Anyone using uvlan out there?
Steven Haigh
netwiz at crc.id.au
Thu Sep 13 21:35:26 UTC 2007
A few weeks ago, I stumbled across uvlan... I first thought WTF, then
upon researching it a little more, I'm starting to really like the
idea for replacing a traditional VPN between sites etc.
From the web site:
uvlan is a User-space Virtual Local Area Network. In other words,
uvlan peers act as nodes on a network switch. Routing ethernet
traffic between peers inteligently. Thus allowing for multiple
networks to share resources and even IP address space. Some may call
it a VPN (Virtual Private Network) application, but it's much more
powerful. Differences with traditional VPN technology:
1. It is peer-to-peer
2. It doesn't require licensing
3. It is much simpler
4. It operates at Layer-2 (Ethernet), VPNs generally operate at
Layer-3 (IP)
Layer-2 applications like gaming can't be supported with
Layer-3 tunneling.
How does it work?
Using the libpcap (winpcap for windows users) library, uvlan listens
to a specific ethernet device. If a broadcast frame is seen, then it
is sent off to all the peers so they can add it to their records and
emit the broadcast on their local network. Once this happens, the
device (computer, router, gaming console, etc) which sent the
broadcast will be known by all the peers and remote machines will
know of the device's existance and how to route traffic to it.
This behaviour is identical to a hardware switch. Only difference is
- this switch is software and the backplane (the medium that passes
information between switch ports) is encrypted packets on the internet.
From my understanding, this software is pretty much acting like a
bridge, but with endpoints over a routed IP network.
Has anyone actually used this? Thoughts? Criticisms?
--
Steven Haigh
Email: netwiz at crc.id.au
Web: http://www.crc.id.au
Phone: (03) 90001 6090 - 0412 935 897
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