Choosing the Right VPN for Fatdog64 Linux

Fatdog64 is a nimble, Slackware-derived 64-bit distribution optimised for advanced users who appreciate simplicity and speed. It ships with its own PET package format, managed via the slakdog CLI tool (or the PETget GUI in the control panel), and typically runs a lightweight desktop—JWM with ROX-Filer or IceWM. There’s no systemd to juggle, so any VPN client you pick must play nice with OpenRC or pure SysV init and avoid deep systemd integration.

We’re looking for VPN services that:

• Provide standalone Linux support without relying on systemd or heavy Python bindings.
• Offer both OpenVPN and WireGuard configurations (WireGuard may require building the kernel module, but Fatdog64’s 5.x kernel can handle it).
• Ship easily deployable binaries or tarballs, or at least supply straightforward .conf files for openvpn or wg-quick.

Based on these criteria, the standout candidates are:

• Mullvad – rock-solid WireGuard support plus OpenVPN configs, command-line friendly.
• IVPN – offers portable binaries, easy OpenVPN amp WireGuard, minimal dependencies.
• ProtonVPN – secure OpenVPN configs, WireGuard in beta, manual setup avoids systemd.

Comparison Table

Installing Configuring the Top Picks

Mullvad VPN

Mullvad provides a self-contained tarball and ready-made OpenVPN/WireGuard configs.

1. Install OpenVPN (via slakdog)

# Update Slackware repo index
slakdog -u

# Install openvpn and dependencies
slakdog -i openvpn

2. Download and extract Mullvad’s Linux app (for WireGuard CLI tools):

wget https://mullvad.net/download/app/linux/latest.tar.xz -O mullvad.tar.xz
tar xf mullvad.tar.xz -C ~/mullvad
cd ~/mullvad
# The binary is self-contained
./mullvad

3. Using WireGuard (optional):

# Install WireGuard tools
slakdog -i wireguard-tools

# Place your tunnel config (wg0.conf) under /etc/wireguard/
sudo cp ~/mullvad/wg0.conf /etc/wireguard/

# Bring up the interface
sudo wg-quick up wg0

4. Using OpenVPN:

# Download a server config, for example us-wireguard in OpenVPN format
wget https://mullvad.net/download/openvpn-config/ .ovpn -O mullvad.ovpn

# Start the VPN
sudo openvpn --config mullvad.ovpn

IVPN

IVPN offers a portable AppImage plus manual configs.

1. Fetch the AppImage:

wget https://static.ivpn.net/linux/ivpn-appimage-latest -O ivpn.AppImage
chmod  x ivpn.AppImage

# Launch the GUI or call it headlessly
./ivpn.AppImage --nogui

2. For WireGuard/OpenVPN manually:

# Download configs
wget https://www.ivpn.net/download/linux-configs -O ivpn-configs.zip
unzip ivpn-configs.zip -d ivpn-configs

# For OpenVPN:
sudo openvpn --config ivpn-configs/US-OH-2-tcp.ovpn

# For WireGuard:
sudo slakdog -i wireguard-tools
sudo mv ivpn-configs/wg0.conf /etc/wireguard/
sudo wg-quick up wg0

ProtonVPN (Manual Setup)

ProtonVPN’s Python CLI expects systemd, so on Fatdog64 we’ll stick to raw OpenVPN configs.

# Install OpenVPN if not already installed
slakdog -i openvpn

# Get ProtonVPN config bundle
wget https://protonvpn.com/download/protonvpn-config.zip -O protonvpn-config.zip
unzip protonvpn-config.zip -d protonvpn-configs

# Connect via OpenVPN (choose a .ovpn file for your country/server)
sudo openvpn --config protonvpn-configs/DE-FRA-udp.ovpn

That’s it! With these setups, Fatdog64 users can enjoy robust, systemd-free VPN connections using the distribution’s native package tools and minimal overhead.