Linux 8.3 with IPsec/L2TP VPN Server

Because of the lack of confidentiality inherent in the L2TP protocol, it is often implemented along with IPsec.

What might be confusing for you about L2TP/IPsec is the use of the terms “tunnel” and “secure channel”. The term “tunnel-mode” refers to a channel that allows untouched packets of one network to be transported over another network. In the case of L2TP/PPP, it allows L2TP/PPP packets to be transported over IP. A secure channel refers to a connection within which the confidentiality of all data is guaranteed. In L2TP/IPsec, first IPsec provides a secure channel, then L2TP provides a tunnel. IPsec also specifies a tunneling protocol: this is not used when an L2TP tunnel is used.

What you need to know:

• IPsec is a secure network protocol suite that authenticates and encrypts the packets of data to provide secure encrypted communication between two computers over an Internet Protocol network.
• (L2TP) is a tunneling protocol used to support virtual private networks (VPNs) or as part of the delivery of services by ISPs. It uses encryption ('hiding') only for its own control messages (using an optional pre-shared secret), and does not provide any encryption or confidentiality of content by itself. Rather, it provides a tunnel for Layer 2 (which may be encrypted), and the tunnel itself may be passed over a Layer 3 encryption protocol such as IPsec.

By combining the confidentiality and authentication services of IPsec (Internet Protocol security), the network tunneling of the Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol (L2TP) administrators can define VPN networks across multiple, heterogeneous systems. This allows setting up a VPN across Android, Windows, Linux, macOS and other operating systems with no limitations.

Virtual Pulse is happy to provide you with this fully pre-configured image of Linux 8.3 with IPsec/L2TP VPN Server, carefully cloud-hardened for a great performance in Azure environments.

Disclaimer:Virtual Pulse does not offer commercial licenses of the products mentioned above. L2TP/IPSec is a registered trademark of respective companies. No warranty of any kind, express or implied, is included with this software.