SoftEther VPN Overview

SoftEther VPN is revolutionary VPN software that offers many features does not found in older VPN software or hardware. This chapter contains an overview of the software contained in SoftEther VPN, plus a description of its functions and supplementary information.

• 1.1 What is SoftEther VPN?
• 1.2 SoftEther VPN Components
• 1.3 SoftEther VPN is Open Source
• 1.4 VPN Processing Principle and Communication Method
• 1.5 Strong Security Features
• 1.6 VPN Communication Details
• 1.7 Large Load VPN by Clustering
• 1.8 Multilanguage Support
• 1.9 VoIP / QoS Support Function

2. SoftEther VPN Essential Architecture

To understand all the functions of SoftEther VPN, you must first get an understanding of the parts shared by SoftEther VPN in its entirety. Matters in common to SoftEther VPN are covered in detail in this chapter.

• 2.1 VPN Communication Protocol
• 2.2 User Authentication
• 2.3 Server Authentication
• 2.4 VPN Server Manager
• 2.5 VPN Client Manager
• 2.6 VPN Command Line Management Utility (vpncmd)

3. SoftEther VPN Server Manual

The SoftEther VPN Server is VPN server software equipped with high performance, functionality, security, scalability and portability.

The SoftEther VPN Server is the most important software in the SoftEther VPN system, and as its name implies, acts as a VPN server which supports access from remote VPN Clients, VPN Bridges and so on across a network.

This server must be installed whenever the SoftEther VPN software is used in order to realize a VPN in any format. This is because the SoftEther VPN Server is the only one capable of supporting access from the VPN Client and VPN Bridge.

This chapter describes each of the functions of the SoftEther VPN Server as well as how they are used.

• 3.1 Operating System Requirements
• 3.2 Operating Modes
• 3.3 VPN Server Administration
• 3.4 Virtual Hub Functions
• 3.5 Virtual Hub Security Features
• 3.6 Local Bridges
• 3.7 Virtual NAT & Virtual DHCP Servers
• 3.8 Virtual Layer 3 Switches
• 3.9 Clustering
• 3.10 Logging Service

4. SoftEther VPN Client Manual

SoftEther VPN Client is VPN client software with a Virtual Network Adapter function that enables connection to a Virtual Hub on SoftEther VPN Server operated at a remote location. The user can use the easy settings on a computer with SoftEther VPN Client installed to connect to a Virtual Hub on SoftEther VPN Server and flexibly connect via a Virtual Network Adapter.

This chapter describes the functions of SoftEther VPN Client and how to use the functions.

SoftEther VPN Client is provided as a free software product. To use all of the functions at no cost, you must agree to the end-user license agreement.

• 4.1 Operating System Requirements
• 4.2 Using the VPN Client
• 4.3 Virtual Network Adapter
• 4.4 Making Connection to VPN Server
• 4.5 Connect to VPN Server
• 4.6 Using and Managing Smart Cards
• 4.7 Enterprise-class Management of VPN Client
• 4.8 Measuring Effective Throughput
• 4.9 Other Functions

5. SoftEther VPN Bridge Manual

SoftEther VPN Bridge is software that allows you to cascade-connect to a Virtual Hub of SoftEther VPN Server operating at a remote location and create a Layer-2 bridge connection between that VPN connection and a physical network adapter on a computer running SoftEther VPN Bridge. SoftEther VPN Bridge is the ideal software for a computer connected to a remote base LAN when you want to connect the remote base LAN to a VPN configured with SoftEther VPN Server (namely, a Virtual Hub on a SoftEther VPN Server).

This chapter describes the functions of SoftEther VPN Bridge and how to use the functions.

SoftEther VPN Client is provided as a free software product. To use all of the functions at no cost, you must agree to the end-user license agreement.

• 5.1 Operating System Requirements
• 5.2 Operating Modes
• 5.3 Differences between VPN Server and VPN Bridge

Command Line Management Utility Manual

SoftEther VPN comes with a command line management utility called "vpncmd". You can use vpncmd to perform management operations from the command line with Windows-based GUI software, such as SoftEther VPN Server Manager or SoftEther VPN Client Manager. This chapter describes how to use vpncmd and serves as a reference for all vpncmd commands.

• 6.1 Overview of vpncmd
• 6.2 General Usage of vpncmd
• 6.3 VPN Server / VPN Bridge Management Command Reference (For Entire Server)
• 6.4 VPN Server / VPN Bridge Management Command Reference (For Virtual Hub)
• 6.5 VPN Client Management Command Reference
• 6.6 VPN Tools Command Reference

7. Installing SoftEther VPN Server

This chapter describes the detailed procedure for installing SoftEther VPN Server to a Windows- or Linux-based server computer and configuring the default settings. For details on the SoftEther VPN Server functions, please refer to 3. SoftEther VPN Server Manual.

• 7.1 Before Install
• 7.2 Install on Windows and Initial Configurations
• 7.3 Install on Linux and Initial Configurations
• 7.4 Initial Configurations
• 7.5 Install on Other Unix Systems
• 7.6 Uninstall SoftEther VPN Server

8. Installing SoftEther VPN Client

This chapter describes the detailed procedure for installing SoftEther VPN Client to a Windows-based computer and configuring the default settings.

For details on the SoftEther VPN Client functions, please refer to 4. SoftEther VPN Client Manual.

• 8.1 Before Install
• 8.2 Install on Windows and Initial Configurations
• 8.3 Uninstall SoftEther VPN Client

9. Installing SoftEther VPN Bridge

This chapter describes the detailed procedure for installing SoftEther VPN Bridge to a Windows- or Linux-based server computer and configuring the default settings. For details on the SoftEther VPN Bridge functions, please refer to 5. SoftEther VPN Bridge Manual.

• 9.1 Before Install
• 9.2 Install on Windows and Initial Configurations
• 9.3 Install on Linux and Initial Configurations
• 9.4 Initial Configurations
• 9.5 Uninstall SoftEther VPN Bridge

10. Examples of Building VPN Networks

Chapters 1 through 9 gave a general outline of SoftEther VPN and how to use it. This chapter will thoroughly explain how to actually take that information and apply it to build several different types of VPNs with SoftEther VPN.

• 10.1 Types of VPNs
• 10.2 Common Concepts and Knowledge
• 10.3 Build a PC-to-PC VPN
• 10.4 Build a PC-to-LAN Remote Access VPN
• 10.5 Build a LAN-to-LAN VPN (Using L2 Bridge)
• 10.6 Build a LAN-to-LAN VPN (Using L3 IP Routing)
• 10.7 Mixture of LAN-to-LAN VPN and Remote Access VPN
• 10.8 Build a Large Scale Remote Access VPN Service
• 10.9 Build a Large Scale Virtual Hub Hosting Service
• 10.10 Your Home PC as VPN Relay for Protect WiFi Using
• 10.11 Exploit SecureNAT for Remote Access into Firewall without Any Permission

How to build your VPN network?

The Tutorials page describes how to build some typical examples of VPN networks.

11. Troubleshooting and Supplemental Guide

This chapter contains information about problems and common questions that arise as an end user and when using SoftEther VPN to design, build, and manage a VPN. Refer to the information in this chapter if you encounter any problems when using SoftEther VPN.

• 11.1 Troubleshooting
• 11.2 Useful Information
• 11.3 General Supplementary Information
• 11.4 Additional Security Information
• 11.5 Additional Information Regarding Communication Protocols
• 11.6 Additional Compatibility Information

-------

1. SoftEther VPN Overview

1.1 What is SoftEther VPN?

1.2 SoftEther VPN Components

1.3 SoftEther VPN is Open Source

1.4 VPN Processing Principle and Communication Method

1.5 Strong Security Features

1.6 VPN Communication Details

1.7 Large Load VPN by Clustering

1.8 Multilanguage Support

1.9 VoIP / QoS Support Function

1. 1.1.1 History
2. 1.1.2 Structure and Operating Principle of VPN
   1. Tunneling and Encapsulating
   2. Ensuring Security of Transmitted Data by Encryption
   3. Better Connectivity and Network Independence
   4. Inexpensive Internet Connection can be Used Instead of Dedicated Line
3. 1.1.3 Limitations of old VPN Solution
   1. Difficulty of Pass of Network Gateway Devices
   2. Limitations of Protocol that can Communicate within VPN
   3. IP Routing is Necessary
   4. Dependence on Certain Platform
   5. High Cost, Low Performance
   6. Need for new VPN System to Compensate for Shortcomings in old VPN Protocol
4. 1.1.4 SoftEther VPN's Advantage and Characteristics
   1. Features of SoftEther VPN
   2. Advantages of Making Ethernet Virtual
5. 1.1.5 NAT, Proxy Server and Firewall Traversal
6. 1.1.6 Stability and Security
7. 1.1.7 High-speed Communications Throughput
8. 1.1.8 Advanced Function and Expandability
9. 1.1.9 Platform Independence and Interchangeability