--- title: 'Tutorial: Import a Connection Profile Using the openvpn3-as Tool' canonical: https://openvpn.net/as-docs/v3/tutorials/tutorial--openvpn3-as-import-connection-profile/ product: Access Server Docs description: Import an OpenVPN Access Server connection profile directly into OpenVPN 3 Linux using the openvpn3-as tool. Learn how to download, import, connect, and verify your VPN profile. --- # Tutorial: Import a Connection Profile Using the openvpn3-as Tool ## Overview The `openvpn3-as` tool lets you download and import an OpenVPN Access Server connection profile (.ovpn) directly into OpenVPN 3 Linux. The tool connects to your Access Server, prompts you for authentication credentials, downloads the appropriate connection profile, and imports it into the OpenVPN 3 Linux configuration manager. You can use `openvpn3-as` with users authenticated through: - PAM - Local authentication - RADIUS - LDAP > **Important** > > Downloading and importing connection profiles with `openvpn3-as` isn't currently supported for SAML authentication. ## Prerequisites - An Access Server instance running. - A user account configured on Access Server. - The latest version of [OpenVPN 3 Linux](https://community.openvpn.net/Pages/OpenVPN3Linux) installed. > **Tip** > > Verify your OpenVPN 3 Linux version: > > ``` > openvpn3 version > ``` ## Placeholder values used in this tutorial Replace the following placeholders with values for your environment: | **Placeholder** | **Description** | | --- | --- | | `` | The name (alias) assigned to the imported connection profile. | | `` | Access Server IP address. | | `` | Access Server domain name. | > **Note** > > In our documentation, we use example IPv4 addresses and subnets [reserved for documentation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserved_IP_addresses#IPv4), such as `192.0.2.0/24`, `198.51.100.0/24`, and `203.0.113.0/24`. > > Ensure you replace them with valid IPv4 addresses and subnets for your network(s). > **Note** > > This tutorial uses a user-locked profile in the primary example. Additional examples for auto-login profiles and other use cases are provided later. > > The `openvpn3-as` tool supports user-locked and auto-login connection profiles. Server-locked connection profiles aren't supported. ## Step 1: Import a connection profile 1. Import a user-locked profile using an IP address: ``` openvpn3-as --name --insecure-certs https:/// ``` - **Optional:** Import a user-locked profile using a domain name: ``` openvpn3-as --name https:/// ``` 2. When prompted, enter your Access Server username and password. - The `openvpn3-as` tool downloads the profile and imports it into the OpenVPN 3 Linux configuration manager. - Example output: ``` root@openvpn3:~# openvpn3-as --name brandonqa --insecure-certs https://198.51.100.15/ OpenVPN Access Server Username: brandonlinux OpenVPN Access Server Password: ------------------------------------------------------------ Profile imported successfully Configuration name: brandonqa Configuration path: /net/openvpn/v3/configuration/766701c0x18e7x4430xb6f7x467c8f52afb4 ``` ## Step 2: Verify the imported profile You can now see the imported connection profile available. 1. List all available configuration profiles: ``` openvpn3 configs-list ``` - Example output: ``` root@openvpn3:~# openvpn3 configs-list Configuration Name Last used ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ brandonqa - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``` 2. To view additional details about imported profiles, run: ``` openvpn3 configs-list --verbose ``` - Example output: ``` root@openvpn3:~# openvpn3 configs-list --verbose Configuration path Imported Last used Used Configuration Name Owner Tags ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ /net/openvpn/v3/configuration/766701c0x18e7x4430xb6f7x467c8f52afb4 2026-06-13 15:51:44 0 brandonqa root Tags: (none) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``` ## Step 3: Connect to Access Server 1. Start a VPN session using the imported profile: ``` openvpn3 session-start --config ``` 2. When prompted, enter your credentials. - Example output: ``` root@openvpn3:~# openvpn3 session-start --config brandonqa Using pre-loaded configuration profile 'brandonqa' Session path: /net/openvpn/v3/sessions/d853932asb2bbs470cs983fs7fd04cbddb52 Auth User name: brandonlinux Auth Password: Connected to 198.51.100.15 (198.51.100.15) ``` ## Step 4: Verify the VPN connection 1. Check the status of active VPN sessions: ``` openvpn3 sessions-list ``` - If the session status shows **Client connected**, the VPN connection is active. - Example output: ``` root@openvpn3:~# openvpn3 sessions-list ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Path: /net/openvpn/v3/sessions/d853932asb2bbs470cs983fs7fd04cbddb52 Created: 2026-06-13 16:01:26 PID: 1412 Owner: root Device: tun0 Config name: brandonqa Connected to: udp:198.51.100.15:1194 Status: Connection, Client connected ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ``` ## Additional examples - Import an auto-login profile using an IP address: ``` openvpn3-as --autologin --name --insecure-certs https:/// ``` - Import an auto-login profile using a domain name: ``` openvpn3-as --autologin --name https:/// ``` - Import an auto-login profile and start it automatically at boot (IP address): ``` openvpn3-as --systemd-start --autologin --name --insecure-certs https:/// ``` - Import an auto-login profile and start it automatically at boot (domain name): ``` openvpn3-as --systemd-start --autologin --name https:/// ``` ## Learn more about openvpn3-as To view all available options: ``` openvpn3-as --help ``` For complete command reference information, see the [openvpn3-as manual](https://codeberg.org/OpenVPN/openvpn3-linux/src/branch/master/docs/man/openvpn3-as.1.rst). --- Prev: [Tutorial: Create Connection Profiles Using the Web API (OpenAPI)](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/v3/tutorials/tutorial--create-connection-profiles-with-web-api.md) Next: [Tutorial: Create OpenVPN Connect Bundled Installers](https://openvpn.net/as-docs/v3/tutorials/tutorial--create-openvpn-connect-installers.md) Index: https://openvpn.net/as-docs/llms.txt