Support for SteamOS/Steam Deck

[dnet890]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
it is prominent that SteamOS users aka Steam Deck are growing fast and it will be great if PIA support it.

Describe the solution you'd like
there are lots of unofficial manual how to setup the PIA VPN on SteamOS and it will be great if PIA steps in to provide a guidance and lead the user

Describe alternatives you've considered
There are lots of unofficial instructions from Reddit

Additional context
Add any other context or screenshots about the feature request here.

[kp-michele-emiliani]

Hi dtantono,

Unfortunately I don't have one available at the moment, so this still has not been tested.
Could you try installing it like you would on a regular x86_64 linux machine and post here the results?
Download link: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/download/linux-vpn

Thank you!

[dnet890]

First of all, I think we need PIA wireguard or openvpn I know it is old format) config file or if you want something painless and without messing the config file. Flatpak support is important because the filesystem is readonly by default which is good for newbies. What do you think?

[kp-michele-emiliani]

If you want to connect to the vpn without using a client, you can already get a .opvn file here: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/account/ovpn-config-generator

[dnet890]

well, essentially wireguard well known as a newer and more robust than ovpn. I hope PIA will support wireguard for manual installation. But, it will be much easier for non-technical person to install the app with flatpak though because the filesystem is read-only by default (which is good to prevent messing the system) and it is safer without messing unnecessary things.

[banister]

Manual connection scripts for both wireguard and openvpn are available here https://github.com/pia-foss/manual-connections

[heyimdownhere]

+1 for PIA to create a flatpack and publish it.

[cheesecow]

Flatpak pls!

[Insperatus]

Can we please get a flatpak for PIA? Some of your competitors are offering flatpack packages but I would prefer not to switch VPN providers.

[czimmerman678]

I think that a flatpack installer would be incredible.

[RoronoaShinra]

Really need a flatpak, disabling readonly for me isn't getting this installed.

[RoronoaShinra]

this is all i get in the konsole commands although i am new to linux

(deck@steamdeck ~)$ steamos-readonly disable
steamos-readonly needs to be run as root
(1)(deck@steamdeck ~)$ sudo steamos-readonly disable
[sudo] password for deck:
(deck@steamdeck ~)$ sh pia-linux-3.3.1-06924.run
sh: pia-linux-3.3.1-06924.run: No such file or directory
(127)(deck@steamdeck ~)$ downloads
bash: downloads: command not found
(127)(deck@steamdeck ~)$ cd downloads
bash: cd: downloads: No such file or directory
(1)(deck@steamdeck ~)$ cd Downloads
(deck@steamdeck Downloads)$ sh pia-linux-3.3.1-06924.run
Verifying archive integrity... 100% MD5 checksums are OK. All good.
Uncompressing Private Internet Access 100%

=================================
Private Internet Access Installer

Installing PIA for x86_64, system is x86_64
Detected a previous install but no service installed - assuming no service should be configured
✔ Copied Private Internet Access files
✔ Allow non-root /opt/piavpn/bin/pia-unbound to bind to privileged ports
✔ Created var folder
cp: cannot create regular file '/usr/share/pixmaps/piavpn.png': Read-only file system
(1)(deck@steamdeck Downloads)$ steamos-readonly disable
steamos-readonly needs to be run as root
(1)(deck@steamdeck Downloads)$ sudo steamos-readonly disable
Warning: The rootfs is already read-write!
Nothing is performed.
(deck@steamdeck Downloads)$ sh pia-linux-3.3.1-06924.run
Verifying archive integrity... 100% MD5 checksums are OK. All good.
Uncompressing Private Internet Access 100%

=================================
Private Internet Access Installer

Installing PIA for x86_64, system is x86_64
Detected a previous install but no service installed - assuming no service should be configured
✔ Copied Private Internet Access files
✔ Allow non-root /opt/piavpn/bin/pia-unbound to bind to privileged ports
✔ Created var folder
cp: cannot create regular file '/usr/share/pixmaps/piavpn.png': Read-only file system
(1)(deck@steamdeck Downloads)$

[gittykrabs]

Another vote for a flatpak version. It's really quite difficult to get any VPN client to work on Steam OS, so this would make things a lot easier.

[kp-miguel-galindo]

Flatpak would indeed be great for usability. However, PIA requires low-level system networking access to setup tunneling and rules. This is not possible under typical flatpak's sandbox limitations.

However, disabling the readonly filesystem should work. I tried this on a Steam Deck VM and found no issue with the commands @RoronoaShinra showed above.

(deck@steamdeck Downloads)$ sudo steamos-readonly enable
[sudo] password for deck: 
(deck@steamdeck Downloads)$ sh ./pia-linux-3.3.1-06924.run 
Verifying archive integrity...  100%   MD5 checksums are OK. All good.
Uncompressing Private Internet Access  100%  

=================================
Private Internet Access Installer
=================================

Installing PIA for x86_64, system is x86_64
Detected a previous systemd install - assuming systemd
✔ Closed running Private Internet Access client
✔ Copied Private Internet Access files
✔ Allow non-root /opt/piavpn/bin/pia-unbound to bind to privileged ports
✔ Created var folder
cp: cannot create regular file '/usr/share/pixmaps/piavpn.png': Read-only file system
(1)(deck@steamdeck Downloads)$ sudo steamos-readonly disable
(deck@steamdeck Downloads)$ sh ./pia-linux-3.3.1-06924.run 
Verifying archive integrity...  100%   MD5 checksums are OK. All good.
Uncompressing Private Internet Access  100%  

=================================
Private Internet Access Installer
=================================

Installing PIA for x86_64, system is x86_64
Detected a previous systemd install - assuming systemd
✔ Copied Private Internet Access files
✔ Allow non-root /opt/piavpn/bin/pia-unbound to bind to privileged ports
✔ Created var folder
✔ Installed icon
✔ Created desktop entry
✔ Created piavpn service
✔ Started piavpn service

[VenomXII]

While i was able to now get the app installed, the app doesn't load anything and I'm left with a spinning green circle when i start the app. Screenshot

[Sariden342]

+1 for flatpak!

[archerallstars]

Does anyone try this with distrobox?

I would love to see a Flatpak version too.