L2TP or Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol is an extension to the PPP protocol that merges the best features of two other tunneling protocols PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) and L2F (Layer 2 Forwarding Protocol) and is used to support virtual private networks (VPNs).
As this protocol does not provide confidentiality or strong authentication by itself, Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol is often implemented along with the IPSec tunneling protocol to secure the connection. Go on reading to learn more about the combination of these two protocols, generally known as L2TP/IPsec.
The L2TP VPN Protocol is considered to be the most secure among the others. It prevents data from being altered while moving between the sender and receiver. It also encrypts the authentication process making it more difficult for someone to interfere.
Depending on the L2TP/IPsec server configuration, L2TP/IPsec can be almost as fast as a regular non-encrypted connection to the server. Speed-wise - it can provide a 100 Mbps broadband or come close in most cases.
As with any open tunneling protocol, L2TP is widely supported on a variety of target platforms, including mobile devices. Even better, with multiple projects supporting L2TP on Linux or BSD platforms, there is no need to make expensive hardware investments to support an L2TP deployment on your network.
Since L2TP doesn't provide any authentication or encryption mechanisms directly, both of which are key features of a VPN, L2TP is usually paired with IPSec to provide encryption of user and control packets within the L2TP tunnel. IPsec is a very flexible tunneling protocol for end-to-end security that authenticates and encrypts each individual IP packet in a given communication.
L2TP was first proposed in 1999 as an upgrade to both L2F and PPTP. Because L2TP can’t provide strong encryption or authentication, another tunneling protocol called IPsec is used in conjunction with L2TP.
L2TP/IPsec encapsulates data twice, which can slow down the connection. However, the protocol makes this up by providing the encryption/decryption process in the kernel and allowing multi-threading that is not possible in the OpenVPN protocol. This fact, theoretically, makes L2TP together with IPsec faster than OpenVPN and safer than PPTP.
L2TP/IPsec is just as easy and quick to set up as PPTP but is much more secure. Yet, because the L2TP protocol uses UDP port 500, there are chances that the VPN connection will be detected and blocked by some firewalls.
Why L2TP/IPsec is popular:
L2TP employs IPSec for extra security, which offers better data protection than PPTP. Also, data transferred via L2TP cannot be altered along the way while traveling from the sender to the receiver. This tunneling protocol encrypts even the authentication process itself, making it more difficult for third parties to force their way in and see your transmission.
With UDP encapsulating data, L2TP is also easier and faster to set up with most firewalls. L2TP is a good option for you if security is more important to your VPN than speed.
Message your friends with our best VPN tunneling protocols and don’t let any obstacles restrict your communication. Enjoy all the advantages of a secure L2TP connection!
Advantages
Disadvantages
Different situations require different approaches. And when you know which VPN protocol in which situation you need, you receive the best experience online. That’s why the set of available VPN protocols is a great benefit of VPN Unlimited. It makes our client more flexible and provides a possibility to choose from a number of options. VPN Unlimited supports the following VPN tunneling protocols on various devices:
“OpenVPN” is a registered trademark of OpenVPN Inc.
L2TP uses UDP port 1701 and is an extension of the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol. PPTP uses TCP port 1723 and IP protocol 47 Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE).
L2TP is a protocol designed specifically for VPNs as a secure alternative to PPTP. The protocol is encrypted with a 256-bit key using the AES algorithm. In the VPN using L2TP/IPsec, there are no critical vulnerabilities that can allow the leak of personal data.
VPN Unlimited L2TP protocol is available for Windows Mobile.
L2TP is supposed to be a safer option than PPTP, as the IPSec protocol which holds more secure encryption algorithms, is used in conjunction with it. PPTP has several known vulnerabilities. Users who prioritize security should consider other protocols, like OpenVPN or IKEv2/IPSec.
If you want to know more about VPN tunneling protocols or you just have any questions about how L2TP works, feel free to contact our 24/7 customer support via [email protected]!
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