How can I programmatically connect and disconnect vpn connections by using android's "openvpn connect" app in combination with intents?

Question

I'm working on an android app that should start an OpenVPN Connect session automatically when needed.

How can I programmatically connect and disconnect vpn connections by using android's "openvpn connect" app in combination with intents ?

Edit: Meanwhile I found this approach - it works for me:

private void startVPN() {
    Intent openVPN = new Intent("android.intent.action.VIEW");
    openVPN.setPackage("net.openvpn.openvpn");
    openVPN.setClassName("net.openvpn.openvpn", net.openvpn.openvpn.OpenVPNClient");
    openVPN.putExtra("net.openvpn.openvpn.AUTOSTART_PROFILE_NAME", "10.10.10.10 [profilename]");
    startActivityForResult(openVPN, 0);
}

This starts the "OpenVPN Connect" app and uses the profilename to do an auto-connect.

If successfull the app goes to background by itself.

Is there even a way to do this completly in background ?
Stopping the VPN-connection does everything in background.

private void stopVPN() {
    Intent openVPN = new Intent("android.intent.action.VIEW");
    openVPN.setPackage("net.openvpn.openvpn");
    openVPN.setClassName("net.openvpn.openvpn", "net.openvpn.openvpn.OpenVPNDisconnect");
    startActivityForResult(openVPN, 0);
}

Perdomo

i'm interested in this, wonder where you found this so i could dig more, for example, passing a "*.ovpn" file as profile ... – Villenage

Answer 1

OpenVPN's official Android client can be invoked through AIDL. There's an entire sample app available, with source code. It even has a relatively friendly license.

Dupaix

thanks for this info; would like to stick to "OpenVPN Connect" as long as possible. Since there is an iOS version as well and a future app porting should be a little smoother :) – Perdomo

"future app porting should be a little smoother" -- I wouldn't expect that at all. They're very different platforms. – Dupaix