README:

'NordVPN Connect' gnome-shell extension.

The natural basic necessary step before using this GNOME-Shell extension is, of course, to read this README in its entirety.

About

This extension acts merely and only as a simple GUI for the 'nordvpn' command line tool basic features that are connection and disconnection to a vpn server. It also provides basic info about the current status of said connection: whether or not there is connection and, if so, to which server. Of course, this requires the 'nordvpn' command line tool, and all necessary dependencies and requirements to be installed as well. To that effect check out NordVPN's corresponding page: https://nordvpn.com/download/linux/

Ultimately, this extension should be replaced by any GUI app, NordVPN might officially release for Linux desktop.

ToDo?

On the off chance, such GUI app isn't released for Linux in the near future. Some welcome ameliorations to this extension would be:

• Add more of the 'nordvpn' CLI tool features in this extension such as an 'AutoConnect' toggle, a protocol (UDP/TCP) picked and a 'CyberSec' feature toggle.
• Add a 'settings' page for this extension.
• Add the possibility to type in the name of the server (e.g.: de145, uk123, fr067) the user wants to connect to.
• Add the possibility to pick server by choosing a city (instead of country).
• Add the remaining set custom DNS feature to the extension.
• Add the possibility to 'fav' a server

Disclaimer

Nothing official

This extension has been made without any endorsement or support from NordVPN. The developer has no ties nor affiliation whatsoever with NordVPN, its services, nor its software. Naturally, this extension is free and isn't, shouldn't and will not be subject to any form of profit or compensation.

Release and use

This extension was made for personal needs and use. The code is release on the off chance it might be of use to someone but without the intention of providing any form of utility software or service in a rigorous manner. Therefore, no support is endorsed by the developer, meaning that any comment, feedback, or request regarding this code should be expected to be completely ignored by the developer. Additionally, the responsibility of any undesired effect the execution of this code might have on any system lies solely in the hands of the user.

Availability

This extension is available in the AUR: https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/gnome-shell-extension-nordvpn-connect-git/

It is also available via the “ GNOME Extensions ” website: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1595/nordvpn-connect/

However, the most up-to-date version is only guaranteed here, on GitHub.

Installation

Prerequisites

Since this is only a GNOME-Shell GUI for the 'nordvpn' command line tool, said tool must be installed before anything else. This extension is destined for systemd distributions only!

If you're on a debian based distribution, checkout this page: https://nordvpn.com/download/linux/

If you're on an archlinux based distribution, this tool might be available in the AUR: https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/nordvpn-bin/

Once the 'nordvpn' CLI tool is installed (assuming here, version 3.3), check the packaged daemon's status:

systemctl status nordvpnd.service

If the daemon isn't up and running, fix that:

systemctl enable --now nordvpnd.service

Now, set up your logins to the NordVPN service:

nordvpn login

Now you should be able to use this extension.

Test

This tool has been tested on 'Archlinux', with 'GNOME Shell 3.30.2' and the 'nordvpn' CLI tool version 2.1.0-5, for all commits before (and including) commit a0c1b1034e0a8518796e5490a4a8746fa20da506 (revert to this commit if encountering compatibility issues).

This tool has been tested on 'Archlinux', with 'GNOME Shell 3.32.0' and the 'nordvpn' CLI tool version 2.2.0-2, for commits before (and including) commit cf7538c5bfe7a09547c2d5e87bfd1952538a2581.

This tool has been tested on 'Archlinux', with 'GNOME Shell 3.32.1' and the 'nordvpn' CLI tool version 3.0.0-4, for commits before (and including) commit 099034f172582f5077ec1018f38aaa3ef908586c.

This tool has been tested on 'Archlinux', with 'GNOME Shell 3.34.0' and the 'nordvpn' CLI tool version 3.3.1-3, for commits before (and including) commit b009a83b298fbce6ab88a9371b8904f29a88cb31.

This tool has been tested on 'Archlinux', with 'GNOME Shell 3.36.0' and the 'nordvpn' CLI tool version 3.7.0-2, for commits before (and including) commit b1425bbff652c824e77360316b509a1b2a1a2db8.

This tool has been tested on 'Archlinux', with 'GNOME Shell 3.36.1' and the 'nordvpn' CLI tool version 3.7.2-2, for commits before (and including) commit b923bfb4bc89e3fb5f5892638a39178d0dea3331.

This tool has been tested on 'Archlinux', with 'GNOME Shell 3.36.1' and the 'nordvpn' CLI tool version 3.8.5, for commits before (and including) commit 2caed946da31ed084ad0cdd7d1783e2ea033def4.

This tool has been tested on 'Archlinux', with 'GNOME Shell 40.1.0' and the 'nordvpn' CLI tool version 3.9.2, for commits before (and including) commit f09af72e7b0a23e14e11fb51b38e42773c94bc8f.

This tool has been tested on 'Archlinux', with 'GNOME Shell 40.4.0' and the 'nordvpn' CLI tool version 3.12.0, for later commits.

Install

If you've cloned or downloaded this extension from github, copy the content of its root directory to a new directory: ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected].

Then, activate the extension (if needed).

From the start, a command line install should look like this:

git clone https://github.com/AlexPoilrouge/NordVPN-connect.git

mkdir ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected]

cp NordVPN-connect/* ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected]/

gnome-extensions enable [email protected]

I might be necessary to refresh your gnome-shell afterwards. The best way to do this is to use the hotkey Alt + F2 and then entering r.

Install (scripted)

The step above has been automated with a shell script. Once you've cloned or downloaded this extension from github, head up to the downloaded folder:

cd NordVPN-connect

and use the following script:

./setup.sh

You can also use this script to install the extension as a system-wide extension:

./setup.sh --system

After install, you might still need to refresh your gnome-shell using: Alt + F2 → enter r

More option for this script are available, be sure to check: ./setup.sh --help

Misc.

Extension settings page

Since commit aabdf8d307c1ecebf38c097b9e34987862ae859b, an “ Extension Settings ” page has been added.

Like all other Gnome-shell extensions (that provide such 'settings' page), there are several ways of accessing it:

1. Install and use the “ gnome-tweaks ” tool. Then go to the Extensions tab. From there you should be able to access to extensions settings page, if there are any provided with corresponding extension.
2. Go to the “ GNOME Extensions ” website, and visit the “ Installed Extensions ” section. From there you should be able to manage your installed extensions, provided your web browser had the “ GNOME Shell Integration ” plugin installed and enabled.
3. Your Gnome environment might have been provided with the gnome-shell-extension-prefs tool. Invoke it from a terminal to manage your extensions.

Help

The extension says « tool not found. », Holly Cow!

This probably means that the 'nordvpn' CLI tool is either not installed, either not found by the system. See previous section for installation and the NordVPN website ( https://nordvpn.com/download/linux/ ).

The extension says « daemon disabled/missing », what gives?

_Enable the daemon ?

Installing the 'nordvpn' CLI tool isn't enough. The 'nordvpnd' systemd daemon must be up and running. Open a terminal and type:

systemd enable --now nordvpnd.service

_User in nordvpn group?

As pointed out by this issue, sometimes a user can't access the nordvpn CLI if the active user doesn't belong to the nordvpn group. In a terminal:

groupadd nordvpn
sudo usermod -aG nordvpn $USER

The extension says « tool not logged in », what's up?

You probably haven't set up your logins to the 'nordvpn' CLI tool. Open a terminal and type:

nordvpn login

and enter your NordVPN logins.

The extension seems to be blocked in some sort of “ waiting state ”.

This extension is supposed to react to the current state of the NordVPN server connection given by the 'nordvpn' CLI tool and the 'nordvpnd' systemd daemon. Therefore, you might need to use those tool to fix the issue.

I have a custom installation of 'nordvpn' CLI tool / I don't use 'systemd' / whatever … Am I doomed?

Pretty much. Howerver, since commit aabdf8d307c1ecebf38c097b9e34987862ae859b, a “ Settings ” page has been added to the extensions. I contains a tab that allows you to change the core shell commands that allows to monitor and connect with the nordvpn CLI tool. But you're on your own from there, sorry.

Yo, the extension say's there's a pickle with my 'shell' or something… Da fox?

This extension, by default, uses bash to run its core commands. The default path it uses is /bin/bash. However, if that doesn't fit with your install, you can try changing the default shell within the "Advanced" tab, located in the extensions 'settings' page (only possible since commit 28bbe2bb0178c8e6325683585b5268fa454798a0, i.e. version 7 of the extension).

-> Once you made the appropriate change, either reload the extension, or reload gnome shell by using Alt+F2 and entering r

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From Strasbourg, with love.

Alex Poilrouge