What is a VPN?

A VPN,or Virtual Private Network,is a connection between two endpoints—a VPN Router, for instance—in different networks that allows private data to be sent securely over a shared or public network, such as the Internet. This establishes a private network that can send data securely between these two locations ornetworks.
This is done by creating a “tunnel”.A VPN tunnel connects the two PCs or networks and allows data to be transmitted over the Internet as if it were still within those networks.Not a literal tunnel, it is a connection secured by encrypting the data sent between the two networks.VPN was created as a cost-effective alternative to using a private,dedicated,leased line for a private network.Using industry standard encryption and authentication techniques—IPSec,short for IP Security—the VPN creates a secure connection that, in effect, operates as if you were directly connected to your local network. Virtual Private Networking can be used to create secure networks linking a central office with branch offices,telecommuters, and/or professionals on the road (travelers can connect to a VPN Router using any computer with
the Linksys VPN client software.) There are two basic ways to create a VPN connection:
• VPN Router to VPN Router • Computer (using the Linksys VPN client software) to VPN Router
The VPN Router creates a “tunnel” or channel between two endpoints, so that data transmissions between them are secure. A computer with the Linksys VPN client software can be one of the two endpoints (refer to “Appendix C: Using the Linksys QuickVPN Software for Windows 2000 or XP”). If you choose not to run the VPN client software,any computer with the built-in IPSec Security Manager (Microsoft 2000 and XP) allows the VPN Router to create a VPN tunnel using IPSec (refer to “Appendix Configuring IPSec between a Windows 2000 or XP PC and the Router”).Other versions of Microsoft operating systems require additional,third-party VPN client software applications that support IPSec to be installed.