Re: Relationship SSH <-> VPN ??

From: Salvador Mandujano (salvador@mandujano.com)
Date: 08/01/02 

From: salvador@mandujano.com (Salvador Mandujano)
Date: 1 Aug 2002 01:50:23 -0700

I'm not sure whether you're most probably referring to *SSL* vs. VPN,
and not SSH.

Secure Shell, SSH, is a cryptographic security tool used to make a
reliable use of public channels such as the Internet when establishing
interactive connections with a server. Typically, it replaces unsecure
programs like telnet and rlogin. By default, information -- including
passwords-- is transmitted in plaintext form accross the net, which
poses an obvious privacy issue. SSH encrypts/protects the data.

A Virtual Private Network, VPN, is a secure "network" built on top of
a public/unsecure network. It is called virtual because no new
physical connection lines are required. With the use of cryptography,
hosts communicate with each other in a secure manner by exchanging
information that is ciphered. All other computers connected to the
public network are not able to "interpret" the packets exchanged among
VPN servers, although, they may actually receive those ciphered
packets.

So, at this point, a VPN protects all the connections and all the
traffic of your network by using cryptography. On the other hand, you
use SSH *whenever* you wish to connect to a computer (supporting SSH,
that is, running the sshd sever daemon) to open an interactive shell
session.

Now, the Secure Sockets Layer, SSL, is a IETF-approved support
protocol for securely transmitting info via the Internet. It runs
above TCP/IP and below application protocols to provide an extra layer
-- in the networking stack -- that takes care of securing the info. By
implementing SSL, other protocols protect the info. they normally
transmit in plaintext. HTTP, for instance, implements SSL in HTTPS,
the WWW protocol used to transmit private info. on the Web.

Hope it helps,
- Salvador

pmeister2@lycos.com (Peter Meister) wrote in message news:<ai9lkm$lfl$01$1@news.t-online.com>...
> I am wondering about the relationsship of the technologies of VPN vs. SSH.
>
> Can a VPN be installed without using SSH ?
>
> What can VPNs what SSH can not?
>
> Is VPN an extension or an application based on SSH ?
>
> Sorry for this newbie questions.
>
> Thx
> Peter

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