How to properly autoconnect on startup

[sojusnik]

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To autoconnect ProtonVPN at startup on Ubuntu 21.04, I've created a file in ~/.config/autostart/ (named it protonvpn-cli.desktop) with this content:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Exec=/usr/bin/protonvpn-cli c -f
Icon=protonvpn-logo
Name=ProtonVPN CLI
Terminal=false
Hidden=false
NoDisplay=false
X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true

But there is a delay of 1-2 minutes (as if ProtonVPN is waiting for a timeout) before ProtonVPN starts establishing a connection after startup. After this delay a VPN icon appears in Gnome's system tray and within seconds the VPN connection is finally established. Before this, I have no internet connection, probably because the kill switch is enabled in the GUI of ProtonVPN.

So what's the right way to have autoconnection on startup without this delay?

[unchartedpopsicle]

I pointed that autostart file to a script that resets the kill-switch before connecting:

#!/bin/bash

protonvpn-cli ks --off
protonvpn-cli ks --on
protonvpn-cli c -f

That fixed this problem for me on Pop!_OS.

[sojusnik]

@masytan Thanks, you're awesome! Works flawlessly!

[natanjunges]

If you want a systemd service, that also waits for NetworkManager, connects automatically, opens the GUI and disconnects automatically on logout, check out my comment on https://github.com/ProtonVPN/linux-app/issues/4#issuecomment-953313052.

[git-en]

Start the nice little Proton GUI connection icon in your tray add this to "startup applications"

#!/bin/bash /usr/bin/protonvpn-cli ks --off && /usr/bin/protonvpn-cli c -f && protonvpn &