Help - VPN Auto Policy

This screen allows you to define or edit an "Auto" VPN policy.

An "Auto" VPN policy uses the IKE (Internet Key Protocol) to exchange and negotiate parameters for the IPsec SA (Security Association). Because of this negotiation, it is not necessary for all settings on this VPN Gateway to match the settings on the remote VPN endpoint. Where settings must match, this is indicated.

General
Policy Name Enter a unique name to identify this policy. This name is not supplied to the remote VPN endpoint. It is used only to help you manage the policies.
Remote VPN Endpoint If the remote endpoint has a dynamic IP address, select "Dynamic IP address". No "Address Data" input is required.
Otherwise, select the desired option (IP address or Domain Name) and enter the address of the remote VPN endpoint you wish to connect to.

Note: The remote VPN endpoint must have this VPN Gateway's address entered as its "Remote VPN Endpoint".

NETBIOS Enable Check this if you wish NETBIOS traffic to be forwarded over the VPN tunnel. The NETBIOS protocol is used by Microsoft Networking.

Local LAN
Local LAN This identifies which PCs on your LAN are covered by this policy. For each selection, data must be provided as follows:
  • Single address
    Enter an IP address in the "IP address" field. Typically, this setting is used when you wish to make a single Server on your LAN available to remote users.
  • Subnet address
    Enter an IP address in the "IP address" field, and the desired network mask in the "Subnet Mask" field.

The remote VPN endpoint must have these IP addresses entered as its "Remote" addresses.

Remote LAN
Remote LAN This identifies which PCs on the remote LAN are covered by this policy. For each selection, data must be provided as follows:
  • Single PC - no subnet
    Select this option if there is no LAN (only a single PC) at the remote endpoint. If this option is selected, no additional data is required.
  • Single address
    Enter an IP address in the "IP address" field. This must be an address on the remote LAN. Typically, this setting is used when you wish to access a server on the remote LAN.
  • Subnet address
    Enter an IP address in the "IP address" field, and the desired network mask in the "Subnet Mask" field.

The remote VPN endpoint must have these IP addresses entered as its "Local" addresses.

IKE
Direction This setting is used when determining if the IKE policy matches the current traffic. Select the desired option.
  • Responder only - Incoming connections are allowed, but outgoing connections will be blocked.
  • Initiator and Responder - Both incoming and outgoing connections are allowed.
Exchange Mode IPSec has 2 possibilities - "Main Mode" and "Aggressive Mode".
Currently, only "Main Mode" is supported. Ensure the remote VPN endpoint is set to use "Main Mode".
Diffie-Hellman (DH) Group The Diffie-Hellman algorithm is used when exchanging keys. The DH Group setting determines the number of bit size used in the exchange. This value must match the value used on the remote VPN Gateway.
Local Identity Type Select the desired option to match the "Remote Identity Type" setting on the remote VPN endpoint.
  • WAN IP Address - your Internet IP address.
  • Fully Qualified Domain Name - your domain name.
  • Fully Qualified User Name - your name, E-mail address, or other ID.
Local Identity Data Enter the data for the selection above. (If "WAN IP Address" is selected, no input is required.)
Remote Identity Type
Select the desired option to match the "Local Identity Type" setting on the remote VPN endpoint.
  • IP Address - The Internet IP address of the remote VPN endpoint.
  • Fully Qualified Domain Name - the Domain name of the remote VPN endpoint.
  • Fully Qualified User Name - the name, E-mail address, or other ID of the remote VPN endpoint.
Remote Identity Data Enter the data for the selection above. (If "IP Address" is selected, no input is required.)

SA Parameters
Encryption Encryption Algorithm used for both IKE and IPSec. This setting must match the setting used on the remote VPN Gateway.
Authentication Authentication Algorithm used for both IKE and IPSec. This setting must match the setting used on the remote VPN Gateway.
Pre-shared Key The key must be entered both here and on the remote VPN Gateway. This method does not require using a CA (Certificate Authority).
SA Life Time This determines the time interval before the SA (Security Association) expires. (It will automatically be re-established if necessary.) While using a short time period (or data amount) increases security, it also degrades performance. It is common to use periods over an hour (3600 seconds) for the SA Life Time. This setting applies to both IKE and IPSec SAs.
IPSec PFS (Perfect Forward Secrecy) If enabled, security is enhanced by ensuring that the key is changed at regular intervals. Also, even if one key is broken, subsequent keys are no easier to break. (Each key has no relationship to the previous key.)

This setting applies to both IKE and IPSec SAs. When configuring the remote endpoint to match this setting, you may have to specify the "Key Group" used. For this device, the "Key Group" is the same as the "DH Group" setting in the IKE section.