VPN FAQ. All about Virtual Private Network: IPSec, SSL, PPTP, RSA key, PSK, IKE. Tunnels and trusted network connects. VPN clients, routers, gateways and protocols.

VPN FAQ. Virtual Private Network Frequently Asked Questions.

1. What is VPN?
2. What are the features and benefits of using VPN?
3. What are the protocols used by VPN?
4. What is a Tunnel?
5. What are the components for setting up a VPN?
6. What is IPSec?
7. What is PPTP?
8. What is L2TP?
9. How does VPN work?
10. What is NAT Traversal?
11. What is an RSA Key?
12. What is PSK?
13. What is IKE?

1. What is VPN?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and it is the technology to create a secure private network between two hosts using a public network like Internet. VPNs use tunneling, encryption, authentication, and access control over a public network at the same time for security.

2. What are the features and benefits of using VPN?

COST: VPN replaces expensive leased connections with dial-up or DSL/cable connections.
SECURITY: Through authentication and encryption, VPN provides remote secure links for users to access the company or any private network.

3. What are the protocols used by VPN?

The three protocols used by VPN are PPTP (point to point tunneling protocol), L2TP (layer 2 tunneling protocol) and IPSec (Internet protocol security).

4. What is a Tunnel?

VPN Tunnel is a virtual private passage through an insecure medium like Inetrnet.

5. What are the components for setting up a VPN?

VPN client, this could be a computer (any operating system) or a router depending on the needs. VPN server, this is a connection point for VPN clients.

6. What is IPSec?

IPSec is the most common technology in use for creating and operating VPNs. In IPSec tunneling all packets are completely and securely encapsulated and each packet receives a new header with all address and connection information hidden from public view.

7. What is PPTP?

PPTP stands for point-to-point tunneling protocol and allows PPP packets to be encapsulated within IP Packets and over any IP network.

8. What is L2TP?

Layer 2 Tunneling protocol is an extension of PPTP used by ISPs to enable the operation of a private virtual networks over the Internet.

9. How does VPN work?

Basically VPN is created by the client system's VPN software establishing a connection through a secure tunnel with a VPN server. The tunnel can be built using PPTP, L2TP or IPSec protocols.

10. What is NAT Traversal?

NAT-T is the feature that makes NAT devices IPSec aware or compliant, thereby allowing remote access users to build IPSec tunnels through home gateways. 10- What is an RSA Key?

11. What is an RSA key?

RSA stands for Rivest, Shamir, Adelman and is an encryption algorithm using asymmetric keys. DES, AES and the two authentication algorithms, MD5 and SHA-1 use symmetric shared secret keys.

12. What is PSK?

PSK is short for Pre-Shared-Key. This is the key that identifies (authenticates) a communicating party during a Phase 1 Internet Key Exchange negotiation. It is shared because both parties know the key.

13. What is IKE?

Internet Key Exchange negotiates the IPSec security associations (SAs). This process requires the two IPSec systems to first authenticate themselves in phase 1 and in phase 2, negotiate the IPSec security associations and generate the required key material for IPSec.