Virtual Private Networks
In a nutshell, a VPN is an encrypted logical network connection, also known as a tunnel, which runs over a physical connection such as the open Internet. When you establish a VPN connection with a server, all the network packets between your computer and the server are encrypted and remain safe from prying eyes. This means you can access resources on another network, such as your corporate network, from anywhere in the world without compromising your corporate network’s security.
Mac OS X supports two types of VPNs:
- Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)
A VPN standard developed by Microsoft and supported by many manufacturers of networking equipment. All you need to connect via PPTP is the address of the server, an account name, and a password or an RSA Secure ID card (a gizmo that displays a random number and is synchronized with a similar gizmo on the server side).
- Level 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP)
L2TP is a newer VPN standard that uses IPSec, a standard for encrypting data over an IP connection. To make an L2TP connection, you’ll need the address of the server, an account name, a password or an RSA SecurID card, and a shared secret . The shared secret is a key that the administrator of the L2TP server gives you along with the account name and password. It is used in the initial setup of the tunnel.
To make a VPN connection, open Internet Connect and then click the VPN button. When you first attempt to configure a VPN, you’ll have to make a choice as ...