VPN 2

Virtual Private Networks
(VPN)
Chapters 10, 11, 12

Outline
• The Concept of VPNs: ch. 10

– VPNs defined
– Types
• Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE): ch. 11
• Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP): ch. 12
• IPsec VPNs: ch. 13
• Other types of VPNs?
http://sce.uhcl.edu/yang/teaching/.../VPN.ppt 2
What is VPN?
• A VPN is a means of carrying private traffic
over a public network.
• Often used to connect two private networks,
over a public network, to form a virtual
network
• The word virtual means that, to the users on
either end, the two private networks seem to
be seamlessly connected to each other.
• That is, they are part of a single virtual
private network (although physically they are
two separate networks).
 implication? connectivity, security,
privacy
The VPN should provide the same connectivity and
privacy you would find on a typical local private
network.
Different Types of VPNs
• Based on encryption:
– Encrypted VPNs
– Nonencrypted VPNs
• Based on OSI model:
– Data link layer VPNs
– Network layer VPNs
– Application layer VPNs
• Based on business functionality:
– Intranet VPNs
– Extranet VPNs
• Question: How do we classify ‘SSL VPNs’ and
‘IPsec VPNs’?
– see OpenVPN and SSL VPN Revolution (or
local copy)
Encrypted vs Nonencrypted VPNs
• In encrypted VPNs, encryption
mechanisms are used to secure the
traffic across the public network.
– Example: IPsec VPNs
• In nonencrypted VPNs, either data
security is not ensured at all, or is
ensured by other means (including
encryption at higher layers).
– Examples:
MPLS VPNs (Multiprotocol Label Switching)
– cisco white paper
GRE-based VPNs (ch. 11)
– Uses higher layer encryption for confidentiality
VPNs at different OSI layers
• The layer where VPN is constructed
affects its functionality.
– Example: In encrypted VPNs, the layer
where encryption occurs determines
• how much traffic gets encrypted
• the level of transparency for the end users
• Data link layer VPNs (Layer-2)

– Example protocols: Frame Relay, ATM
– Drawbacks:
• Expensive - Requires dedicated Layer 2 pathways
• may not have complete security – mainly
segregation of the traffic, based on types of Layer
2 connection
– Q: Is L2TP a layer 2 VPN?
• Network layer VPNs (Layer-3)
– Created using layer 3 tunneling and/or
encryption
Q: difference between encapsulation and tunneling ?
See http://computing-dictionary.thefreedictionary
.com/tunneling%20protocol
– Example: IPsec, GRE, L2TP (tunneling layer 2

traffic by using the IP layer to do that)
– Advantages:
• A ‘proper’ layer
– Low enough: transparency
– High enough: IP addressing
• Cisco focuses on this layer for its VPNs.
• Application layer VPNs
– Created to “work” specifically with certain applications
– Example:
SSL-based VPNs (providing encryption between web browsers and servers running
SSL)
SSH (encrypted and secure login sessions to network devices)
– Drawbacks:
• May not be seamless (transparency issue)
– Counter-argument: OpenVPN and SSL VPN Revolution
(Hosner, 2004)
“The myth that Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Virtual Private Network devices (VPNs)
are used to connect applications together is not true. …
A VPN is a site-to-site tunnel. …
There is a terrible misunderstanding in the industry right now that pigeon-holes SSL
VPNs into the same category with SSL enabled web servers and proxy servers.
…
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, refers to simulating a private network over the public
Internet by encrypting communications between the two private end-points. …
A VPN device is used to create an encrypted, non-application oriented tunnel between
two machines that allows these machines or the networks they service to
exchange a wide range of traffic regardless of application or protocol. This
exchange is not done on an application by application basis. It is done on the
entire link between the two machines or networks and arbitrary traffic may be
passed over it.http://sce.uhcl.edu/yang/teaching/.../VPN.ppt
…” 8
Other Classification of VPNs ?
• Intranet VPNs vs Extranet VPNs

• Remote Access VPNs vs Site-to-site VPNs
Generic Routing Encapsulation
(GRE)
• Provides low overhead tunneling (often between two private
networks)
• Does not provide encryption
• Used to encapsulate an arbitrary layer protocol over another arbitrary
layer protocol:
delivery header + GRE header + payload packet
• Mostly IPv4 is the delivery mechanism for GRE with any arbitrary
protocol nested inside
e.g., IP protocol type 47: GRE packets using IPv4 headers
• RFCs:
• RFC1701 Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) S. Hanks, T. Li, D. Farinacci, P. Traina,
October 1994 (INFORMATIONAL)
• RFC2784 Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) D. Farinacci, T. Li, S. Hanks, D. Meyer,
P. Traina, March 2000 (PROPOSED STANDARD)
• RFC2890 Key and Sequence Number Extensions to GRE G. Dommety, September 2000
(PROPOSED STANDARD)
• GRE Header (based on RFC1701, deprecated): Figure 11-2
• GRE Header (based on RFC 2784 & 2890): Figure 11-4
• C = 1, checksum present
• Checksum: to ensure the integrity of the GRE header and the payload packet; contains a
checksum of the GRE header and the payload packet
• Key:
– contains a number to prevent misconfiguration of packets;
– may be used to identify individual traffic flow within a tunnel
– Not the same as a cryptographic key
• Summary:
- GRE mainly perform ‘tunneling’.
- Does not provide a means to securely encrypt its payload
- Often relies on application layer to provide encryption
- May be used together with a network layer encryption (such as
IPsec)
Example 1: use GRE to encapsulate non-IP traffic and then
encrypt the GRE packet using IPsec
Example 2: use GRE to encapsulate multicast traffic, and then
encrypt the GRE packet using IPsec
Question: Why not simply use IPsec?
• Case Studies:
- A GRE tunnel connecting two private networks: Figure 11-5
- GRE between multiple sites: Figure 11-6
- GRE between two sites running IPX
Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol
(L2TP)
• An example of network layer VPN: use IP packets to encapsulate
Layer 2 frames
• RFCs:
- RFC2661 Layer Two Tunneling Protocol L2TP W. Townsley, A. Valencia, A.
Rubens, G. Pall, G. Zorn, B. Palter. August 1999 (PROPOSED STANDARD)
a standard method for tunneling Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) [RFC1661] sessions.
L2TP has since been adopted for tunneling a number of other L2 protocols (e.g.,
Ethernet, Frame Relay, etc).
- RFC3931 Layer Two Tunneling Protocol - Version 3 (L2TPv3) J. Lau, Ed., M.
Townsley, Ed., I. Goyret, Ed. March 2005 (PROPOSED STANDARD)
L2TPv3 defines the base control protocol and encapsulation for tunneling multiple
Layer 2 connections between two IP nodes.
L2TPv3 consists of
- the control protocol for dynamic creation, maintenance, and teardown of L2TP
sessions, and
- the L2TP data encapsulation to multiplex and demultiplex L2 data streams
between two L2TP nodes across an IP network.
• PPP [RFC1661]
- PPP defines an encapsulation mechanism for transporting multiprotocol packets
across layer 2 (L2) point-to-point links.  That is, a tunneling protocol
- Used to tunnel PPP over a public network using IP
- Typically, a user obtains a L2 connection to a Network Access Server (NAS)
using one of a number of techniques (e.g., dialup POTS, ISDN, ADSL, etc.) and
then runs PPP over that connection.
- In such a configuration, the L2 termination point and PPP session endpoint reside
on the same physical device (i.e., the NAS).
• L2TP
- L2TP extends the PPP model by allowing the L2 and PPP endpoints to reside on
different devices interconnected by a packet-switched network.
- With L2TP, a user has an L2 connection to an L2TP access concentrator (LAC,
e.g., modem bank, ADSL DSLAM, etc.), and the concentrator then tunnels
individual PPP frames to the NAS. (See Fig. 12-1)
- This allows the actual processing of PPP packets to be divorced from the
termination of the L2 circuit.
• L2TP (according to TheFreeDictionary,

http://computing-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/L2TP)
• A protocol from the IETF that allows a PPP session to travel over
multiple links and networks.
• L2TP is used to allow remote users access to the corporate
network.
• PPP is used to encapsulate IP packets from the user's PC to the
ISP, and L2TP extends that session across the Internet.
• L2TP was derived from Microsoft's Point-to-Point Tunneling
Protocol (PPTP) and Cisco's Layer 2 Forwarding (L2F) technology.
• From Access Concentrator to Network Server
• The "L2TP Access Concentrator" (LAC) encapsulates PPP frames with

L2TP headers and sends them over the Internet as UDP packets (or over
an ATM, frame relay or X.25 network).
• At the other end, the "L2TP Network Server" (LNS) terminates the PPP
session and hands the IP packets to the LAN. L2TP software can also be
run in the user's PC.
• Carriers also use L2TP to offer remote points of presence (POPs) to
smaller ISPs. Users in remote locations dial into the carrier's local modem
pool, and the carrier's LAC forwards L2TP traffic to the ISP's LNS.
• L2TP and IPsec

• L2TP does not include encryption (as does PPTP), but is often used with
IPsec in order to provide virtual private network (VPN) connections from
remote users to the corporate LAN.
• Types of L2TP Tunnels
- Compulsory L2TP Tunneling
The client is completely unaware of the presence of an L2TP connection.
The L2TP Access Concentrator (LAC) is aware of L2TP.
Figure 12-3: (client)  PPP + Data  (LAC)  L2TP + Data  (LNS)
- Voluntary L2TP Tunneling

The client is aware of the presence of an L2TP connection.
The LAC is unaware of L2TP.
Figure 12-4: (client)  PPP + L2TP + Data  (LAC)  L2TP + Data 
(LNS)
L2TP Operations
• Assumptions: Compulsory tunneling
• The Procedure:
1. The Client initiates a PPP connection to the LAC.
2. The LAC does LCP negotiation with the client, and challenges the client for
authentication credentials.
3. The client supplies the credentials (such as user name, domain name, password).
4. The LAC uses the domain name to ascertain which LNS it needs to contact (in the
case of multiple domains).
5. The LAC begins establishing an L2TP tunnel with the LNS.
• Two Stages of L2TP Tunnel Setup:

1. Set up a control session between the LAC and the LNS.
2. Set up the actual L2TP tunnel for passing the data (aka. ‘creating the session’)
– Notes:
• Between a pair of LAC and LNS, there may exist multiple tunnels.
• Across a single L2TP tunnel, there may exist multiple sessions.
L2TP Operations
• Control Connection Establishment
Figure 12-5
• Session Establishment
Figure 12-6
• Figure 12-8: Transaction Flow for L2TP Establishment
• Header Format of L2TP Packets

Figure 12-9
L2TP Operations
• Case Studies:
- Setting up compulsory L2TP Tunneling
Figure 12-10
- Protecting L2TP Traffic using IPsec in a compulsory tunneling

setup
Figure 12-11

VPN 2

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

VPN 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Virtual Private Networks

Chapters 10, 11, 12

• The Concept of VPNs: ch. 10

• Data link layer VPNs (Layer-2)

– Example: IPsec, GRE, L2TP (tunneling layer 2

• Intranet VPNs vs Extranet VPNs

• L2TP (according to TheFreeDictionary,

• The "L2TP Access Concentrator" (LAC) encapsulates PPP frames with

• L2TP and IPsec

- Voluntary L2TP Tunneling

• Two Stages of L2TP Tunnel Setup:

• Figure 12-8: Transaction Flow for L2TP Establishment

• Header Format of L2TP Packets

- Protecting L2TP Traffic using IPsec in a compulsory tunneling

You might also like