IPSec VPN

IPSec VPN concentrators

 

 

IPSec VPN concentrators

In a hub-and-spoke network, all VPN tunnels terminate at a single VPN peer known as a hub. The peers that connect to the hub are known as spokes. The hub functions as a concentrator on the network, managing the VPN connections between the spokes.

The advantage of a hub-and-spoke network is that the spokes are simpler to configure because they require fewer policy rules. Also, a hub-and-spoke network provides some processing efficiencies, particularly on the spokes. The disadvantage of a hub- and-spoke network is its reliance on a single peer to handle management of all VPNs. If this peer goes down, all encrypted communication in the network is impossible.

A hub-and-spoke VPN network requires a special configuration. Setup varies depending on the role that the VPN peer is serving. If the VPN peer is a FortiGate unit functioning as the hub, or concentrator, it requires a VPN configuration connecting it to each spoke (AutoIKE phase 1 and 2 settings or manual key settings, plus encrypt policies). It also requires a concentrator configuration that groups the hub-and-spoke tunnels together. The concentrator configuration defines the FortiGate unit as the hub in a hub-and-spoke network.

If the VPN peer is one of the spokes, it requires a tunnel connecting it to the hub (but not to the other spokes). It also requires policies that control its encrypted connections to the other spokes and its non-encrypted connections to other networks, such as the Internet.

VPN concentrator (hub) general configuration steps

Adding a VPN concentrator

VPN spoke general configuration steps

VPN concentrator (hub) general configuration steps

A central FortiGate that is functioning as a hub requires the following configuration:

A tunnel (AutoIKE phase 1 and phase 2 configuration or manual key configuration) for each spoke.

Destination addresses for each spoke.

A concentrator configuration.

An encrypt policy for each spoke.

FortiGate-400 Installation and Configuration Guide

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