Chapter 50. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Tunneling

SOME OF THE MAIN TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER ARE

What Is a VPN ?

Protocols, Protocols, and More Protocols!

IPSec Protocols

The Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol ( PPTP )

Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP)

Security is a big issue both in the corporate network and on the Internet at large. As has been discussed in previous chapters, the basic TCP/IP protocols weren't particularly designed with security in mind. However, over the years many new developments have built on the current TCP/IP base that provide for more secure connections over wide area networks (WANs), such as the Internet. This chapter looks at Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and the methods they employ to create a private tunnel through a WAN so that you can communicate securely with another computer or network.