Install OpenVPN on shared web hosting

RomfordNavy

Anyone know if I can install OpenVPN on my shared web hosting server or does it require more server access than Webuzo CPanel will allow me?

Neil_Jones

Why? What are you trying to do?

Unlikely you'll be able to install something like that on shared hosting to be honest.

Vitor

Unlikely on shared hosting. OpenVPN needs access to operating system level network interfaces and sufficient privileges to configure routing and firewall rules, which shared hosting providers generally don't allow

RomfordNavy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82178729#Comment_82178729

Wanted to setup some hosting for sharing spreadsheets and word documents between a small team, all using Windows so I wanted something which can connect to with native drivers in windows.

Vitor

A £20-a-year OneDrive Basic account can share a folder with the group; they use their own free Microsoft accounts to access. For a club or business, use Microsoft 365 Business Basic and store the documents in OneDrive for Business/SharePoint instead.

RomfordNavy

Perhaps I need to look for a separate shared hosting VPN supplier then.

MattMattMattUK

Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive and others all have a free tier, all offer shared folders etc. why are you trying to use a VPN to share files?

RomfordNavy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82178903#Comment_82178903

Reason for wanting VPN access to the shared location is so that files on there can be easily opened directly without downloading them locally. With say an FTP share the files have to be copied locally before they can be opened, and obviously copied back when finished editing them.

As far as I know Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive etc. are all browser based and therefore windows cannot open the files directly.

Neil_Jones

As far as I know Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive etc. are all browser based and therefore windows cannot open the files directly.

Then you're doing something wrong because Office can open from online drives such as OneDrive, etc. indeed OneDrive is part of Windows out of the box and runs as a separate app.

Dropbox does run in Windows (though I think you need a higher tariff for Dropbox for collaboration purposes rather than the free).

MattMattMattUK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82178915#Comment_82178915

Nope, they will all sync a folder on a local Windows or MacOS device and Drive and Dropbox will sync a folder on Linux devices as well. They will all allow download on demand to open the current version on mobile devices. All on the free tier.

As Neil says Office also has the option to open directly from and save to a OneDrive cloud folder, Drive allows Google Apps to do the same and Dropbox can be directly integrated into either.

I still do not see what the point of the VPN would be though, a VPN does not solve the problem you want, VPNs are not storage, they are not file sync, they are not shared drives.

Frozen_up_north

Have you considered using Tailscale? It is free for up to 6 users and creates a corporate style extended network, while it is a VPN it is not the basic type for viewing TV while on holiday (although it will do that). End to end WireGuard encrypted. I use it and share access with a friend, it is a solid product with a lot of info on how to set it up on their web site.

https://tailscale.com/