Setting Up the Raspberry Pi 4

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 130 views

Introduction

Are you looking to add an extra layer of security to your home network while accessing your Raspberry Pi NAS remotely? Look no further than OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4. In this article, we will walk you through the process of setting up OpenVPN for Docker on your Raspberry Pi 4, providing you with a secure and reliable way to access your network from anywhere.

What is OpenVPN?

OpenVPN is a popular open-source virtual private network (VPN) solution that allows you to create a secure and encrypted connection between your devices and a VPN server. This connection is then used to access your network, ensuring that all data transmitted is encrypted and secure.

Why Use Docker with OpenVPN?

Docker is a containerization platform that allows you to run applications in isolated containers, providing a lightweight and efficient way to deploy and manage applications. By using Docker with OpenVPN, you can create a secure and scalable VPN solution that can be easily managed and maintained.

Hardware Requirements

To run OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4, you will need the following hardware:

Raspberry Pi 4
MicroSD card (at least 8GB)
Power supply for the Raspberry Pi 4
Ethernet cable
Internet connection

Software Requirements

To run OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4, you will need the following software:

Raspberry Pi OS (Raspbian)
Docker
OpenVPN
Portainer (optional)

Setting Up the Raspberry Pi 4

Before you can start setting up OpenVPN for Docker, you need to set up your Raspberry Pi 4. Here's a step-by-step guide to get you started:

Step 1: Install Raspberry Pi OS

To install Raspberry Pi OS, follow these steps:

Download the latest version of Raspberry Pi OS from the official Raspberry Pi website.
Insert the microSD card into your Raspberry Pi 4.
Connect the power supply to the Raspberry Pi 4.
Connect the Ethernet cable to the Raspberry Pi 4.
Boot up the Raspberry Pi 4 and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Step 2: Update and Upgrade the System

Once you have installed Raspberry Pi OS, you need to update and upgrade the system to ensure that you have the latest packages and security updates. Here's how to do it:

Open the terminal on your Raspberry Pi 4.
Run the following command to update the package list: sudo apt update
Run the following command to upgrade the system: sudo apt full-upgrade

Step 3: Install Docker

To install Docker on your Raspberry Pi 4, follow these steps:

Run the following command to install Docker: sudo apt install docker.io
Run the following command to start Docker: sudo systemctl start docker
Run the following command to enable Docker to start automatically on boot: sudo systemctl enable docker

Step 4: Install OpenVPN

To install OpenVPN on your Raspberry Pi 4, follow these steps:

Run the following command to install OpenVPN: sudo apt install openvpn
Run the following command to create a new OpenVPN configuration file: sudo nano /etc/openvpn/server.conf

Step 5: Configure OpenVPN

To configure OpenVPN, you need to edit the OpenVPN configuration file. Here's how to do it:

Open the OpenVPN configuration file in the nano editor: sudo nano /etc/openvpn/server.conf
Add the following lines to the configuration file:

port 1194
proto udp
dev tun
ca ca.crt
cert server.crt
key server.key
dh dh2048.pem
topology subnet
server 10.8.0.0 255.255.255.0

Save and close the configuration file.

Step 6: Create a Certificate Authority

To create a certificate authority, you need to run the following command:

sudo openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout ca.key -out ca.crt -days 365 -subj "/C=US/ST=State/L=Locality/O=Organization/CN=ca"

Step 7: Create a Server Certificate

To create a server certificate, you need to run the following command:

sudo openssl req -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout server.key -out server.csr -subj "/C=US/ST=State/L=Locality/O=Organization/CN=server"

Step 8: Create a Diffie-Hellman Parameter File

To create a Diffie-Hellman parameter file, you need to run the following command:

sudo openssl dhparam -out dh2048.pem 2048

Step 9: Start OpenVPN

To start OpenVPN, you need to run the following command:

sudo systemctl start openvpn

Step 10: Enable OpenVPN to Start Automatically on Boot

To enable OpenVPN to start automatically on boot, you need to run the following command:

sudo systemctl enable openvpn

Accessing Your Network Remotely

Now that you have set up OpenVPN for Docker on your Raspberry Pi 4, you can access your network remotely using the OpenVPN client. Here's how to do it:

Download the OpenVPN client from the official OpenVPN website.
Install the OpenVPN client on your device.
Connect to the OpenVPN server using the following command:

sudo openvpn --config /etc/openvpn/client.conf

Once connected, you can access your network using the IP address of the OpenVPN server.

Conclusion

In this article, we have walked you through the process of setting up OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4. By following these steps, you can create a secure and reliable VPN solution that allows you to access your network remotely. Remember to always use a secure password and to keep your OpenVPN configuration up to date to ensure the security of your network.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues while setting up OpenVPN for Docker on your Raspberry Pi 4, here are some common troubleshooting steps to try:

Check the OpenVPN configuration file for any errors.
Check the OpenVPN logs for any errors.
Restart the OpenVPN service.
Check the network connection to ensure that it is stable.

Additional Resources

For more information on setting up OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4, here are some additional resources to check out:

The official OpenVPN website: https://openvpn.net/
The official Docker website: https://www.docker.com/
The official Raspberry Pi website: https://www.raspberrypi.org/

Q: What is OpenVPN and how does it work?

A: OpenVPN is a popular open-source virtual private network (VPN) solution that allows you to create a secure and encrypted connection between your devices and a VPN server. This connection is then used to access your network, ensuring that all data transmitted is encrypted and secure.

Q: Why use Docker with OpenVPN?

A: Docker is a containerization platform that allows you to run applications in isolated containers, providing a lightweight and efficient way to deploy and manage applications. By using Docker with OpenVPN, you can create a secure and scalable VPN solution that can be easily managed and maintained.

Q: What are the system requirements for running OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4?

A: To run OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4, you will need the following hardware:

Raspberry Pi 4
MicroSD card (at least 8GB)
Power supply for the Raspberry Pi 4
Ethernet cable
Internet connection

Q: How do I install OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4?

A: To install OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4, follow these steps:

Install Raspberry Pi OS (Raspbian) on your Raspberry Pi 4.
Update and upgrade the system to ensure that you have the latest packages and security updates.
Install Docker on your Raspberry Pi 4.
Install OpenVPN on your Raspberry Pi 4.
Configure OpenVPN to use the Docker container.

Q: How do I configure OpenVPN to use the Docker container?

A: To configure OpenVPN to use the Docker container, follow these steps:

Create a new OpenVPN configuration file.
Add the following lines to the configuration file:

port 1194
proto udp
dev tun
ca ca.crt
cert server.crt
key server.key
dh dh2048.pem
topology subnet
server 10.8.0.0 255.255.255.0

Save and close the configuration file.
Create a certificate authority and a server certificate.
Create a Diffie-Hellman parameter file.
Start OpenVPN.

Q: How do I access my network remotely using OpenVPN?

A: To access your network remotely using OpenVPN, follow these steps:

Download the OpenVPN client from the official OpenVPN website.
Install the OpenVPN client on your device.
Connect to the OpenVPN server using the following command:

sudo openvpn --config /etc/openvpn/client.conf

Once connected, you can access your network using the IP address of the OpenVPN server.

Q: What are some common issues that I may encounter while setting up OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4?

A: Some common issues that you may encounter while setting up OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4 include:

Errors in the OpenVPN configuration file.
Issues with the network connection.
Problems with the Docker container.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4?

A: To troubleshoot issues with OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4, follow these steps:

Check the OpenVPN configuration file for any errors.
Check the OpenVPN logs for any errors.
Restart the OpenVPN service.
Check the network connection to ensure that it is stable.

Q: What are some additional resources that I can use to learn more about OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4?

A: Some additional resources that you can use to learn more about OpenVPN for Docker on a Raspberry Pi 4 include:

The official OpenVPN website: https://openvpn.net/
The official Docker website: https://www.docker.com/
The official Raspberry Pi website: https://www.raspberrypi.org/

By following these steps and resources, you can create a secure and reliable VPN solution that allows you to access your network remotely.