VPN Types

What is a VPN ?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a way of creating a secure connection to and from a network or computers.

PPTP VPN ( Dialup VPN )

PPTP is a software based VPN. A secure " tunnel " is created between two multi points allowing a remote side user to connect to a remote network. This type of connection with many types of softwares and hardwares. Windows Server has a PPTP build-it and we can connect to it a VPN client within Windows. Require a Third party software to be loaded on remote workstations.

 Windows server low cost for VPN connection. It is referred to as a "dial-up VPN" because when the client connect it looks like it's dialing up. Shown figure below:

Site-to-Site VPN.

Site-to-site VPN is the same as point-to-point. There is no "dedicated" line in use. Each site/branch has it's own internet connection. Although point-to-point the routers at both ends do all his the work. They do all the routing and encryption. This is an easy way to connect twoor multiple Branches using a PPTP connection. Site-to-site VPN can work with hardware and software based. On the software side, we can use ISA SERVER or On the hardware side, you can have many devices Cisco Routers, Wire walls. 
So this type of setup is called IPsec.

Point-to-Point VPN.

Two or more networks are connected to each other through dedicated line from provided an ISP.
For example.
 T1, Metro Ethernet,  ATM etc... The main strength of using a line is the direct point-to-point connection. It is not public Internet, so there performance is not degraded/down by routing, latency, & external congestion.







These types of connections can be very expensive. A physical "loop" of wire/fiber must be used to connect the these multiple destinations. However these are actual point-to-point connections. Point-to-point connections are usually required when two branches/offices needed to transfer large amount of data.

MPLS VPN