What is a .OVPN file?
An .OVPN file is a special kind of file that helps your computer connect to another computer over the internet securely, like a secret tunnel that keeps your information safe. This file is used by a program called OpenVPN, which is made by a company called OpenVPN Technologies. This program is mainly used on computers that run Windows, but it can also work on other systems.
The .OVPN file has all the instructions and settings that OpenVPN needs to create this secure connection, or VPN, to another computer. Think of it as a recipe that tells OpenVPN how to make the connection correctly.
If you want to use an .OVPN file, you need to open it with the OpenVPN program. This tells OpenVPN to start making a secure connection based on the instructions in the file. But, if you're just curious about what's inside the .OVPN file or you need to make some changes to it, you can also open it with any simple text editor, like Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on Mac. This is because the .OVPN file is just a text file with special instructions that OpenVPN understands.
For those who use OpenVPN, the program comes with some example .OVPN files to help you get started. These examples are found in a folder called "sample-config-files" when you install OpenVPN. On Windows, you can easily find these examples by looking in the OpenVPN folder in your Start menu. There are two main types of example files: one for setting up a server (server.ovpn) and one for connecting as a client (client.ovpn). If you make your own .OVPN files, you should save them in the "config" folder inside the OpenVPN program folder in your Program Files directory.
It's important to note that if you're using a Unix system, like Linux or macOS, the .OVPN files are usually called .conf files instead. But they work in the same way, helping you set up a secure VPN connection.
In summary, an .OVPN file is a key part of using OpenVPN to create a secure internet connection. You can open it with OpenVPN to start this connection or with a text editor if you need to look at or change the settings.
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