How to Connect PPTP on Linux command line

This tutorial explains how to connect via PPTP protocol on Linux using command-line,

so you don't need to use any network managers of GUIs like KDE, Gnome, etc.

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Check if ppp-generic module exists. If not, it will probably not work:

modprobe ppp-generic

Install necessary packages:

apt-get install pptp-linux pptpd ppp curl

Create PPTP configuration file:

nano /etc/ppp/peers/hmavpn

Enter this as content of the "hmavpn" file:
(replace 72.11.154.130 is the IP of the PPTP server you want to connect to, and MYHMAACCOUNTUSERNAME with your username)

pty "pptp 72.11.154.130 --nolaunchpppd" lock noauth nobsdcomp nodeflate name MYHMAACCOUNTUSERNAME remotename hmavpn ipparam hmavpn require-mppe-128 usepeerdns defaultroute persist

Enter VPN login credentials into chap-secrets file: ([tab] being replaced by a tab, username with your VPN account username and password with your PPTP password):

nano /etc/ppp/chap-secrets username[tab]hmavpn[tab]password[tab]*

Create script to replace default routes - otherwise the VPN is not being used by your system:

nano /etc/ppp/ip-up.local

Enter this as content of the "ip-up.local" file:

#!/bin/bash H=`ps aux | grep 'pppd pty' | grep -v grep | awk '{print $14}'` DG=`route -n | grep UG | awk '{print $2}'` DEV=`route -n | grep UG | awk '{print $8}'` route add -host $H gw $DG dev $DEV route del default $DEV route add default dev ppp0

Make this script executable:

chmod +x /etc/ppp/ip-up.local

To connect to the VPN:

pon hmavpn

To disconnect from the VPN:

poff hmavpn

Check your current IP:

curl http://checkip.dyndns.org

Notes:

• You can check via "ifconfig" if there is a ppp0 adapter. If there is, you are successfully connected.
• All commands must be run with "sudo" if you're not logged in as a root user.
• When you are connected but the VPN is not being used by your system, incorrect iptables / routing rules are responsible.
  Try running "route add default dev ppp0". I'll list other possible fixes here ASAP.