Welcome to JNordVPN Manager Documentation

Introducing JNordVPN Manager - a user-friendly, open-source graphical interface for managing NordVPN connections on Linux. This application simplifies VPN administration with features like a server/city list grouped by countries with filter functionality (by name, region or legacy group), connection management (login, logout, connect, disconnect, reconnect, pause), NordVPN Settings management and a world map showing all servers and the active one. Recent connections are also stored for easy reconnection by a single click.

To get a full overview of the functionality of the application please open the Functionality wiki page.

The application can be run (installed) in two ways:

1. Manually

   By copying the jar file in a local directory and simply execute the command:

   [path to java]/java -jar [path to jar]/JNordVPNManager_[version].jar

   Prereq: Java 11 (or higher) must be installed on the computer.

2. SNAP Installation

   (See Snapcraft Homepage for more information)

   With SNAP you can download, install, and keep JNordVPNManager up to date automatically. The terminal command line to install snap is:

   sudo snap install j-nordvpn-manager (Assuming snap is installed)

   This will install the application with all required prerequisites (Java) into a sandbox where it is separated from other applications: Each Snap restricts the execution of commands outside of their own sandbox. This means, JNordVPN Manager can not execute nordvpn commands. The created Desktop Icon (or the terminal command j-nordvpn-manager) will run JNordVPN Manager in "Installer" mode (the from snap created desktop file has the extension 'install'), which should be executed at least once after the first installation: The Installer generates a desktop file to allow you to run the application outside of the limitations of the Snap sandbox.

   

   The generated desktop file executes the command:

   /snap/j-nordvpn-manager/current/bin/java -jar /snap/j-nordvpn-manager/current/JNordVpnManager-current.jar

   ... which can be also executed manually after the snap installation.

Local Application Data

The default directories for local application data are:

• ~/.local/share/JNordVpnManager
  • Log file [JNordVpnManager.log] - if logging is activated
  • Intermediate storage for server locations data [locations.dat]
  • Default application ("home") directory for import/export files
• ~/.java/.userPrefs/com/mr/apps/JNordVpnManager
  • Application User Preferences
• /temp
  • temporary directory with world map data

Application Setup Tips

• 

  With the application preference Auto Update Server Data on Program Start a time interval (in days) can be set, where on launch time the local stored list of available NordVPN servers is automatically updated from NordVPN. Default value is "0", which means that automatic update is disabled. Set to "1" means, the list is updated once per day. Additional, the list can be updated any time manually by pressing the button Refresh List from NordVPN server under the server list tree. Dependent on the speed of internet, a download requires ca. 5..10 seconds which will slow down the launch time of the application.

• 

  With the application preference Auto Close Messages a time interval (in seconds) can be set, after that some Message Dialogs (e.g. that shown after successful connect) will be closed automatic. A value of 0 disables auto close, a recommended value for this option is 2 seconds.

• 

  Console Settings can be totally switched off to optimize memory usage and speed of the application. Only in case of problems, settings should be temporary changed. Even with all settings off, common information is logged in the console window to check current connection settings, connection problems etc.

Known Problems / Issues

• Issues can be reported here (GitHub Issues)
• First launch of the application needs additional time for initialization and downloading the server information from NordVPN. See Application Setup Tips (on this page) to find a personal balance between performance and data updating for future launches.
• NordVPN and the World Map use different data bases for country names - for some countries a name mapping is required for direct server selection with the mouse pointer in the map. If occurs a problem, please open a issue that the name mapping can be corrected in the next release.