Setting up your own VPN server is not only easy to do but also makes sense. Why do I say this? Because you can save a lot of money if you install and setup your own server. The hosting and everything else required to setup a virtual private network server with is dirt cheap. However, the focus here is what basic steps are involved for anyone who wants to get their own private server up and running with as little hassle as possible. Setting up your own server involves the following main steps: finding a host, selecting the right kind of VPN software for your needs, installing the software onto the server, and finally creating the user or client accounts on the server. It may sound a little complex, but once you know what to do it is actually a very simply and straight forward process.

It should go without saying that you need to find a host for your VPN. Your VPN server is not hosted on your home computer, so you will need to find a company that can provide you with the right kind of hosting suitable for a private server. The good news is that there are plenty. There are several websites online that have forums dedicated entirely to hosting offers that you can browse over. Not only will you find more offers than you will ever need, but you’ll also have the option of setting up your server in another country if you so desire. Always be sure to ask your host if they allow VPNs, how many IPs they can give you and what location or countries they can setup servers in.

Once you’ve found a hosting package, the next thing you need to focus on is what VPN server software you will use. If you do a quick search online you will see that there are plenty of different companies all offering their own software packages. While you may want to play around and test each of these packages by yourself, you could save yourself a lot of time by just going with OpenVPN. OpenVPN is recommended because it allows you to encrypt the connection between the client computer and the server. This is important because it makes anything you do online with your VPN totally secure. No-one can read any of the information you transmit to and back from your VPN.

Setting up the server software is probably the most complex step involved and goes beyond the scope of what we can cover here. However, you will basically be creating user certificates that will allow your client to access the server. No username or password is required. Instead you simply copy the certificate files onto the client machine, install the client OpenVPN software and you are ready to go. This step is very easy to do and you can distribute the encrypted files out via email if you plan on sharing your VPN with others. Each client has a unique certificate so they don’t have to worry about other users somehow gaining access to what they do online with the VPN.