Best VPNs for Plamo Linux

Working day to day with Plamo Linux here in London, I’ve found that certain VPN providers integrate far more smoothly with Plamo’s lean, Slackware-like environment than others. Plamo uses its own pkgtools package manager (.tgz packages) and a simple SysV-style init system, and typically runs lightweight desktop environments such as XFCE, Fluxbox or LXDE. Its audience is decidedly technical, preferring manual configuration and minimal dependencies over convenience GUIs. Bearing those peculiarities in mind, I’ve narrowed down three standout VPNs that offer Linux-friendly binaries or config-based setups, avoid systemd, and minimise added complexity.

Why These VPNs Fit Plamo Linux

• No systemd dependencies: Plamo’s init scripts don’t rely on systemd, so VPNs that offer standalone binaries or pure OpenVPN/WireGuard configs are ideal.
• Manual configuration: Advanced users on Plamo often prefer tweaking configs by hand rather than using bloated GUI clients.
• Package manager compatibility: All recommended options can be installed via Plamo’s pkg_add (for openvpn, wireguard-tools, Python3) or via simple tar.xz binaries, avoiding unsupported .deb/.rpm files.
• Minimal dependencies: Lean installs align with Plamo’s philosophy—no extra heavy libraries or daemons.

Comparison Table

Detailed Install amp Configuration Guides

1. Mullvad (OpenVPN Method)

Mullvad provides straightforward OpenVPN and WireGuard configuration bundles without relying on systemd. We’ll use OpenVPN here for maximum compatibility with Plamo’s repo.

Step 1: Install OpenVPN via Plamo’s pkgtools

sudo pkg_add openvpn

Step 2: Download and extract Mullvad’s OpenVPN configs

wget https://mullvad.net/download/app/openvpn-config/2024-01-01/mullvad_configs.zip
pkg_add unzip
unzip mullvad_configs.zip -d mullvad-config

Step 3: Connect to a server of your choice (e.g. “us_seattle_udp”)

cd mullvad-config
sudo openvpn --config us_seattle_udp.ovpn

To run in the background, you can use nohup:

sudo nohup openvpn --config us_seattle_udp.ovpn amp

2. ProtonVPN (Python CLI Client)

The ProtonVPN CLI client is a Python application that works great without systemd. You’ll need Python 3 and pip from Plamo’s repositories.

Step 1: Install dependencies

sudo pkg_add python3 python3-pip

Step 2: Install the ProtonVPN CLI

python3 -m pip install --user protonvpn-cli
# Ensure ~/.local/bin is in your PATH
echo export PATH=HOME/.local/bin:PATH >> ~/.profile
source ~/.profile

Step 3: Initialise and connect

protonvpn-cli login your.email@example.com
protonvpn-cli c --sc # fastest server

3. IVPN (Standalone Binary)

IVPN ships a Go-based CLI binary—no extra libraries, no systemd. Simply unpack and run.

Step 1: Download and extract

wget https://www.ivpn.net/releases/ivpn-2.5.1-linux.tar.xz
tar -xf ivpn-2.5.1-linux.tar.xz
cd ivpn-2.5.1-linux

Step 2: Move binary to a system path

sudo cp ivpn /usr/local/bin/
sudo chmod  x /usr/local/bin/ivpn

Step 3: Login and connect

ivpn login
ivpn connect

Each of these VPNs provides robust encryption, a no-logs policy, and delivers a smooth experience on Plamo Linux without the overhead of unsupported packages or daemons. Whether you prefer the classic OpenVPN config approach with Mullvad, the convenience of a Python-based CLI from ProtonVPN, or the simplicity of a standalone IVPN binary, you’ll find your privacy neatly secured on Plamo’s agile, systemd-free platform.