Pppoe/Pptp Overview; Pppoe/Pptp Interfaces Overview; Figure 142 Example: Pppoe/Pptp Interfaces - ZyXEL Communications ZyWALL 1050 User Manual

10.6.1 PPPoE/PPTP Overview

Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE, RFC 2516) and Point-to-Point Tunneling
Protocol (PPTP, RFC 2637) are usually used to connect two computers over phone lines or
broadband connections.
PPPoE is often used with cable modems and DSL connections. It provides the following
advantages:
• The access and authentication method works with existing systems, including RADIUS.
• You can access one of several network services. This makes it easier for the service
provider to offer the service
• PPPoE does not usually require any special configuration of the modem.
PPTP is used to set up virtual private networks (VPN) in unsecure TCP/IP environments. It
sets up two sessions.
1 The first one runs on TCP port 1723. It is used to start and manage the second one.
2 The second one uses Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE, RFC 2890) to transfer
information between the computers.
PPTP is convenient and easy-to-use, but you have to make sure that firewalls support both
PPTP sessions.

10.6.2 PPPoE/PPTP Interfaces Overview

In the ZyWALL, you may use PPPoE/PPTP interfaces to connect to your ISP. This way, you
do not have to install or manage PPPoE/PPTP software on each computer in the network.

Figure 142 Example: PPPoE/PPTP Interfaces

PPPoE/PPTP interfaces are similar to other interfaces in some ways. They have an IP address,
subnet mask, and gateway used to make routing decisions; they restrict bandwidth and packet
size; and they can verify the gateway is available. There are two main differences between
PPPoE/PPTP interfaces and other interfaces.
1 You must set up an ISP account before you create a PPPoE/PPTP interface.
Each ISP account specifies the protocol (PPPoE or PPTP), as well as your ISP account
information. If you change ISPs later, you only have to create a new ISP account, not a
new PPPoE/PPTP interface. You should not have to change any network policies.
Chapter 10 Interface
ZyWALL 1050 User's Guide
207