I am attempting to install openvpn from HMA in my Mint 17.1 and have run into a major setback.
Installed via HMA tutorials.
Reset the DNS via network manager.
I get a connection notification but on trying to access a web site via Firefox or Chrome I get a "Web server not available" or "Page not available" every time.
Have spent days working with HMA, searched google till my fingers bleed, nothing. Have tried PPTP and L2TP, same result.
I have just clean installed the latest Mint 17.3, with a Cisco router, same situation.
Can anyone help with the basics, something is missing, possibly in my program?

Can you ping the VPN gateway successfully? Can you ping a given web site by its IP address? It may well be a DNS issue at play.

Check name server assignment when VPN active
You might need to configure it manually.

All ping tests completed.
Terminal test revealed 127.0.1.1
Unsure what that means.
Comments?

The command given was to report 'nameserver' IP address currently assigned. The address given doesn't make sense. 127.x.x.x are reserved for the loopback address block.

You could try assigning a valid name server manually with
This IP address corresponds to an OpenDNS server. More info here

https://use.opendns.com/

I reset the DNS using the above link, no change, but trying to use the 'Echo' suggestion I just got a permission denied.
Now I'm into the "failed due to lack of VPN secrets'. One step forward two steps back!!

You need to do that with root permission eg using sudo
Only you can sort that one!

Strange! I did use sudo, I'm not that much of a dummy?!!! But thanks for the rejection, I'll try elsewhere.

No rejection intended. I just meant that only you know the authentication credentials needed to connect via VPN.