How to Install VPN Outline on Ubuntu 24

Introduction

VPN Outline is an open-source VPN server solution that you can easily set up to secure your browsing. In this guide, we will install the VPN Outline directly on Ubuntu 24, without the need for Docker.

Prerequisites

A clean installation of Ubuntu 24.
A user with sudo privileges.
Basic knowledge of the Linux command line.

Minimum Instance Requirements

To run Outline VPN Server efficiently, ensure that your instance meets the following minimum requirements:

General Requirements

Processor: At least 1 vCPU (2 vCPU recommended for better performance).
Memory (RAM): Minimum 1 GB (2 GB recommended for multiple users).
Storage: At least 10 GB of free disk space for installation and logs.
Operating System:
- Ubuntu 18.04 or newer (this guide uses Ubuntu 24).
- Other Linux distributions are compatible but Ubuntu offers better support.

For Higher Demand

If you plan to support more than 50 simultaneous users:

Processor: 2 or more vCPU
Memory (RAM): 4 GB or more.

Step 1: Update the System

Before we begin, let's ensure that all system packages are up to date.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Dependencies

The Outline Server uses several dependencies to run properly. Let's install the required packages.

sudo apt install curl gnupg2 lsb-release -y

Step 3: Add the Outline Repository

The Outline Server is maintained by Outline and needs to be added to your package repository.

Add the Outline public key:

curl -fsSL https://packages.getoutline.org/outline.asc | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/outline.asc

Add the Outline repository to your system:

echo "deb https://packages.getoutline.org/deb stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/outline.list

Update the package list to include the Outline repository:

sudo apt update

Step 4: Install the Outline Server

Now, let's install the Outline server directly from the repository.

sudo apt install outline-server -y

Step 5: Configure the Outline Server

After installation, the Outline Server will be available and ready for configuration.

Start the Outline Server:

sudo systemctl start outline-server

Enable the Outline Server to start automatically on boot:

sudo systemctl enable outline-server

Check the service status to ensure everything is working correctly:

sudo systemctl status outline-server

Step 6: Configure the Firewall (If Necessary)

If you have a firewall enabled, allow traffic on port 443 (the default port for Outline).

sudo ufw allow 443/tcp

Check the firewall status:

sudo ufw status

Step 7: Access the Outline Manager

With the Outline Server running, you can now access the Outline Manager to configure the server.

Open a browser and navigate to the server's IP address or domain name:

https://your_domain_or_ip

Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Outline server.
You will receive a key to add to your Outline client.

Step 8: Install the Outline Client

Now, you need to install the Outline client on your devices (Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS).

Download the Outline client from the official Outline website.
Open the Outline client and paste the key you received from the Outline Manager to connect.