Disarray VHOST - VPN Setup and access instructions

This documentation will guide you through the process of installing and configuring OpenVPN, connecting to the VPN, and logging into your server. All of these steps are necessary to manage your system.

Before you use this document you should have already been given the following information by one of the Disarray vhost administrators:

  • VPN Username
  • VPN Password
  • Server Name
  • Server Username
  • Server Password
  • MySQL Username
  • MySQL Password

    • If you have not recieved this information, you need to get it now or you wont be able to follow these instructions. Please have all this information available.

  • Step 1: Setup OpenVPN
  • Step 2: Connect to the Disarray VPN
  • Step 3: Connect to your server
  • Step 4: Website usage statistics

    • Step 1: Setup OpenVPN

    If you already have OpenVPN installed you can just use the menu options for OpenVPN to add a new Tap-Win32 ethernet adapter and skip to Step 3.

    Step 1a: Download 'OpenVPN GUI' for Microsoft Windows

    NOTE: You must get OpenVPN GUI NOT just OpenVPN. OpenVPN is available without a GUI which you will hate. If you chose to download and install OpenVPN without the GUI your on your own.

    ♦ You can download OpenVPN GUI from our server using this link.

               - OR -

    ♦ You can download OpenVPN GUI from their website using this link.

    Step 1b: Run the installation program.

    NOTE: At the time of writing this, I just selected all the default options. You might want to consider unselecting the installation of the OpenVPN service.

    Step 1c: Rename the new Tap-Win32 ethernet adapter

    ♦ Left Click Start→Settings→Network Connections

    ♦ Right Click the Tap-Win32 connection and select 'rename'

    NOTE: For me the new Tap-Win32 connection was named 'Local Area Connection 4' but for you it probably will be different. If you are not sure what the new adapter is you can right click each one and select properties. You are looking for one whos 'Connect using' box says TAP-Win32 Adapter.

    ♦ Set the name to be 'Disarray VPN' (Very Important!!!)

    Step 1d: Install Disarray VPN configuration

    WARNING: Internet Explorer has a strong desire to want to change the file extensions when downloading these two files. Please make sure when you save them that their names are preserved exactly as stated in these instructions. If IE renames them after saving them your connection will not work - simply rename them properly.

    ♦ Download the 'disarray_vpn.ovpn' configuration file using this link.

    ♦ Save the file to 'C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config'.

    ♦ Download the 'disarray_vpn.cer' certificate file using this link.

    ♦ Save the file to 'C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config'.

    Step 2: Connecting to the Disarray VPN

    Step 2a: Use OpenVPN GUI to connect to the Disarray VPN

    ♦ Right click the OpenVPN GUI tray icon.

    ♦ Left click the connect option.

    NOTE: If you happen to have more than one OpenVPN GUI connection configured you will have to select the 'Disarray VPN' connection specifically and connect it.

    ♦ You will be prompted for your VPN Username and Password which you must supply.

    ♦ You should be notified that you are connected to the Disarray VPN.

    Step 3: Connect to your server
    Connecting to your server is done using the server name, server username, and server password provided to you so long as your Disarray VPN is connected.

    Any time you want to access your server you (except via HTTP) you must have the VPN connected.

    When you have the VPN connected all standard services can be accessed if you enable them. By Default we have enabled SSH, HTTP, and SFTP.

    Step 4: Website usage statistics
    Every server has built in website usage statistics. Assuming your website is www.foo.com you can access the usage statistics for your website using http://www.foo.com/awstats