OpenVPN Setup for Raspberry Pi with MAVProxy
Budget: $30 – $250 USD
1. Project Objective
Create a reliable VPN network using OpenVPN for remote connection to a Raspberry Pi that uses a dynamic IP address. Ensure telemetry transmission via MAVProxy.
2. Requirements
Hardware:
Raspberry Pi with Raspberry Pi OS (or similar) installed.
Server with a fixed IP address for setting up OpenVPN.
SSH access to the server.
Software:
OpenVPN (server and client).
ddclient utility for working with dynamic DNS (if necessary).
MAVProxy for telemetry transmission.
Python (for running MAVProxy and drone-related utilities).
3. Setup Steps
3.1. Installing OpenVPN on the Server
Install OpenVPN on the server:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openvpn easy-rsa
Configure the PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) to create certificates:
make-cadir ~/openvpn-ca
cd ~/openvpn-ca
source ./vars
./clean-all
./build-ca
Create keys for the server and clients:
./build-key-server server
./build-dh
openvpn --genkey --secret keys/ta.key
./build-key client1 # Repeat for each client
Configure the OpenVPN server. Sample configuration (/etc/openvpn/server.conf):
port 1194
proto udp
dev tun
ca ca.crt
cert server.crt
key server.key
dh dh2048.pem
tls-auth ta.key 0
keepalive 10 120
cipher AES-256-CBC
persist-key
persist-tun
user nobody
group nogroup
status openvpn-status.log
log /var/log/openvpn.log
verb 3
Start the OpenVPN server:
sudo systemctl start openvpn@server
sudo systemctl enable openvpn@server
3.2. Setting Up OpenVPN on the Raspberry Pi (Client)
Install OpenVPN on the Raspberry Pi:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openvpn
Obtain the client configuration file and keys from the server:
For example, copy them using scp.
Configure the client configuration file (/etc/openvpn/client.conf):
client
dev tun
proto udp
remote YOUR_SERVER_IP 1194
resolv-retry infinite
nobind
persist-key
persist-tun
ca ca.crt
cert client1.crt
key client1.key
remote-cert-tls server
cipher AES-256-CBC
verb 3
Start OpenVPN on the Raspberry Pi:
sudo systemctl start openvpn@client
sudo systemctl enable openvpn@client
3.3. Setting Up Dynamic DNS (If Necessary)
If the Raspberry Pi uses a dynamic IP, you can set up dynamic DNS using ddclient:
Install ddclient:
sudo apt install ddclient
Configure ddclient to update DNS records (e.g., through No-IP or DynDNS services).
3.4. Setting Up MAVProxy for Telemetry Transmission
Install MAVProxy on the Raspberry Pi:
sudo apt install python3-mavproxy
Configure MAVProxy to transmit telemetry through the VPN tunnel. Example command for data transmission:
mavproxy.py --master=/dev/serial0 --baudrate 57600 --out udp:YOUR_VPN_IP:14550
On the client side (on your computer or another device), you can connect to the telemetry using the IP address provided by OpenVPN.
3.5. Testing
Connect to the Raspberry Pi via VPN from the client.
Check if telemetry is being transmitted through MAVProxy:
Open Mission Planner or QGroundControl on the client device.
Verify the connection to MAVProxy via UDP.
4. Documentation
The documentation should contain a detailed description of all setup steps, including installation, configuration, and testing information.
Include a section on troubleshooting and common issues (e.g., OpenVPN connection problems, lack of telemetry through MAVProxy).
5. Acceptance Criteria
Remote connection to the Raspberry Pi via OpenVPN works.
Telemetry is correctly transmitted through MAVProxy, and data is available on the client device.
Create a reliable VPN network using OpenVPN for remote connection to a Raspberry Pi that uses a dynamic IP address. Ensure telemetry transmission via MAVProxy.
2. Requirements
Hardware:
Raspberry Pi with Raspberry Pi OS (or similar) installed.
Server with a fixed IP address for setting up OpenVPN.
SSH access to the server.
Software:
OpenVPN (server and client).
ddclient utility for working with dynamic DNS (if necessary).
MAVProxy for telemetry transmission.
Python (for running MAVProxy and drone-related utilities).
3. Setup Steps
3.1. Installing OpenVPN on the Server
Install OpenVPN on the server:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openvpn easy-rsa
Configure the PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) to create certificates:
make-cadir ~/openvpn-ca
cd ~/openvpn-ca
source ./vars
./clean-all
./build-ca
Create keys for the server and clients:
./build-key-server server
./build-dh
openvpn --genkey --secret keys/ta.key
./build-key client1 # Repeat for each client
Configure the OpenVPN server. Sample configuration (/etc/openvpn/server.conf):
port 1194
proto udp
dev tun
ca ca.crt
cert server.crt
key server.key
dh dh2048.pem
tls-auth ta.key 0
keepalive 10 120
cipher AES-256-CBC
persist-key
persist-tun
user nobody
group nogroup
status openvpn-status.log
log /var/log/openvpn.log
verb 3
Start the OpenVPN server:
sudo systemctl start openvpn@server
sudo systemctl enable openvpn@server
3.2. Setting Up OpenVPN on the Raspberry Pi (Client)
Install OpenVPN on the Raspberry Pi:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openvpn
Obtain the client configuration file and keys from the server:
For example, copy them using scp.
Configure the client configuration file (/etc/openvpn/client.conf):
client
dev tun
proto udp
remote YOUR_SERVER_IP 1194
resolv-retry infinite
nobind
persist-key
persist-tun
ca ca.crt
cert client1.crt
key client1.key
remote-cert-tls server
cipher AES-256-CBC
verb 3
Start OpenVPN on the Raspberry Pi:
sudo systemctl start openvpn@client
sudo systemctl enable openvpn@client
3.3. Setting Up Dynamic DNS (If Necessary)
If the Raspberry Pi uses a dynamic IP, you can set up dynamic DNS using ddclient:
Install ddclient:
sudo apt install ddclient
Configure ddclient to update DNS records (e.g., through No-IP or DynDNS services).
3.4. Setting Up MAVProxy for Telemetry Transmission
Install MAVProxy on the Raspberry Pi:
sudo apt install python3-mavproxy
Configure MAVProxy to transmit telemetry through the VPN tunnel. Example command for data transmission:
mavproxy.py --master=/dev/serial0 --baudrate 57600 --out udp:YOUR_VPN_IP:14550
On the client side (on your computer or another device), you can connect to the telemetry using the IP address provided by OpenVPN.
3.5. Testing
Connect to the Raspberry Pi via VPN from the client.
Check if telemetry is being transmitted through MAVProxy:
Open Mission Planner or QGroundControl on the client device.
Verify the connection to MAVProxy via UDP.
4. Documentation
The documentation should contain a detailed description of all setup steps, including installation, configuration, and testing information.
Include a section on troubleshooting and common issues (e.g., OpenVPN connection problems, lack of telemetry through MAVProxy).
5. Acceptance Criteria
Remote connection to the Raspberry Pi via OpenVPN works.
Telemetry is correctly transmitted through MAVProxy, and data is available on the client device.