IP-in-IP - IP encapsulation within IP
What is IP-in-IP?
IP-in-IP is a tunneling protocol that encapsulates one IP packet inside another. It is typically used for routing data between networks, allowing packets to be sent across a network that would not normally support their format. This method is used for scenarios like VPNs or when one network needs to communicate with another over an intermediary network.
Why is IP-in-IP useful?
Allows the tunneling of IP packets across networks that might not normally support the destination IP address or routing.
Provides a way to route IP traffic through intermediate networks (e.g., VPNs).
Useful for creating secure communication channels by encapsulating the IP packets.
Enables communication between different network architectures or over incompatible infrastructure.
How it works?
A device (e.g., router) encapsulates an IP packet inside another IP packet, effectively creating a “tunnel.”
The outer IP packet is routed across the intermediary network (which can be an untrusted network).
Once the outer packet reaches the destination, the inner packet is extracted and processed as a normal IP packet.
Where is IP-in-IP used?
Used in Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to create secure tunnels between different networks.
Helps in routing private IP packets across public or untrusted networks.
Employed in certain network configurations that require tunneling of IP packets to bypass network restrictions.
Which OSI layer does this protocol belong to?
IP-in-IP operates at the Network Layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model.
It involves encapsulating one IP packet inside another, and both packets are handled at the network layer.
Is IP-in-IP Windows specific?
No, IP-in-IP is not Windows-specific.
It is a protocol used across different operating systems that support IP-based communication, including Linux and macOS.
Many routers and network devices across different platforms support IP-in-IP tunneling.
Is IP-in-IP Linux specific?
No, IP-in-IP is not Linux-specific.
It can be implemented on any operating system that supports IP-based communication.
Linux supports IP-in-IP tunneling natively, but it is not exclusive to Linux.
Which Transport Protocol is used by IP-in-IP?
IP-in-IP works at the Network Layer, not the Transport Layer.
It uses standard IP protocols for encapsulation, meaning it typically relies on IPv4 or IPv6.
The encapsulated packet can use any Transport Layer protocol, such as TCP or UDP, depending on the application.
Which Port is used by IP-in-IP?
IP-in-IP itself does not use a specific port.
The encapsulated IP packets use the ports defined by the Transport Layer protocol (e.g., port 80 for HTTP, port 443 for HTTPS).
The tunneling protocol does not specify a port because it simply encapsulates the original packet.
Is IP-in-IP using Client-server model?
IP-in-IP can be used in the client-server model when it involves tunneling traffic between a client and a server.
Typically, it is used in situations where devices (client or server) send encapsulated IP packets through a network tunnel.
It may also be used between routers or network devices, which may or may not follow a traditional client-server architecture.
In this section, you are going to learn
Terminology
Version Info
rfc details
setup
setup
packet details
usecases
features
Reference links