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In computer networking, Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) is a tunneling protocol used to support virtual private networks (VPNs). It does not provide any encryption or confidentiality by itself; it relies on an encryption protocol that it passes within the tunnel to provide privacy.[1] Although L2TP acts like a Data Link Layer protocol in the OSI model, L2TP is in fact a Session Layer protocol,[2] and uses the registered UDP port 1701. (see List of TCP and UDP port numbers).
[edit] History and futurePublished in 1999 as proposed standard RFC 2661, L2TP has its origins primarily in two older tunneling protocols for PPP: Cisco's Layer 2 Forwarding (L2F) and Microsoft's Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP). A new version of this protocol, L2TPv3, was published as proposed standard RFC 3931 in 2005. L2TPv3 provides additional security features, improved encapsulation, and the ability to carry data links other than simply PPP over an IP network (e.g., Frame Relay, Ethernet, ATM, etc). [edit] DescriptionThe entire L2TP packet, including payload and L2TP header, is sent within a UDP datagram. It is common to carry Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) sessions within an L2TP tunnel. L2TP does not provide confidentiality or strong authentication by itself. IPsec is often used to secure L2TP packets by providing confidentiality, authentication and integrity. The combination of these two protocols is generally known as L2TP/IPsec (discussed below). The two endpoints of an L2TP tunnel are called the LAC (L2TP Access Concentrator) and the LNS (L2TP Network Server). The LAC is the initiator of the tunnel while the LNS is the server, which waits for new tunnels. Once a tunnel is established, the network traffic between the peers is bidirectional. To be useful for networking, higher-level protocols are then run through the L2TP tunnel. To facilitate this, an L2TP session (or call) is established within the tunnel for each higher-level protocol such as PPP. Either the LAC or LNS may initiate sessions. The traffic for each session is isolated by L2TP, so it is possible to set up multiple virtual networks across a single tunnel. MTU should be considered when implementing L2TP. The packets exchanged within an L2TP tunnel are categorised as either control packets or data packets. L2TP provides reliability features for the control packets, but no reliability for data packets. Reliability, if desired, must be provided by the nested protocols running within each session of the L2TP tunnel. [edit] Tunneling modelsAn L2TP tunnel can extend across an entire PPP session or only across one segment of a two-segment session. This can be represented by four different tunneling models, namely [1] [2] [3]
In the voluntary tunnel model, a tunnel is created by the user, typically by the use of an L2TP enabled client which is called the LAC client. The user will send L2TP packets to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) which will forward them on to the LNS. The ISP does not need to support L2TP, it only forwards the L2TP packets between LAC and LNS. The LAC client acts as an L2TP tunnel initiator which effectively resides on the same system as the remote client. The tunnel extends across the entire PPP session from the L2TP client to the LNS. In the compulsory tunnel model-incoming call, a tunnel is created between ISP LAC and the LNS home gateway. The company may provide the remote user with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) login account from which he can access the corporate server. As a result the user will send PPP packets to the ISP (LAC) which will encapsulate them in L2TP and tunnel them to the LNS. In the compulsory tunneling cases, the ISP must be L2TP capable. In this model the tunnel only extends across the segment of the PPP session between the ISP and the LNS. In the compulsory tunnel model-remote dial the home gateway (LNS) initiates a tunnel to an ISP (LAC) (outgoing call) and instructs the ISP to place a local call to the PPP enabled client which is the remote user. This model is intended for cases where the remote PPP Answer Client has a permanently established phone number with an ISP. This model is expected to be used when a company with established presence on the Internet needs to establish a connection to a remote office that requires a dial-up link. In this model the tunnel only extends across the segment of the PPP session between the LNS and the ISP. An L2TP Multi-hop connection is a way of redirecting L2TP traffic on behalf of client LACs and LNSs. A Multi-hop connection is established using an L2TP Multi-hop gateway. A tunnel is established from a client LAC to the L2TP Multi-hop gateway and then another tunnel is established between the L2TP Multi-hop gateway and a target LNS. L2TP traffic between client LAC and LNS is redirected to each other through the gateway. [edit] L2TP packet structureAn L2TP packet consists of :
Field meanings:
[edit] L2TP packet exchangeAt the time of setup of L2TP connection, many control packets are exchanged between server and client to establish tunnel and session for each direction. One peer requests other peer to assign a specific tunnel and session id through these control packets. Then using this tunnel and session id data packets are exchanged with the compressed PPP frames as payload. The list of L2TP Control messages exchanged between LAC and LNS, for handshaking before establishing a tunnel and session in voluntary tunneling method are
[edit] L2TP/IPsecBecause of the lack of confidentiality inherent in the L2TP protocol, it is often implemented along with IPsec. This is referred to as L2TP/IPsec, and is standardized in IETF RFC 3193. The process of setting up an L2TP/IPsec VPN is as follows:
When the process is complete, L2TP packets between the endpoints are encapsulated by IPsec. Since the L2TP packet itself is wrapped and hidden within the IPsec packet, no information about the internal private network can be garnered from the encrypted packet. Also, it is not necessary to open UDP port 1701 on firewalls between the endpoints, since the inner packets are not acted upon until after IPsec data has been decrypted and stripped, which only takes place at the endpoints. A potential point of confusion in L2TP/IPsec is the use of the terms "tunnel" and "secure channel." Tunnel refers to a channel which allows untouched packets of one network to be transported over another network. In the case of L2TP/IPsec, 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. [edit] Windows implementationWindows versions before Vista were very difficult to configure for L2TP without IPsec. Microsoft has simplified setup of an IPsec VPN connection from more than 100 mouse clicks in Windows 2000/XP to 15 in Vista. There is also a bit more help info in Vista compared to XP, such as "What is a VPN?", though this is generally very basic info. The help info does say that IPsec without L2TP is not to be used for Road Warrior-style VPNs. They advise to use L2TP/IPsec or PPTP for that. Windows Vista provides two new configuration utilities that attempt to make using L2TP without IPsec easier, both described in sections that follow below:
Both these configuration utilities are not without their difficulties, and unfortuntely, there is very little documentation about both "netsh advfirewall" and the IPsec client in WFwAS. One of the aforementioned difficulties is that it is not compatible with NAT. Another problem is that servers must be specified only by IP address in the new Vista configuration utilities; the hostname of the server cannot be used, so if the IP address of the IPsec server changes, all clients will have to be informed of this new IP address (which also rules out servers that addressed by utilities such as DynDNS). [edit] L2TP in ADSL networksL2TP is often used as a tunneling mechanism to resell ADSL endpoint connectivity (e.g. Telkom in South Africa). An L2TP tunnel would sit between the user and the ISP the connection would be resold to, so the reselling ISP would not appear as doing the transport. [edit] L2TP in cable networksL2TP is used by the cable Internet provider (for example HOT in Israel) as a tunnelling mechanism to sell endpoint connectivity. The L2TP tunnel sits between the user and the ISP. Again, the reselling cable provider doesn't appear as doing the transport. [edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links[edit] Implementations
[edit] Internet standards and extensions
[edit] Other
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