How to use the command 'protonvpn-cli' (with examples)

The ‘protonvpn-cli’ command is the official ProtonVPN client for Linux systems. It allows users to manage their ProtonVPN connection, login to their account, enable kill switch, connect to ProtonVPN, check connection status, and more. This article provides examples of different use cases of the ‘protonvpn-cli’ command.

Use case 1: Log in to the ProtonVPN account

Code:

protonvpn-cli login username

Motivation: Logging in to your ProtonVPN account allows you to access your subscription details, connect to server locations available for your plan, and ensure a secure connection.

Explanation:

• protonvpn-cli: The command itself
• login: Specifies the action to log in to the ProtonVPN account
• username: The username or email associated with your ProtonVPN account

Example output:

Logged in successfully as username.

Use case 2: Start a kill switch upon connecting to ProtonVPN

Code:

protonvpn-cli killswitch --on

Motivation: Enabling kill switch ensures that all internet traffic is blocked if the VPN connection drops, maintaining privacy and preventing any accidental leaks.

Explanation:

• protonvpn-cli: The command itself
• killswitch: Specifies the action to start/stop the kill switch
• --on: Enables the kill switch

Example output:

Kill switch enabled.

Use case 3: Connect to ProtonVPN interactively

Code:

protonvpn-cli connect

Motivation: Connecting to ProtonVPN allows you to browse the internet securely through an encrypted tunnel, masking your IP address and protecting your online activities.

Explanation:

• protonvpn-cli: The command itself
• connect: Specifies the action to connect to ProtonVPN

Example output:

Choose a server to connect:
1) Server A
2) Server B
3) Server C

Enter the number of your choice: [1-3]: 2

Connecting to Server B...
Connection established.

Use case 4: Display connection status

Code:

protonvpn-cli status

Motivation: Checking the connection status provides information about the currently connected ProtonVPN server, IP address, VPN protocol, and data transfer.

Explanation:

• protonvpn-cli: The command itself
• status: Specifies the action to display the connection status

Example output:

Server: Server B
IP Address: 123.45.67.89
Protocol: UDP
Data Transfer: 1024 MB (Upload), 2048 MB (Download)

Use case 5: Block malware using ProtonVPN NetShield

Code:

protonvpn-cli netshield --malware

Motivation: Enabling ProtonVPN NetShield with the ‘malware’ option protects your system from known malware domains and prevents malicious content from reaching your device.

Explanation:

• protonvpn-cli: The command itself
• netshield: Specifies the action to control ProtonVPN NetShield
• --malware: Enables the blocking of malware

Example output:

NetShield enabled with malware blocking.

Use case 6: Disconnect from ProtonVPN

Code:

protonvpn-cli disconnect

Motivation: Disconnecting from ProtonVPN terminates the VPN connection, restoring the original network settings of your device.

Explanation:

• protonvpn-cli: The command itself
• disconnect: Specifies the action to disconnect from ProtonVPN

Example output:

Disconnected from ProtonVPN.

Use case 7: Display the current ProtonVPN configuration

Code:

protonvpn-cli config --list

Motivation: Viewing the current ProtonVPN configuration provides information about the available server locations, VPN protocols, and other settings.

Explanation:

• protonvpn-cli: The command itself
• config: Specifies the action to display the configuration
• --list: Lists the configurations

Example output:

Available servers:
1) Server A
2) Server B
3) Server C

Available VPN protocols:
- TCP
- UDP

Selected server: Server B
Selected protocol: UDP

Use case 8: Display help for a subcommand

Code:

protonvpn-cli subcommand --help

Motivation: Accessing help for a specific subcommand provides detailed information about its usage, available options, and examples.

Explanation:

• protonvpn-cli: The command itself
• subcommand: Specifies the subcommand for which help is required
• --help: Displays the help documentation for the specified subcommand

Example output:

Usage: protonvpn-cli connect

Description: Connects to a ProtonVPN server.

Options:
  --fastest    Connects to the fastest server available.
  --random     Connects to a random server available in the selected country.
  --country COUNTRY
               Connects to the fastest server available in the specified country.

Examples:
  protonvpn-cli connect --fastest
  protonvpn-cli connect --country US
  protonvpn-cli connect --random

Conclusion:

The ‘protonvpn-cli’ command is a versatile tool for managing your ProtonVPN connection on Linux systems. Whether it is logging into your account, ensuring a secure connection, or managing VPN settings, the ‘protonvpn-cli’ command offers a range of options to enhance your ProtonVPN experience. With these examples, you can easily navigate through different use cases and make the most out of the command.