How to choose, use and configure a VPN in OpenMandriva Lx (My opinion)

Choosing the Right VPN for OpenMandriva Lx

OpenMandriva Lx is a cutting-edge, rolling-release distribution built around RPM packages and the dnf package manager. It’s primarily aimed at power users and developers who appreciate KDE Plasma or LXQt by default (though you’ll also find users running MATE or Xfce). Its libraries tend to stay very up-to-date, and system components like systemd and NetworkManager are customised to fit OpenMandriva’s fast-track rollout.

When choosing a VPN for OpenMandriva Lx, you want:

Official RPM packages or ready-to-install scripts
NetworkManager integration (so you can switch servers right from the system tray)
CLI tools that compile cleanly against OpenMandriva’s current libraries
Support for modern encryption and WireGuard or OpenVPN protocols

Based on these criteria, the following services stand out:

Mullvad – First-class Linux support, dedicated .rpm, WireGuard-first approach
ProtonVPN – Official RPM repo plus NetworkManager plugin, strong focus on privacy
NordVPN – Well-tested install script, CLI client, easy setup on RPM distros
ExpressVPN – Provides an .rpm installer, custom systemd service, GUI and CLI
Private Internet Access – Offers an .rpm alongside a NetworkManager plugin

Comparison Table

VPN Service	Official RPM	CLI Client	NetworkManager Plugin	Protocol Support	Link
Mullvad	Yes	Yes	Yes	WireGuard, OpenVPN	Mullvad Linux Downloads
ProtonVPN	Yes	Yes	Yes	WireGuard, OpenVPN	ProtonVPN Linux Setup
NordVPN	Yes (install script)	Yes	Yes	NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN	NordVPN Linux
ExpressVPN	Yes	Yes	Limited	OpenVPN, Lightway	ExpressVPN Linux
Private Internet Access	Yes	Yes	Yes	WireGuard, OpenVPN	PIA Downloads

Installation Configuration Guides

Below are step-by-step instructions for the top three picks: Mullvad, ProtonVPN and NordVPN. All commands assume you have sudo privileges and that dnf is up to date.

Mullvad

Mullvad provides a dedicated RPM and a standalone CLI. It’s our top pick for its simple WireGuard support.

# Download the latest RPM
wget https://mullvad.net/download/app/rpm/latest -O mullvad.rpm

# Install via dnf
sudo dnf install ./mullvad.rpm

# Log in (use your Mullvad account number)
sudo mullvad login YOUR_ACCOUNT_NUMBER

# Connect to the fastest server automatically
sudo mullvad connect

# To choose a specific country or WireGuard port:
sudo mullvad connect us

ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN maintains an official RPM repository and a NetworkManager plugin, making server management very smooth on KDE Plasma’s system tray.

# Install DNF plugin support
sudo dnf install dnf-plugins-core

# Add ProtonVPN’s stable repo
wget https://repo.protonvpn.com/fedora/protonvpn-stable-release-1.0.2-2.noarch.rpm
sudo dnf install protonvpn-stable-release-1.0.2-2.noarch.rpm

# Update and install the CLI and NM plugin
sudo dnf update
sudo dnf install protonvpn-cli protonvpn-nm

# Log in interactively
protonvpn-cli login your.protonvpn.username

# Connect using the quick command
protonvpn-cli connect --fastest

# Or launch GUI NM integration:
nm-connection-editor

NordVPN

NordVPN’s install script detects RPM distros and sets up its repository, CLI tool and systemd service in one go.

# Download and run the official installer script
curl -sSf https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/linux/install.sh  sh

# Install the client via dnf
sudo dnf install nordvpn

# Log in to your Nord account
nordvpn login

# Connect to the nearest server
nordvpn connect

# To use NordLynx (WireGuard) explicitly:
nordvpn set technology nordlynx
nordvpn connect

All three options above integrate cleanly with OpenMandriva Lx’s rolling-release libraries and KDE/LXQt desktop environments. Pick the one that matches your privacy policy preference and you’ll have a secure, high-speed VPN in minutes.

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