How to choose, use and configure a VPN in Source Mage GNU/Linux (Guide)

Why These VPNs Suit Source Mage GNU/Linux

Source Mage GNU/Linux is not your average “click-and-install” distribution. Its “sorcery” package manager (spkg) lets you compile every piece of software from source, tailoring optimisation flags to your hardware. Users tend to be power-users or developers who embrace minimal desktop environments (i3, Openbox, dwm) and occasionally the full KDE or GNOME setups—always built from scratch. This hands-on philosophy demands VPN solutions that are:

Easy to compile or available as portable binaries.
Light on dependencies (no huge GUI frameworks unless optional).
Friendly to manual configuration—config files, systemd/OpenRC or simple launch scripts.

With those criteria in mind, the top picks are WireGuard, OpenVPN and ProtonVPN. Each can be built or installed via pip/source and integrates smoothly into the Source Mage workflow.

Recommended VPNs Overview

Service / Protocol	Source Mage Integration	Dependencies	Config Complexity	Notable Features
WireGuard	Compile tools from git kernel module available	GCC, libmnl, kernel headers	Low (single CONF file)	Blazing fast, minimal codebase, peers via pub/priv keys
OpenVPN	Classic source build or spkg port	OpenSSL, LZO, c-ares (optional)	Moderate (certs, keys, scripts)	UDP/TCP, TLS auth, scriptable hooks
ProtonVPN CLI	Python package via pip	Python 3, pip	Low (authenticated CLI)	Secure Core, auto-connect, easy server selection

Installation Configuration

1. WireGuard

WireGuard’s lean design makes it a perfect match. You’ll compile only the user-space tools most modern kernels include the module already.

# 1. Install build dependencies sudo sorcery add gcc make libmnl-devel linux-headers sudo sorcery resolve sudo sorcery build-all # 2. Clone compile tools git clone https://git.zx2c4.com/WireGuard/tools.git cd tools make sudo make install # 3. Load kernel module sudo modprobe wireguard # 4. Create /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf (example) cat

2. OpenVPN

OpenVPN remains the most flexible. You can grab the latest source release and compile against your system’s OpenSSL.

# 1. Install dependencies
sudo sorcery add gcc make openssl-devel lzo-devel
sudo sorcery resolve
sudo sorcery build-all

# 2. Download  build OpenVPN
wget https://swupdate.openvpn.org/community/releases/openvpn-2.5.9.tar.gz
tar xzf openvpn-2.5.9.tar.gz
cd openvpn-2.5.9
./configure
make
sudo make install

# 3. Place your client config
sudo cp ~/myvpn/client.ovpn /etc/openvpn/client.conf

# 4. Start OpenVPN
sudo openvpn --config /etc/openvpn/client.conf

3. ProtonVPN CLI

If you want a ready-made CLI with server lists, ProtonVPN CLI delivers. It’s pure Python, so Source Mage’s flexibility shines.

# 1. Ensure Python 3  pip are present
sudo sorcery add python3 python3-pip
sudo sorcery resolve
sudo sorcery build-all

# 2. Install the ProtonVPN client
pip3 install protonvpn-cli

# 3. Initial login  quick-connect
protonvpn-cli login your_protonvpn_username
protonvpn-cli c --fastest

# 4. To disconnect
protonvpn-cli d

Each of these solutions can be further customised—systemd services, OpenRC scripts or even cron-based reconnects. But out of the box, they’ll slot neatly into your Source Mage GNU/Linux setup, giving you fast, reliable and secure VPN access without sacrificing the “build-it-your-way” ethos.

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