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TECHNOLOGY
- The Mobile VPN
ipUnplugged's solutions for mobilizing corporate and operator
networks are based on the convergence of several new IP-based technologies
that route
traffic, keep track of individual usage, and ensure that corporate
network resources are restricted to authorized users. The Mobile
VPN is built on two standard technologies - Mobile IP and IKE/IPSec
- below is a brief overview on how the Mobile VPN works
What is Mobile IP?
One corner stone of the Mobile VPN is the Mobile IP technology.
ipUnplugged has focused its product development on the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard Mobile IP. The Mobile IP
standard is specified by RFC 3344 and is the only standard for mobility
across different kinds of IP-networks.
Mobility, in this context, refers to the ability of computers and
handheld devices to move between networks as the user moves through
his day. To make this possible, the device has to be equipped with
logic to find and select available networks. More importantly, as
the user moves, the connection and the existing communication must
be kept up and running.
In technical terms, this means that the computer may not change
its identity (IP-address) and that all communication based on UDP
or TCP will keep flowing. Imagine synchronizing your e-mails. In
the middle of the synchronization, you need to run into a meeting.
Just unplug your laptop and Mobile IP will ensure that communication
is continued on the available Wireless LAN - hassle free, with no
interruption.
Why Mobile IP?
Consider which users and what applications need Mobile IP. Some
users never
move and some applications cope well with changes in networks addresses.
Mobile IP is targeted to users that are mobile and need to work
in a flexible manner - in the office, on the road, at customer premises,
or at home.
There are numerous applications that do not cope well with network
changes.
In general, deploying a Mobile IP based solution ensures that all
your applications will work properly in a mobile environment. Instead
of building this logic in the application, the underlying Mobile
IP layer solves this problem once and for all.
There are several examples of applications where sudden changes
in network
and IP-address can cause problems. The most common ones are listed
below:
| Remote Access VPNs |
Remote access VPNs, based on IPSec technology,
are very sensitive to IP-address changes. ipUnplugged's Mobile
IP solution is compatible with all
the major VPN solutions on the market. |
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| Microsoft Office and Windows |
If a user edits a file on a server while changing
networks, the file will be blocked on the server and cause problems
for the user. |
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| Database applications |
Any client server application based on ODBC drivers
or similar will fail if the user changes IP-address while working. |
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| Voice over IP |
Voice applications, which are becoming more and
more popular on wireless networks, are typical examples of session
driven applications. Without
Mobile IP, the user has to restart the conversation every time
he moves between networks or subnets. |
Mobile IP and IPSec
-The Mobile VPN!
VPNs based on IPSec technology is an example of an application
that requires Mobile IP to work in a mobile environment. The two
technologies go together so well that ipUnplugged has integrated
them into one solution - the Mobile VPN.
A remote access VPN utilizes very long sessions. The secure VPN
tunnel is set up between two IP-addresses while work is in progress
and no movement is permitted. In the mobile world of today, this
is not acceptable. This is why network administrators are looking
into implementing Mobile IP in their networks.
ipUnplugged's built in VPN solution provides extra benefits. ipUnplugged
can enforce VPN encryption based on location. Typically, the ipUnplugged
Roaming Client will disable IPSec once the user is on the internal,
secure LAN but will enable IPSec on unsecured wireless networks.
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