Re: difference between SSL, SSH and VPN

From: Eric Hanchrow (offby1_at_blarg.net)
Date: 05/14/03 

Date: 14 May 2003 12:18:33 -0700

>>>>> "Joss" == Joss <joss@pleasereplytogroup.com> writes:

    Joss> What are the differences between SSL, SSH and VPN?

Different goals.

* SSL is a library that provides encryption, authentication, and other
  stuff to applications.

* SSH is an application (that happens to use SSL) that lets you
  securly log in to remote systems, copy files, and forward ports.

  OK, strictly speaking, there are a number of implementations of
  SSH. But they all offer more or less the same features.

* VPN is a class of applications that lets you securely connect to a
  remote network as if it were a local network. Thus there is
  certainly some overlap with SSH, but VPN is more general -- any
  program that communicates over the network will, once you set up a
  VPN, be able to securely communicate with the remote system. SSH's
  port-tunneling feature is sort of a poor man's version of VPN -- it
  only works for TCP connections, for example, whereas I think VPN can
  secure UDP as well.
                                                              
    Joss> As far as I can see, VPN and SSH do exactly the same thing,

No, but they overlap somewhat as I said above.

A good resource for SSH is http://www.snailbook.com; its FAQ section
might address some of these questions. 

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