Building Linux Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

Building Linux Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) focuses on showing you how to get your Linux VPN up and running as quickly as possible. You will learn VPN theory and fundamentals and will master important techniques and tools needed to design and set up your VPN in a reliable, secure, and cost-effective fashion.

This book offers concise, step-by-step instructions for building VPNs based on both standard protocols (IPsec, SSL, SSH, PPTP) and popular Linux VPN solutions (VTun, cIPe, tinc). Through numerous examples and proven practices, you will gain important insights into choosing a VPN solution, installing and configuring it, setting up routing, configuring firewalls, measuring performance, and much more.

Building Linux Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) covers the most popular VPN technologies available for the Linux platform. In the early chapters the theory behind VPNs is discussed, including needs and uses. Common network and host configurations are also covered. Subsequent chapters drill down into the implementation and configuration of specific software packages. Specific, detailed instructions are included as well as troubleshooting information. This book will be an indispensable resource for anyone who wants to implement a Linux-based VPN. This book will meet the needs of anyone, from the Linux user to the experienced administrator to the security professional.

—Oleg Kolesnikov

Oleg Kolesnikov received his B.S. from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has been doing research in information security at Georgia Tech and the Berkeley Lab, focusing on network security, cryptography, and secure protocols.

Brian Hatch is chief hacker at Onsight, Inc. He is the lead author of the bestselling book Hacking Linux Exposed (McGraw Hill) and is the co-maintainer of Stunnel, an open source, secure SSL wrapper used around the world to encrypt cleartext protocols.