---
title: Getting Started with Access Server
canonical: https://openvpn.net/as-docs/getting-started/
product: Access Server Docs
---

# Getting Started with Access Server

Start with two free connections. No credit card required.

- [Start now](https://myaccount.openvpn.com/signup?explicitProductSelect=true&product=AS) by creating an account on our site and referring to this documentation.
- [Request a demo](https://openvpn.net/static-links/request-demo) to learn more about Access Server in a weekly demo with one of our sales engineers.

## Setting up Access Server on Linux

Access Server fits seamlessly with Linux. Our latest releases come through our software repository. Access Server provides you with:

- A VPN server, the underlying component in Access Server.
  - Routing
  - User management
  - Tunneling
  - Authentication
  - Encryption
- The online Admin Web UI for managing the server.
  - VPN settings
  - Network settings
  - User permissions
  - Web server certificates
- OpenVPN Connect, the client app to connect users to the VPN.
  - Download pre-configured apps from the Client Web UI.
  - Download connection profiles for any VPN client.

## Choosing your platform

You can host a server on-premises, with a virtual machine, or through a cloud service provider. Start by choosing the appropriate platform from inside the [Access Server portal](https://myaccount.openvpn.com/signin/as). Then, you’ll launch your new VPN server.

We provide installation guides for each option. These make it easy to get your VPN up and running.

### Linux OS

- [Ubuntu](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/ubuntu.md)
- [Debian](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/debian.md)
- [Red Hat](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/rhel.md)

### Virtual machine

- [ESXi](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/esxi.md)
- [Hyper-V](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/hyper-v.md)

### Cloud service provider

- [AWS BYOL](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/aws-ec2.md)
- [AWS PAYG](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/aws-payg.md)
- [Azure BYOL](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/azure.md)
- [Azure PAYG](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/azure-payg.md)
- [Google Cloud](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/google-cloud.md)
- [DigitalOcean](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/digitalocean.md)
- [Oracle Cloud](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/oracle.md)
- [IBM Cloud](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/ibm.md)

### Other

- [Raspberry Pi](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/raspberry-pi.md)
- [Docker](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/docker.md)

## Activate a subscription

When you're ready to increase your connections, we have simple, transparent pricing:

- [Access Server pricing](https://openvpn.net/pricing/)

## First-time setup

The topics in the first-time setup section walk you through your first use and configuration:

- [First-Time Setup](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/first-time-setup.md)

## In this section:

- [Get & Install](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/get---install.md)
- [Activate](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/activate.md)
- [First-Time Setup](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/first-time-setup.md)
- [Connecting](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/connecting.md)

---

Prev: [Key Terms](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/glossary.md)
Next: [Get & Install](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/get---install.md)
Index: https://openvpn.net/as-docs/llms.txt