Using Openvpn Client in Alpine Linux

Installing openvpn client in alpine linux is very easy. Just follow below command

# apk add openvpn

To use it, just run the command against an openvpn configuration file

# openvpn myopenvpnconfig.file

The first time you are using openvpn client, you will probably get this error:

ERROR: Cannot open TUN/TAP dev /dev/net/tun: No such file or directory (errno=2)

What you can do is just give 666 permission to /dev/net/tun

# chmod 666 /dev/net/tun

and rerun the openvpn command

# openvpn myopenvpnconfig.file

Once you get this message "Initialization Sequence Completed", you should be able to access your remote server

Adding Internet Based Repositories in Alpine Linux

What I like about alpine linux is, it is very fast to get to a working linux with a shell inside a VM, and I can start testing whatever I need to test straight away. But the default setting of alpine linux does not preconfigured to get any packages from the internet, which is a pity. So we have to add it manually.

To add the main and community repositories manually, run below commands
# echo 'http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community' >> /etc/apk/repos
# echo 'http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main' >> /etc/apk/repos

Update repository indexes
# apk update

That's it. You can now search for any package
# apk search openssh

And install any package
# apk add openssh-client