JC Janos escribió: Should I be using

those instead?

No.

. Does that effect the tun vs ppp choice here?

No. -- "We have art in order not to die of the truth" - Friedrich Nietzsche Cristian Rodríguez R. Platform/OpenSUSE - Core Services SUSE LINUX Products GmbH Research & Development http://www.opensuse.org/

JC Janos wrote:

On an old FreeBSD box, when bringing up a pppoe connection, a "tun0" interface is created. That tun interface is then used as the "external interface" in the firewall.

On my new Opensuse box, I note that when an in-kernel-pppoe connection is brought up, a "ppp0" interface is instead created. For my firewall I've, so far, used that "ppp0" as external interface.

I've read that vtun.sf.net's tun/tap drivers are available in linux, but really don't understand when to use which. Should I be using those instead?

What's the difference in usage for tun0 vs ppp0 in my pppoe+Linux case?

I've noticed that OpenVPN refers to using tun interfaces for setting up VPN tunnels. Eventually, I'll want to set up VPN access. Does that effect the tun vs ppp choice here?

Thanks.

--JC

PPP is a standard method of transporting packets (not just IP) over some serial connection, which also includes things like ethernet or ATM. You'd use PPPoE for many ISPs. The tun interface, as you mentioned, is used for VPNs, through an IP network. You could use both for either funtion I suppose, but then you're in for some custom work. -- Use OpenOffice.org http://www.openoffice.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

JC Janos wrote:

Hi James,

On Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 4:20 AM, James Knott wrote:

...

PPP is a standard method of transporting packets (not just IP) over some serial connection, which also includes things like ethernet or ATM. You'd use PPPoE for many ISPs. The tun interface, as you mentioned, is used for VPNs, through an IP network. You could use both for either funtion I suppose, but then you're in for some custom work.

Yes, I believe that's the case; It does seem you can use either. That's the point of my question:

"tun0 vs ppp0 interface: when to use which?"

The prior FreeBSD setup seems to default to use of tun0 -- even in the no-VPN case. I'd guess there's a reason.

I'm simply trying to find out why tun0 is preferably/solely used in the FreeBSD case -- and whether/why the same logic does/doesn't hold in the Linux case, where at least the most frequent docs/howtos/etc use ppp0 as the interface.

--JC

I suspect PPP is more "standard". I've often used it to set up a VPN between routers, over the internet and also for providing an IP connection over a T1 line. I've never seen a "TUN" device, outside of OpenVPN. -- Use OpenOffice.org http://www.openoffice.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

JC Janos wrote:

Hi James,

On Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 7:17 AM, James Knott wrote:

...

I suspect PPP is more "standard". I've often used it to set up a VPN between routers, over the internet and also for providing an IP connection over a T1 line. I've never seen a "TUN" device, outside of OpenVPN.

So far, in the Linux case, I've seen (mostly?) the same -- tun "just" re: VPN.

Which still leaves me wondering -- why different on FreeBSD? Semantics? Actual function? Don't know.

--JC

BTW, it's not necessary to send to both the OP and mail list. If it's on the mail list, everyone that's subscribed sees the message. -- Use OpenOffice.org http://www.openoffice.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org