Pritunl Client GitHub Action

Establish automated secure Pritunl VPN connections with Pritunl Client in GitHub Actions, supporting OpenVPN and WireGuard.

Simplify your workflow, strengthen security, and safeguard access to corporate resources and infrastructure. This utility ensures secure connections, protecting your organization's valuable assets and data.

Streamline tasks such as:

Securely distribute cross-platform, multi-architecture builds across teams, including corporate internal custom desktop and mobile applications, custom embedded software, firmware, server applications, and single-board computer operating system images.
Ensure secure access to corporate infrastructure private resources, including internal file storage solutions such as SharePoint, Samba, and NFS shares.
Automate end-to-end testing of internal and private systems, including applications and data interfaces.
Ensure data safety and resource availability with regular, periodic schedule operations for internal resources, including backups.

Action Diagram

Note

The diagram above is an editable vector image using drawio app.

Connection Tests

Compatibility Matrix

Check the compatibility of various runners and VPN modes:

Runner	OpenVPN	WireGuard
`ubuntu-24.04` ^{⚠️ beta}	✅ Yes	🚧 Unstable
`ubuntu-22.04`	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
`ubuntu-20.04`	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
`macos-14` ^arm64	✅ Yes	🚧 Unstable
`macos-13`	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
`macos-12`	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
`windows-2022`	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
`windows-2019`	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

Tip

See the workflow file connection-tests-complete.yml for a complete tests matrix example.
View the comprehensive connection tests matrix on our GitHub Actions page for more details.

Confirmed Compatibility

We have confirmed compatibility with Pritunl v1.32.3805.95 and later versions through rigorous testing. Our server clusters are deployed across multiple cloud platforms, including AWS, Azure and Linode (Akamai).

Usage

Configure the Pritunl Client GitHub Action using YAML's declarative syntax, making it easy to integrate and manage your VPN connections in a clear and concise manner. Define your configuration in a simple and human-readable YAML file, and let the action handle the rest.

Inputs

Provides input parameters for the Pritunl Client GitHub Action, allowing users to customize the setup process and connection settings.

- name: Pritunl Client GitHub Action
  uses: nathanielvarona/pritunl-client-github-action@v1
  with:
    profile-file: ''
      # REQUIRED: Pritunl Profile File (Base64 text format)
      # Description: Provide the Base64-encoded Pritunl profile file contents.

    profile-pin: ''
      # OPTIONAL: Profile Pin (Numerical values, default: no pin)
      # Description: Specify a numerical pin for the profile (if required).

    profile-server: ''
      # OPTIONAL: Profile Server (Single string or comma-separated for multiple names, default: first or only server in the profile)
      # Description: Specify the profile server(s) to connect to.

    vpn-mode: ''
      # OPTIONAL: VPN Connection Mode (choices: 'ovpn' for OpenVPN, or 'wg' for WireGuard, default: 'ovpn')
      # Description: Select the VPN connection mode.

    client-version: ''
      # OPTIONAL: Pritunl Client Version (Numerical dot-separated identifiers, default: latest version from Package Manager)
      # Description: Specify the Pritunl client version to use.

    start-connection: ''
      # OPTIONAL: Start the Connection (Boolean, default: true)
      # Description: Set to 'false' to prevent the connection from starting automatically.

    ready-profile-timeout: ''
      # OPTIONAL: Ready Profile Timeout (Natural Numbers, unit of time in seconds, default: 3)
      # Description: Set the timeout for the profile to become ready.

    established-connection-timeout: ''
      # OPTIONAL: Established Connection Timeout (Natural Numbers, unit of time in seconds, default: 30)
      # Description: Set the timeout for the connection to become established.

    concealed-outputs: ''
      # OPTIONAL: Concealed Outputs (Boolean, default: true)
      # Description: Set to 'false' to reveal sensitive output information.

Important

For the profile-file input, ensure you convert the tar archive file format to base64 text file format. Refer to the Working with Pritunl Profile File subsection for guidance.

Outputs

Outputs essential variables from Pritunl Client setup, supporting and extending automation, integration, and audit processes.

client-id — a unique string identifier generated during the profile setup process.

Example:
```
6p5yiqbkjbktkrz5
```

client-ids — a JSON array containing all client IDs and names in the profile, with each entry represented as a key-value pair.

Format (json elements):

{"id":"client-id","name":"profile-name (server-name)"}

Example (single entry):

[{"id":"6p5yiqbkjbktkrz5","name":"gha-automator-dev (dev-team)"}]

Example (multiple entries):

[{"id":"kp4kx4zbcqpsqkbk","name":"gha-automator-qa2 (dev-team)"},{"id":"rsy6npzw5mwryge2","name":"gha-automator-qa2 (qa-team)"}]

Retrieving Step Outputs

To retrieve the client-id:

${{ steps.pritunl-connection.outputs.client-id }}

To retrieve the client-ids:

${{ steps.pritunl-connection.outputs.client-ids }}

Note

The pritunl-connection refers to the Setup Step ID. Make sure to replace it with the actual step ID in your workflow.

Tip

See "Manual Connection Control" for an example of using client_id.
See "Specifying Server or Servers in a Multi-Server Profile" for examples of using client_ids.
See "Controlling Step Outputs Visibility in GitHub Actions Log" by setting concealed-outputs.

Examples

Provided that profile-file is available, we have the flexibility to generate multiple scenarios.

Minimum Working Configuration

Establish a VPN connection with just a few lines of code! Simply set the required profile-file input, and let the action handle the rest.

- name: Setup Pritunl Profile and Start VPN Connection
  uses: nathanielvarona/pritunl-client-github-action@v1
  with:
    profile-file: ${{ secrets.PRITUNL_PROFILE_FILE }}

Tip

See a working example of this action in our connection-tests-basic.yml. This example demonstrates a basic setup and connection test.

Authenticate with PIN or Password

If your VPN connection requires authentication, use the profile-pin input to provide a PIN or password.

- name: Setup Pritunl Profile and Start VPN Connection
  uses: nathanielvarona/pritunl-client-github-action@v1
  with:
    profile-file: ${{ secrets.PRITUNL_PROFILE_FILE }}
    profile-pin: ${{ secrets.PRITUNL_PROFILE_PIN }}

Specifying Server or Servers in a Multi-Server Profile

Select one or more servers by specifying their names. You can use:

Short name: A concise name (e.g., dev-team)
Short name with multiple servers: Separate multiple short names with commas (e.g., dev-team, qa-team)
Full profile name: A complete name with the profile and server (e.g., gha-automator-qa1 (dev-team))
Full profile name with multiple servers: Separate multiple full profile names with commas (e.g., gha-automator-qa1 (dev-team), gha-automator-qa1 (qa-team))

- name: Setup Pritunl Profile and Start VPN Connection
  uses: nathanielvarona/pritunl-client-github-action@v1
  with:
    profile-file: ${{ secrets.PRITUNL_PROFILE_FILE }}

    # Specify a single server using its short name
    profile-server: dev-team

    # Connect to multiple servers using short names
    # profile-server: dev-team, qa-team

    # Use a full profile name to specify a single server
    # profile-server: gha-automator-qa1 (dev-team)

    # Use full profile names to specify multiple servers
    # profile-server: gha-automator-qa1 (dev-team), gha-automator-qa1 (qa-team)

Tip

See an example of connecting to multiple servers in our connection-tests-multi-server-profile.yml file. This workflow demonstrates how to configure and test connections to multiple servers using a single profile.

Specify Client Version

Use a specific version of the Pritunl client.

- name: Setup Pritunl Profile and Start VPN Connection
  uses: nathanielvarona/pritunl-client-github-action@v1
  with:
    profile-file: ${{ secrets.PRITUNL_PROFILE_FILE }}
    client-version: 1.3.3883.60

Specify VPN Mode

Use a specific VPN mode (e.g., WireGuard).

- name: Setup Pritunl Profile and Start VPN Connection
  uses: nathanielvarona/pritunl-client-github-action@v1
  with:
    profile-file: ${{ secrets.PRITUNL_PROFILE_FILE }}
    vpn-mode: wg

Manual Connection Control

Demonstrates manual control over the VPN connection, including starting, stopping, and checking the connection status.

# Set up Pritunl profile and store client ID for later use
- name: Setup Pritunl Profile
  id: pritunl-connection # A `Setup Step ID` has been added as a reference identifier for the output `client-id`.
  uses: nathanielvarona/pritunl-client-github-action@v1
  with:
    profile-file: ${{ secrets.PRITUNL_PROFILE_FILE }}
    start-connection: false # Do not establish a connection in this step.

# Start VPN connection using stored client ID and password (use stored secret if available, otherwise use an empty string)
- name: Start VPN Connection Manually
  shell: bash
  run: |
    pritunl-client start ${{ steps.pritunl-connection.outputs.client-id }} \
      --password ${{ secrets.PRITUNL_PROFILE_PIN || '' }}

    sleep 10 # Wait for 10 seconds to allow the connection to establish

# Display VPN connection status
- name: Display VPN Connection Status Manually
  shell: bash
  run: |
    pritunl-client list --json | jq 'sort_by(.name) | .[0] | { "Profile Name": .name, "Client Address": .client_address }'

# Insert your CI/CD core logic here
- name: Your CI/CD Core Logic Here

# Stop VPN connection using stored client ID (always run, even on failure)
- name: Stop VPN Connection Manually
  if: ${{ always() }}
  shell: bash
  run: |
    pritunl-client stop ${{ steps.pritunl-connection.outputs.client-id }}

Tip

See a working example of manual connection control in our connection-tests-manual-control.yml for the readme example manual test.

Controlling Step Outputs Visibility in GitHub Actions Log

By default, step outputs are hidden in the GitHub Actions log to keep it clean and clutter-free. To reveal step outputs, set concealed-outputs to false.

- name: Setup Pritunl Profile and Start VPN Connection
  uses: nathanielvarona/pritunl-client-github-action@v1
  with:
    profile-file: ${{ secrets.PRITUNL_PROFILE_FILE }}
    concealed-outputs: false # Set to false to reveal step outputs in the GitHub Actions log

Working with Pritunl Profile File

The Pritunl Client CLI requires a specific file format, and GitHub has limitations on uploading binary files. To store the Pritunl Profile in GitHub Secrets, we need to convert the tar archive file to a base64 text file format.

Four Easy Steps

1. Obtain the Profile File

Download the Profile File from the User Profile Page or obtain it from your Infrastructure Team. If you receive a tar file, proceed to Step 2.

curl -sSL https://vpn.domain.tld/key/a1b2c3d4e5.tar -o ./pritunl.profile.tar

2. Convert to Base64

Convert the Pritunl Profile File from tar archive file format to base64 text file format.

base64 --wrap 0 ./pritunl.profile.tar > ./pritunl.profile.base64

3. Copy the Base64-encoded Data

CLI (Command-Line Interface)

macOS (using pbcopy):
```
cat ./pritunl.profile.base64 | pbcopy
```

Linux or WSL:

Using xclip:

cat ./pritunl.profile.base64 | xclip -selection clipboard

Using xsel:

cat ./pritunl.profile.base64 | xsel --clipboard --input

Windows (using PowerShell):

Get-Content .\pritunl.profile.base64 | Set-Clipboard

GUI (Graphical User Interface)

Open the file ./pritunl.profile.base64 in a code editor (e.g., code or vim) and select all the text (or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A or Cmd+A).
Right-click and select "Copy" (or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C or Cmd+C).

4. Create a GitHub Action Secret

Create a GitHub Action Secret (e.g., PRITUNL_PROFILE_FILE) and paste the entire base64 text data as the secret value.

Pro Tip!

Reveal the Magic: One-liner Shorthand Script

Simplify the first three steps with this handy one-liner invocation script:

# Define a private function to read file data or download from URL
# This function is used internally to fetch the profile data
__get_profile_data() {
  # Check if the input is a file
  if [ -f "$1" ]; then
    # If it's a file, read its contents
    cat "$1"
  else
    # If it's not a file, assume it's a URL and download the data
    curl -sSL "$1"
  fi
}

# Define a public function to encode a profile and copy it to the clipboard
# This function takes a file path or URL as input, encodes the data to base64,
# and copies it to the clipboard
encode_profile_and_copy() {
  # Check if a file path or URL is provided as an argument
  if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
    # If no argument is provided, print an error message and usage instructions
    echo "Error: No argument provided"
    echo "Usage: $(basename "$0") <url or file path>"
    echo "Examples:"
    echo "  Using a URL: $(basename "$0") https://vpn.domain.tld/key/a1b2c3d4e5.tar"
    echo "  Using a local file path: $(basename "$0") ./pritunl.profile.tar"
    return 1
  fi

  # Get the profile data using the private function
  __get_profile_data "$1" |
  # Encode the data to base64
  base64 --wrap 0 |
  # Copy the encoded data to the clipboard
  {
    # Use pbcopy for macOS
    pbcopy
  } || {
    # Use xclip or xsel for Linux or WSL
    xclip -selection clipboard || xsel --clipboard --input
  }
}

Check out this script (pritunl-profile-encode.sh) from nathanielvarona/dotfiles for an example of how to implement one-liner shorthand script.

Supported Arm64 Architecture Runners

Supports GitHub Actions runners with Arm64 architecture, enabling users to run workflows on Arm64-based systems.

Tip

See an example of Arm64 support in our connection-tests-basic.yml file.

Warning

^arm64 — While most runners are free to use in public repositories, certain Arm64 runners may incur usage charges to your account.

For details on runner billing, please refer to the "About billing for GitHub Actions" documentation.

Noticeable Issues and Solutions

Pritunl Client Installation

Affected Runners: Ubuntu (Linux) Runners using the Apt Repository for installation.
Related Issues: #209, #206
Problems:
- Occasionally, updates to the Pritunl Client package in the Ubuntu repository can cause installation issues.
- Sometimes, the GitHub Actions Runner images have problems with their internal package caches, leading to failed installations.
Solutions:
- Specify the desired Pritunl Client version using the client-version input in your GitHub Action. This will download the client directly from the official Pritunl Client GitHub Releases page, ensuring you get the exact version you need.
  
  NOTE: When specifying the client-version input, please use the version number without the 'v' prefix. For example, use 1.3.3883.60 instead of v1.3.3883.60.
  
  Example:
```
- uses: nathanielvarona/pritunl-client-github-action@v1
  ...
  with:
    ...
    client-version: 1.3.3883.60
```

Contributing

Thank you for your interest in contributing to our project! We appreciate your help in making our project better.

Fork and Pull Requests

Fork our repository to your own GitHub account.
Make changes, additions, or fixes on your forked repository.
Send a pull request to our original repository.

Rebasing and Squashing Commits

Rebase your branch on top of the latest main branch before submitting a pull request.
Squash your commits into a single, meaningful commit.

Modify and Test Your Fork

Modify the main files:

action.yml — GitHub Action Metadata File and Inline Entrypoint Script for pritunl-client.sh.
pritunl-client.sh — Pritunl Client Script File, the GitHub Action Logic.

Test your changes thoroughly:

Ensure your contributions are reliable by testing your fork using the same GitHub Actions workflows we use for our project. Please update or add new test workflows in the .github/workflows/connection-tests-*.yml files as needed to cover your changes.

Use Your Fork

Once you've modified and tested your fork, you can use it in your own projects. Here's an example usage:

- name: Pritunl Client GitHub Action (Development Fork)
  uses: <YOUR GITHUB USERNAME>/pritunl-client-github-action@<YOUR FEATURE BRANCH>
  with:
    profile-file: ${{ secrets.PRITUNL_PROFILE_FILE }}
    ...
    <YOUR FEATURE INPUTS>
    ...

Documentation

When contributing to our project, please make sure to document your features or changes in the following ways:

Update the README.md file to include information about your feature or change.
Add comments to your code to explain what it does and how it works.
If necessary, create a new documentation file or update an existing one to provide more detailed information about your feature or change.

Additional Guidelines

Be respectful and considerate of others in our community.
Follow the GitHub Community Guidelines and Anti-Harassment Policy.
Keep your contributions aligned with our project's goals and scope.

What to Expect

Our maintainers will review your pull request and provide feedback.
We may request changes or improvements before merging your pull request.
Once approved, your contribution will be merged and credited to you.

Thank you again for your contribution! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us.

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action.dio.svg		action.dio.svg
action.yml		action.yml
pritunl-client.sh		pritunl-client.sh

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