Set Up IPSec/L2TP on Linux

Ubuntu Linux

Ubuntu 18.04 (and newer) users can install the network-manager-l2tp-gnome package using apt, then configure the IPsec/L2TP VPN client using the GUI. Ubuntu 16.04 users may need to add the nm-l2tp PPA, read more here.

1. Go to Settings -> Network -> VPN. Click the + button.
2. Select Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP).
3. Enter anything you like in the Name field.
4. Enter Your VPN Server IP for the Gateway.
5. Enter Your VPN Username for the User name.
6. Right-click the ? in the Password field, select Store the password only for this user.
7. Enter Your VPN Password for the Password.
8. Leave the NT Domain field blank.
9. Click the IPsec Settings... button.
10. Check the Enable IPsec tunnel to L2TP host checkbox.
11. Leave the Gateway ID field blank.
12. Enter Your VPN IPsec PSK for the Pre-shared key.
13. Expand the Advanced section.
14. Enter aes128-sha1-modp2048! for the Phase1 Algorithms.
15. Enter aes128-sha1-modp2048! for the Phase2 Algorithms.
16. Click OK, then click Add to save the VPN connection information.
17. Turn the VPN switch ON.

Once connected, you can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by looking up your IP address. It should say "Your public IP address is Your VPN Server IP".