diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b0be2b6..654bf6b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -54,8 +54,16 @@ Default config file `/etc/riseup-vpn.yaml`
 ---
 # /etc/riseup-vpn.yaml
 
+# if given, use it as gateway
 server: vpn07-par.riseup.net
+
+# if `server` is not set, randomly pick any server from `location`
+# location: Seattle
+
+# openvpn protocol to use. If not set, randomly pick any protocol supported by server
 protocol: udp
+
+# openvpn port to use. If not set, randomly pick any port supported by server
 port: 53
 
 # excluded_routes: list servcies that should not be routed over VPN
@@ -75,8 +83,12 @@ extra_config: |
   # disable logs
   verb: 0
 ```
+
+`server`, `protocol` and `port` are optional. If not given, `--generate-config` will randomly pick missing parameters.
+
 # How to use it
 [![asciicast](https://asciinema.org/a/559611.svg)](https://asciinema.org/a/559611)
+
 # Installation (as a dev)
 
 We need to run the tool with root permissions (for example to write to /etc). Running the tests also need root privileges (because we use chown). Therefore, I recommend running the dev environment also as root user.
diff --git a/riseup_vpn_configurator/__init__.py b/riseup_vpn_configurator/__init__.py
index ef93fb2..3c2240c 100644
--- a/riseup_vpn_configurator/__init__.py
+++ b/riseup_vpn_configurator/__init__.py
@@ -5,10 +5,12 @@
 import logging
 import os
 import pwd
+import random
 import shutil
 import socket
 import subprocess
 import sys
+from dataclasses import dataclass
 from ipaddress import ip_network
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import NoReturn, Optional
@@ -222,15 +224,17 @@ def check_config_file() -> None:
         logging.error(f"Could not parse config file {config_file}")
         print_default_config(1)
 
-    for c in ("server", "protocol", "port", "excluded_routes"):
+    # check mandatory parameters
+    for c in ("excluded_routes",):
         if c not in y.keys():
             logging.error(f"Error checking configuration file ({config_file}): '{c}' not specified")
             sys.exit(1)
 
-    if y["protocol"] not in ("tcp", "udp"):
+    if "protocol" in y and y["protocol"] not in ("tcp", "udp"):
         logging.error(f"Error checking configuration file ({config_file}): 'protocol' must be one of the values tcp|udp (specified was '{y['protocol']}')")
         sys.exit(1)
-    if not str(y["port"]).isnumeric():
+
+    if "port" in y and not str(y["port"]).isnumeric():
         logging.error(f"Error checking configuration file ({config_file}): 'port' must be numeric (specified was '{y['port']}')")
         sys.exit(1)
 
@@ -245,25 +249,95 @@ def check_config_file() -> None:
                 sys.exit(1)
     logging.info("Configuration file: OK")
 
+@dataclass
+class Gateway:
+    host: Optional[str]
+    protocols: list[str]
+    ports: list[int]
+    ip_address: Optional[str]
+    location: Optional[str]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_json(cls, gw_item: dict):
+        for transport in gw_item.get('capabilities',{}).get('transport', {}):
+            if transport.get('type') == 'openvpn':
+                protocols = transport.get('protocols', [])
+                ports = [int(p) for p in transport.get('ports', [])]
+                break
+        return cls(host=gw_item.get('host'),
+                   protocols=protocols,
+                   ports=ports,
+                   ip_address=gw_item.get('ip_address'),
+                   location=gw_item.get('location'))
+
+def filter_gateways(gateways: dict, filter: Gateway) -> list:
+    """Find gateways that match the given filter."""
+    candidates = []
+    for gw_item in gateways:
+        gw = Gateway.from_json(gw_item)
+
+        if filter.host and gw.host == filter.host:
+            # force given gateway
+            return [gw]
+
+        if filter.protocols:
+            if not [proto for proto in filter.protocols if proto in gw.protocols]:
+                # gateway does not support any wanted protocols
+                continue
+            else:
+                # force given protocol
+                gw.protocols = filter.protocols
+
+        if filter.ports:
+            if not [port for port in filter.ports if port in gw.ports]:
+                # gateway does not support any wanted ports
+                continue
+            else:
+                # force given port
+                gw.ports = filter.ports
+
+        if filter.location and gw.location != filter.location:
+            # gateway is not in the wanted location
+            continue
+
+        candidates.append(gw)
 
-def get_server_info() -> Optional[dict]:
+    return candidates
+
+def get_server_info() -> dict:
     with open(config_file) as f:
         config = yaml.safe_load(f)
     with open(gateway_json) as f:
         j = json.load(f)
-    gateways = j['gateways']
-    for gw in gateways:
-        if gw['host'] == config['server']:
-            return {
-                'hostname': gw['host'],
-                'ip_address': gw['ip_address'],
-                'proto': config['protocol'],
-                'port': config['port'],
-                'location': gw['location'],
-                'extra_config': config.get('extra_config', "")
-            }
-    logging.error(f"Gateway '{config['server']}' not found in gateway list. Please check with --list")
-    sys.exit(1)
+
+    protocol = config.get('protocol')
+    port = config.get('port')
+    filter = Gateway(host=config.get('server'),
+                     protocols=[protocol] if protocol else None,
+                     ports=[int(port)] if port else None,
+                     location=config.get('location'),
+                     ip_address=None)
+
+    gateways = filter_gateways(j['gateways'], filter)
+    if not gateways:
+        logging.error("Can't find any gateway matching critera. Please check with --list.")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    # pick a gateway that match filters
+    gw = random.choice(gateways)
+
+    # pick one protocol and port
+    protocol = random.choice(gw.protocols)
+    port = random.choice(gw.ports)
+
+    return {
+        'hostname': gw.host,
+        'ip_address': gw.ip_address,
+        'proto': protocol,
+        'port': port,
+        'location': gw.location,
+        'extra_config': config.get('extra_config', "")
+    }
 
 
 def generate_configuration() -> None: