Chapter 1 Understanding the VPN Client

VPN Client Features

Table 1-2 Program Features (continued)

Program Feature

Description

 

 

Connect on open

This feature lets a user connect to the default user profile when starting

 

the VPN Client. You can enable this feature on the Preferences menu

 

under the VPN Client tab.

 

 

VPN Client API

VPN Client provides an application programming interface for

 

performing VPN Client tasks without using the command-line or

 

graphical interfaces that Cisco provides. This API comes with a user

 

guide for programmers, which is in a format that can be edited.

 

 

Authentication Features

The VPN Client supports the authentication features listed in Table 1-3.

Table 1-3 Authentication Features

Authentication Feature

Description

 

 

User authentication through

Internal through the VPN device’s database

VPN central-site device

RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service)

 

 

NT Domain (Windows NT)

 

RSA (formerly SDI) SecurID or SoftID

 

 

Certificate Management

Allows you to manage the certificates in the certificate stores.

 

 

Certificate Authorities (CAs)

CAs that support PKI SCEP enrollment.

 

 

Peer Certificate Distinguished

Prevents a VPN Client from connecting to an invalid gateway by

Name Verification

using a stolen but valid certificate and a hijacked IP address. If the

 

attempt to verify the domain name of the peer certificate fails, the

 

VPN Client connection also fails.

 

 

IPSec Features

The VPN Client supports the IPSec features listed in Table 1-4

Table 1-4 IPSec Features

 

 

IPSec Feature

Description

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tunnel Protocol

IPSec

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transparent tunneling

IPSec over UDP for NAT and PAT

 

 

 

IPSec over TCP for NAT and PAT

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key Management protocol

Internet Key Exchange (IKE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

IKE Keepalives

A tool for monitoring the continued presence of a peer and report

 

 

 

the VPN Client’s continued presence to the peer. This lets the VPN

 

 

 

Client notify you when the peer is no longer present. Another type

 

 

 

of keepalives keeps NAT ports alive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VPN Client User Guide for Mac OS X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OL-5490-01

 

 

1-5

 

 

 

 

 

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Cisco Systems OL-5490-01 manual Authentication Features, IPSec Features