Best VPN Solutions for Super Grub2 Disk
Working with Super Grub2 Disk is a unique experience: you’re often booted into a minimal rescue environment (no desktop by default), relying on a Debian-based toolset with dpkg and apt-get. It’s designed for sysadmins and power users troubleshooting boot loaders rather than casual desktop browsing, so your VPN choice must:
- Install cleanly via
apt-getor as a standalone binary - Work entirely from the command line (no GUI dependencies)
- Support modern kernels (WireGuard built-in or via module)
- Bootstrap quickly into a ramdisk environment
Below are the top contenders tested on Super Grub2 Disk’s minimal Debian shell, followed by step-by-step install and config for the leading options.
Comparison of Leading VPNs
| VPN | Protocols | CLI Tool | Package Format | Systemd Needed? | Kernel Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | WireGuard | wg, wg-quick | apt (linux-kernel module) | No (if module present) | Built-in since Linux 5.6 |
| ProtonVPN CLI | OpenVPN, WireGuard | protonvpn | deb | Yes (service management optional) | WireGuard module or OpenVPN userland |
| OpenVPN Community | OpenVPN (UDP/TCP) | openvpn | apt | No | User-space |
| Mullvad VPN | OpenVPN, WireGuard | mullvad | deb | Yes | Module or user-space |
1. WireGuard
WireGuard shines in a stripped-down rescue shell. Because many Super Grub2 Disk builds run a 5.x kernel with the module built-in, you can establish a secure tunnel in seconds.
Installation
# Update package lists apt-get update # Install WireGuard tools and kernel headers apt-get install wireguard iproute2
Configuration
Create a private/public keypair and define a minimal config in /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf:
# Generate keys wg genkey tee /etc/wireguard/privatekey wg pubkey > /etc/wireguard/publickey # Example wg0.conf cat /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf [Interface] PrivateKey = (cat /etc/wireguard/privatekey) Address = 10.0.0.2/24 [Peer] PublicKey = PEER_PUBLIC_KEY_HERE Endpoint = vpn.example.com:51820 AllowedIPs = 0.0.0.0/0 PersistentKeepalive = 25 EOF
Bring up the interface:
wg-quick up wg0
2. ProtonVPN CLI
ProtonVPN’s official CLI is perfect if you need both WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols, with an easy install via a .deb.
Installation
# Download and install the ProtonVPN repository package wget -qO protonvpn-cli.deb https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian/pool/main/p/protonvpn-cli/protonvpn-cli_latest_amd64.deb dpkg -i protonvpn-cli.deb apt-get install -f -y # Update and install dependencies apt-get update apt-get install protonvpn
Configuration
# Initialize ProtonVPN (interactive) protonvpn init # Quick connect (default protocol) protonvpn c --fastest
If you prefer WireGuard:
protonvpn c --protocol wireguard
3. OpenVPN Community
OpenVPN is the classic fallback. It installs swiftly with apt-get and runs entirely in userspace—ideal for older kernels without WireGuard support.
Installation
apt-get update apt-get install openvpn
Configuration
Place your .ovpn file (provided by your provider) into /etc/openvpn/client.conf and launch:
openvpn --config /etc/openvpn/client.conf
For a detached session:
nohup openvpn --config /etc/openvpn/client.conf amp
Conclusion
For a rescue tool like Super Grub2 Disk, lightweight CLI VPNs win. WireGuard is top of the list if your kernel already has the module, followed by ProtonVPN CLI for a one-stop Debian package, and OpenVPN for maximum compatibility. All three can be spun up in your minimal environment without a graphical desktop—perfect for on-the-fly secure tunnelling when you’re repairing a system in London or anywhere else.
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