on your system. Click on VPN Details.Click on the + symbol underneath the existing configurations to add a newconfiguration. Click on the I have configuration files button. Click on theOpenVPN Configuration(s) button. Follow the instructions presented byTunnelBlick (copy the config into an empty folder TunnelBlick creates on theDesktop, rename the folder, click on the folder). When the profile is importedsuccessfully, click on it’s name and then click on Connect. Enter theusername, admin, and password to connect to the VPN.
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OpenVPN Connect Client on Windows¶
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The OpenVPN Connect Client on Windows allows you to import an OpenVPNconfiguration file from the local disk. Save the file on your system. Click the+ symbol to the right of Connection Profiles. Select Local File andclick on the Import button. Find the profile you wish to import in the filebrowser window and click Open. A box with the name of the new profile shouldappear under Connection Profiles now. Click on that box and enter theusername, admin, and password to connect to the VPN.