unable to use openvpn server which uses "push route..."

[Tomasz Chmielewski <mangoo wpkg org>]

I have a VPN server which uses "push route..." options to push specific 
routes to the clients:

# testing1
push "route 10.11.0.0 255.255.255.0"

# testing2
push "route 10.12.0.0 255.255.255.0"

# testing3
push "route 10.13.1.0 255.255.255.0"


The same config file works correctly with command line openvpn on Linux 
(openvpn --config some.conf), with OpenVPN client for Windows, with 
OpenVPN client for Mac (TunnelBlick), with OpenVPN clients for Android 
and iOS - the routes are pushed to the clients. However, it does not 
work when the config is imported via NetworkManager (used version 1.2.6 
on Ubuntu 16.10, but also tried several earlier Ubuntu versions, to no 
avail).


To reproduce:

case 1) in NM, import a openvpn config file where the server uses "push 
route..." option, but is *not* a default gateway (i.e. no "push 
redirect-gateway..." on the server).

Expected result: config file is imported, when we initiate the 
connection via NM, the routes pushed by the server are applied on the 
client

Real result: NM routes *all* traffic through the established connection. 
There is no connectivity anywhere anymore (device is "offlined").



case 2) in NM, import a openvpn config file where the server uses "push 
route..." option, but is *not* a default gateway (i.e. no "push 
redirect-gateway..." on the server).
Additionally, in IPv4 settings -> Routes for this OpenVPN config, we 
select "Use this connection only for resources on its network".

Expected result: config file is imported, when we initiate the 
connection via NM, the routes pushed by the server are applied on the 
client

Real result: routes pushed by the server are not applied on the client.



Please advise how to use NetworkManager for OpenVPN servers which are 
not default gateways and which push their own routes.


Tomasz Chmielewski
https://lxadm.com