Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP)

You can access a private network through the Internet or other public network by using a virtual private network (VPN) connection with the Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP). L2TP is an industry-standard Internet tunneling protocol with roughly the same functionality as the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) The Windows XP  implementation of L2TP is designed to run natively over IP networks. This implementation of L2TP does not support native tunneling over X.25, Frame Relay, or ATM networks.

Based on the Layer Two Forwarding (L2F) and Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) specifications, you can use L2TP to set up tunnels across intervening networks. Like PPTP, L2TP encapsulates Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) frames, which then encapsulate IP or IPX protocols, allowing users to remotely run programs that are dependent on specific network protocols.

The IPX/SPX protocol is not available on Windows XP 64-Bit Edition .

With L2TP, the computer running Windows 2000 Server that you are logging on to performs all security checks and validations. It also enables data encryption, which makes it much safer to send information over nonsecure networks. By using the new Internet Protocol security (IPSec) authentication and encryption protocol, data transfer through a L2TP-enabled VPN is as secure as within a single LAN at a corporate site.

Last maintained on Wednesday, December 30, 2009.