How to choose, use and configure a VPN in Slackel (Tutorial)

Why These VPNs Shine on Slackel

Slackel is a Slackware-based distribution beloved by power users in London cafés and beyond. It combines the simplicity of Slackware’s pkgtool and slackpkg with Salix’s user-friendly approach. Many users opt for the Xfce or KDE Plasma editions, though Openbox and Fluxbox flavors are available. System initialization relies on SysV scripts, and you’ll often use sbopkg alongside official SlackBuilds to build third-party software. Given this environment, the ideal VPN providers will offer:

Official Linux tarballs or .deb/.rpm packages (convertible via alien or rpm2tgz).
Command-line interface for easy scripting and RUNIT/SysV integration.
Optional GUI wrappers (Qt or GTK) for KDE/Xfce.
WireGuard and OpenVPN support through standalone binaries.

Based on these criteria, we’ll look at NordVPN, ProtonVPN and Mullvad as top contenders.

Comparison Table of Top VPNs for Slackel

Provider	Protocols	CLI Tool	GUI App	SlackBuild Available	Official Linux Tarball
NordVPN	OpenVPN, NordLynx (WireGuard)	Yes	Yes (Qt)	Community via sbopkg	Yes
ProtonVPN	OpenVPN, WireGuard	Yes	Yes (GTK)	Community SlackBuild	Yes
Mullvad	OpenVPN, WireGuard	Yes	Yes (Qt)	Community via SlackBuild	Yes

Installation Configuration

NordVPN

NordVPN delivers a tarball for all distros. Here’s how to get up and running on Slackel:

# Install prerequisites
sudo slackpkg install wget ca-certificates

# Download the official Linux tarball
wget https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/linux/install.sh

# Make installer executable  run
chmod  x install.sh
sudo ./install.sh

# Login and enable the service
nordvpn login
nordvpn set technology nordlynx
nordvpn set autoconnect on

# Start the VPN
nordvpn connect

NordVPN’s CLI lets you script connections in /etc/rc.d/ or integrate with RUNIT services. Their Qt GUI will appear in your KDE or Xfce menu once installed.

ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN provides a native Python CLI and GTK front end. Use their tarball:

# Install dependencies
sudo slackpkg install python3-pip openvpn libgtk-3 slackpkg

# Download and install the ProtonVPN CLI
pip3 install protonvpn-cli

# Initialize configuration
sudo protonvpn init

# Follow interactive prompts: login, select default profile
# To connect:
protonvpn connect --fast

If you prefer a GUI, grab the ProtonVPN-gnome package from the community SlackBuild repository and build with sbopkg. It will place a GTK tray icon in Xfce or KDE Plasma.

Mullvad

Mullvad’s Linux app offers both GUI and CLI in a single tarball. Here’s the quick route:

# Fetch the latest Mullvad tarball
wget https://mullvad.net/download/app/deb/latest -O mullvad.deb

# Convert .deb to Slackware package
sudo rpm2tgz mullvad.deb
sudo installpkg mullvad-.tgz

# Start the daemon
sudo systemctl start mullvad-daemon    # If using systemd, or:
sudo /etc/rc.d/rc.mullvad-daemon start # For SysV/RUNIT

# Login with your account number
mullvad login YOUR_ACCOUNT_NUMBER

# Connect using CLI
mullvad connect

This will install both the Qt GUI and the mullvad CLI. On KDE or Xfce, look for “Mullvad VPN” in your application menu.

Wrapping Up

For the Slackel community, these three VPN services blend seamlessly with Slackware’s package approach. NordVPN stands out for its slick Qt interface and scriptable CLI, ProtonVPN impresses with security audits and a native GTK client, and Mullvad keeps it open-source friendly with WireGuard by default. Whichever you choose, you’ll remain secure on London’s public Wi-Fi or remote servers beyond the Thames.

LINUXMIND.DEV