How to Install Pritunl VPN Client on Debian and Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide
Securing your internet connection and accessing private networks is crucial for both professionals and privacy-conscious individuals. The Pritunl VPN client offers a robust and straightforward way to establish secure connections on Linux systems. If you’re running Debian or Ubuntu, this guide will walk you through the entire installation process, ensuring you have a stable and secure VPN setup in minutes.
This tutorial provides a clean, command-line approach to get the official Pritunl client running on your system.
Prerequisites
Before we begin, ensure you have a user account with sudo or root privileges. All commands listed here will need to be run in the terminal.
Step 1: Add the Pritunl GPG Key
The first critical step is to add the GPG key for the Pritunl repository. This key is used by your system’s package manager to verify the authenticity of the software you are about to install. It ensures that the packages have been signed by the developers and have not been tampered with.
Open your terminal and execute the following command:
sudo gpg --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 7568D9BB55FF9E5287D586017AE645C0CF8E292A
sudo gpg --armor --export 7568D9BB55FF9E5287D586017AE645C0CF8E292A > /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/pritunl.asc
This two-part command first fetches the key from the Ubuntu keyserver and then adds it to your system’s list of trusted keys.
Step 2: Add the Pritunl Software Repository
Your operating system needs to know where to find the Pritunl client software. By default, it is not included in the standard Debian or Ubuntu repositories. You must add the official Pritunl repository to your system’s sources list.
Create a new source list file for Pritunl with this command:
sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pritunl.list << EOF
deb https://repo.pritunl.com/stable/apt $(lsb_release -cs) main
EOF
This command automatically detects your Ubuntu/Debian version (e.g., focal, jammy, bullseye) and creates the correct repository entry.
Step 3: Update Package Lists and Install Pritunl
With the repository and GPG key in place, the next step is to update your system’s package list. This action refreshes the list of available software, making your system aware of the newly added Pritunl repository. After updating, you can proceed with the installation.
Run the following command to update your package manager and install the client:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y pritunl-client-electron
This command combines two operations:
sudo apt-get update: Refreshes the package index.sudo apt-get install -y pritunl-client-electron: Installs the Pritunl client. The-yflag automatically confirms the installation prompt.
The pritunl-client-electron package is the recommended graphical client, offering a modern and full-featured user interface.
Step 4: Launching and Using the Pritunl Client
Once the installation is complete, you can find the Pritunl client in your desktop environment’s application menu. Simply search for “Pritunl” and launch it.
Upon opening the client for the first time, you will need to import a VPN profile. Your network administrator or Pritunl server will provide you with a profile file (often with a .ovpn extension) or a profile URI.
- Click “Import Profile” in the client.
- Select your profile file or paste the URI.
- Once imported, the profile will appear in the main window.
- Click the menu icon (three dots) next to the profile name and click “Connect” to establish your secure VPN connection.
Security Best Practices for Your VPN Connection
Installing the client is just the first step. To maintain a secure environment, always follow these best practices:
- Only Use Trusted Profiles: Never import VPN profiles from untrusted sources. A malicious profile could route your traffic through a compromised server.
- Keep Your Client Updated: Regularly run
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgradeto ensure you have the latest security patches and features for the Pritunl client and all your system software. - Enable the Kill Switch: If available in your profile settings, a kill switch will automatically block all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, preventing data leaks.
- Understand Your Connection: Be aware of whether your VPN is configured for “split-tunneling” (only routing some traffic through the VPN) or a “full tunnel” (routing all traffic). This affects how your data is protected.
By following these steps, you have successfully installed and configured the Pritunl VPN client on your Debian or Ubuntu system, enabling secure and private access to your required networks.
Source: https://kifarunix.com/install-pritunl-vpn-client-on-debian-ubuntu/
