What is OVPN?

OpenVPN is an open-source, widely-used virtual private network (VPN) protocol that provides a secure, encrypted connection between a client and a server over a public network. Created by James Yonan in 2001, OpenVPN aims to offer a robust, scalable, and flexible VPN solution with strong security features to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. OpenVPN operates on a client-server model and uses SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security) for key exchange and encryption. It supports various encryption algorithms, such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and Blowfish, and authentication methods, including certificate-based, pre-shared key, and username/password authentication. One of the major advantages of OpenVPN is its ability to traverse firewalls and network address translation (NAT) devices, making it suitable for both private and public networks. OpenVPN can run on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, and supports a wide range of configurations, from simple point-to-point connections to more complex site-to-site and remote access scenarios. In addition to its strong security features, OpenVPN is known for its flexibility and ability to adapt to various networking environments. It can be configured to operate in either a routed (tunnel) or bridged mode, depending on the desired network topology. Overall, OpenVPN is a popular choice for organizations and individuals seeking a secure, reliable, and versatile VPN solution.