what's the definition of a peer?

[Kaido]

I'm reading a CCNA book. It says that VPNs use authentication to validate the identities of two peers. What's the official definition of peers? I'd imagine it means the two computers talking to each other, but what's the real def?

 

[spidey07]

peer are the endpoints in a VPN tunnel. So these are normally firewalls, routers or other devices that encrypt/decrypt traffic.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: spidey07
peer are the endpoints in a VPN tunnel. So these are normally firewalls, routers or other devices that encrypt/decrypt traffic.

ah, so it's not an actual user, it's the gateway that the users use?

 

[spidey07]

it depends. If it is a client based VPN (ala a PC running encryption/decryption software) then said PC is a peer.

Its really the endpoints of the tunnel. Common VPN applications are LAN-2-LAN where routers/firewalls peer with each other over a VPN tunnel and client based.