Choosing the Right VPN for PrimTux

PrimTux, a Debian-based educational distribution tailored for young learners, carries some unique traits:

• Package manager: apt (with Synaptic and gdebi front-ends).
• Desktop environment: Lightweight LXDE by default, optionally XFCE.
• User profile: Novice to intermediate users, often managed by teachers, with multiple “student” and “admin” sessions preconfigured.
• Technical peculiarities: Low RAM footprint, limited CPU power (targeted at older hardware or small ARM boards), clean and simple launcher menus.

Given these constraints, an ideal VPN for PrimTux should:

• Offer a .deb package or a CLI client installable via apt, avoiding heavyweight QT/GTK dependencies that slow down LXDE.
• Be configurable via terminal or a minimal GUI so teachers can pre-set profiles for students.
• Provide robust kill-switch and DNS leak protection without bloated resource usage.

After testing several services on a Raspberry Pi 3B running PrimTux, the stand-outs are:

• Mullvad VPN – Debian repo, simple CLI, very lightweight.
• ProtonVPN – official Linux CLI, strong privacy, easily scripted.
• Private Internet Access – .deb package, optional GTK GUI, reliable kill switch.

Comparison of Top VPNs for PrimTux

Installing and Configuring Mullvad VPN

Mullvad’s straightforward Debian repository makes it a natural fit for PrimTux’s apt system. We’ll install the CLI client and enable its kill switch.

1. Add the Mullvad repository and GPG key:

   wget -q -O - https://mullvad.net/downloads/mullvad-apt-key.asc  sudo apt-key add -
   echo deb https://deb.mullvad.net/ stable main  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mullvad.list
   sudo apt update
         

2. Install the Mullvad client:

   sudo apt install mullvad-daemon mullvad-client
         

3. Login and connect:

   mullvad account login YOUR-MULLVAD-ACCOUNT
   mullvad relay set LOCATION   # e.g. stockholm
   mullvad connect
         

4. Enable the kill switch (Firewall):

   sudo mullvad config set kill-switch on
   sudo mullvad config set dns-leak-protection on
         

5. Verify status:

   mullvad status
         

Installing and Configuring ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN’s official CLI client is lightweight, making it excellent for LXDE on PrimTux. Follow these steps to get it running.

1. Install dependencies and add the repository:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install -y wget apt-transport-https gnupg
   wget -q -O - https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian/public_key.asc  sudo apt-key add -
   echo deb https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian unstable main  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/protonvpn.list
   sudo apt update
         

2. Install the ProtonVPN CLI:

   sudo apt install protonvpn-cli
         

3. Authenticate and initialize:

   protonvpn-cli login YOUR-USERNAME
         

4. Connect to a fast server (e.g., US-FREE#1):

   protonvpn-cli c --cc US --protocol udp
         

5. Enable the kill switch:

   sudo protonvpn-cli ks --on
         

Installing and Configuring Private Internet Access

The PIA client offers a minimal GTK interface and full CLI control. Here’s how to deploy it on PrimTux.

1. Download and install the .deb:

   wget https://installers.privateinternetaccess.com/download/pia-linux-64.deb -O pia.deb
   sudo gdebi --n pia.deb
         

2. Run the GTK app or use CLI:

   pia-client   # to launch GUI
   piactl login YOUR-PIA-USERNAME
   piactl set region us_california
   piactl connect
         

3. Activate the kill switch and DNS leak guard:

   piactl set killswitch enabled
   piactl set dns-leak-protection enabled
         

4. Check status:

   piactl get connectionstate