Automatically Connect To VPN On Boot (GNOME)

chicocheco

Hey, I saw a discussion here about how to do that on KDE DE. I wonder what is the solution on GNOME DE.
How do I activate a Wireguard profile once connected to the internet?

I tried this
nmcli connection modify <vpn_profile> connection.autoconnect yes
But it connects too fast, before the connection to the internet is established.

There isn’t a magic checkbox in the settings.

Thanks

alfisya

Gnome really need to fix this and include it on their settings. You can do it by installing network-manager-applet:

sudo eopkg it network-manager-applet

You will find an icon name "Advanced Network Configuration". In there you can select your connection and choose which vpn autostart when it connects.

chicocheco

alfisya

Thanks! Looks like exactly what I wanted. Tomorrow morning I’m testing it. Yeah, I like gnome the most but you can never have it all, at least without tweaks like this, I guess 🙂

chicocheco

Okay, for some reason, I cannot select any VPN. I cannot open the list, it is unclicable even after checking the box "Automatically connect to VPN" while I can see 2 Wireguard profiles in in the gnome menu.

alfisya

Does your vpn visible there? Like this:

chicocheco

Yes, they are there the same as what Gnome shows me, but the list in the internect connection configuration is empty/unclicable both when the checkbox is checked or not.

I see that you have it under "VPN" while I have under "WireGuard"...

alfisya

I am using OpenVPN, not Wireguard. Maybe it doesn't support autostarting a Wireguard vpn? If your VPN support an OpenVPN too, try the OpenVPN config. See, of it makes a difference.

chicocheco

alfisya Yes, I have the option, but I always prefer wireguard on all my devices. I also run my own wireguard server.

pomon

Will setting priorities help and satisfy you?. This is an example when it comes to values.
In Network-manager -> Wired Connection 1 -> General -> Priority automatic connection, set the value to 10 and in the WireGuard connection to 5.

chicocheco

pomon That might work but WireGuard profile does not have the same option as Wired Connection.
It is more like as if it was a WiFI connection. Weird.

pomon

chicocheco That's why I suggested to start the wired connection first and then Wireguard which will redirect the connection to the VPN.

chicocheco

I tried that and it does connect both but nothing works afterwards unless I re-connect manually. I believe it is because it gives it a priority but not order of what should connect first?

Sebastian

Can you trigger your vpn connection via a terminal command? If so, why not have a script in autostart that runs on login, checks for internet connection and then establishes the vpn connection?

chicocheco

Sebastian Yeah, I even tried that once, but gave up. I am not enough experienced in this. I could not make the script work.

ReillyBrogan

Are the credentials for the wireguard VPN set to be visible?

chicocheco

ReillyBrogan What do you mean by that? I do not enter any password. The is a private key stored.