VPN : What Is That?

What is VPN (Virtual Private Networking)?

VPN gives extremely secure connections between private networks linked through the Internet. It allows remote computers to act as though they were on the same secure, local network. 

Advantages

• Allows you to be at home and access your company's computers in the same way as if you were sitting at work.
• Almost impossible for someone to tap or interfer with data in the VPN tunnel.
• If you have VPN client software on a laptop, you can connect to your company from anywhere in the world.

Disadvantages

• Setup is more complicated than less secure methods. VPN works across different manufacturers' equipment, but connecting to a non-NETGEAR product will add to difficulty, since there may not documentation specific to your situation.
• The company whose network you connect to may require you to follow the company's own policies on your home computers ( ! )

VPN goes between a computer and a network (client-to-server), or a LAN and a network using two routers (server-to-server). Each end of the connection is an VPN "endpoint", the connection between them is a "VPN tunnel". When one end is a client, it means that computer is running VPN client software such as NETGEAR's ProSafe VPN Client. The two types of VPN:
VPN Client-to-Server (Client-to-Box):

VPN Server-to-Server (Box-to-Box):

All NETGEAR routers support "VPN Passthrough", but "passthrough" simply means the router does not stop VPN traffic — you still need two endpoints.
The whole purpose of VPN is to prevent data being altered, so, for example, a passthrough router that is also running NAT will break the VPN connection.
NETGEAR Support will configure one VPN tunnel between two pieces of NETGEAR equipment to demonstrate that the equipment and VPN work. For other information:

• See the list of NETGEAR VPN documentation in VPN Configuration and Troubleshooting Resources.
• Read the product's Reference Manuals, available with the product's downloads.
• Make use of NETGEAR's cost-effective ProSupport. This support for advanced features is available by phone, or with an on-site NETGEAR representative.