Deploying SoftEther VPN on Akash Network | Akash Network

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on deploying a SoftEther VPN server on the Akash Network.

Prerequisites

Akash CLI Installed: Ensure you have the Akash CLI installed. Follow the Akash CLI Installation Guide if needed.
AKT Tokens: Verify that your Akash wallet has sufficient AKT tokens to cover deployment costs.
SoftEther VPN Docker Image: Use a SoftEther VPN Docker image compatible with Akash’s infrastructure.

Steps to Deploy SoftEther VPN

Set Up Environment Variables

Configure your environment with the necessary Akash settings:

export AKASH_FROM=your_wallet_name
export AKASH_KEYRING_BACKEND=test
export AKASH_GAS=auto
export AKASH_GAS_PRICES=0.025uakt
export AKASH_GAS_ADJUSTMENT=1.5
export AKASH_BROADCAST_MODE=sync
export AKASH_NODE=https://rpc.testnet-02.aksh.pw:443
export AKASH_CHAIN_ID=$(curl -s -k $AKASH_NODE/status | jq -r '.result.node_info.network')

Replace your_wallet_name with your actual wallet name. Adjust other variables as necessary.

Create or Recover Your Wallet Key

If you don’t have a wallet key, create one:
Terminal window
```
provider-services keys add $AKASH_FROM
```
To recover an existing key:
Terminal window
```
provider-services keys add $AKASH_FROM --recover
```

Obtain AKT Tokens

Acquire AKT tokens from the faucet to fund your deployment:

curl -s https://faucet.testnet-02.aksh.pw/request?address=$(provider-services keys show $AKASH_FROM -a) | jq

Generate and Publish Your Client Certificate

Generate a client certificate:
Terminal window
```
provider-services tx cert generate client
```
Publish the certificate:
Terminal window
```
provider-services tx cert publish client
```
Create a Deployment Manifest

Develop a deployment manifest (deploy.yml) for your SoftEther VPN server. Here’s an example:
```
version: "2.0"
services:
  vpn:
    image: your_softether_image
    expose:
      - port: 443
        external: true
        protocol: tcp
```
Replace your_softether_image with the Docker image you intend to use.
Deploy the VPN Server

Submit the deployment request:
Terminal window
```
provider-services tx deployment create deploy.yml
```
Monitor the deployment status:
Terminal window
```
provider-services query market order list --state open
```
Accept a bid from a provider:
Terminal window
```
provider-services tx market lease create --dseq your_dseq --provider your_provider_address
```
Replace your_dseq and your_provider_address with the appropriate values obtained from the previous command.

Send the Deployment Manifest to the Provider

provider-services send-manifest deploy.yml --dseq your_dseq

Deposit Additional AKT for Lease Duration

Ensure your deployment has sufficient funds:
Terminal window
```
provider-services tx deployment deposit 10000000uakt --dseq your_dseq
```
Verify Deployment and Retrieve Connection Details

Check the lease status:
Terminal window
```
provider-services lease-status --dseq your_dseq --provider your_provider_address
```
Retrieve the assigned IP address and port mapping:
Terminal window
```
provider-services lease-logs --dseq your_dseq --provider your_provider_address
```
Note the external IP and port assigned to your VPN service.
Configure VPN Clients

Use the provided connection details to configure your VPN client. For SoftEther VPN, you may need to adjust settings based on the assigned IP and port.

Additional Notes

Port Mapping Limitations: Akash does not currently support direct (1:1) port mapping. To determine the mapped ports, use:
Terminal window
```
provider-services lease-status
```
For VPN services, it’s recommended to use OpenVPN over TCP port 443, as it works reliably within Akash’s networking constraints. Source
Client Configuration: After deployment, download the client certificate from the Akash dashboard. Modify the remote setting in the .ovpn file to reflect the assigned IP and port. This configuration enables your OpenVPN client to connect to the SoftEther VPN server deployed on Akash.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully deploy a SoftEther VPN server on the Akash Network using the provider-services CLI tool. Ensure you monitor your deployment’s status and maintain adequate AKT funds to keep your VPN service operational.

For more detailed guides and community discussions, consider exploring the following resources:

These resources offer additional insights and community experiences that can further assist you in deploying and managing your VPN service on Akash.