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Set Up Your Own Simple VPN

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PCQ Bureau
New Update

Normally VPNs require a lot of configuration and they also cost a lot.

Hamachi is a free, UDP based, centrally managed VPN system. It requires less

configuration as compared to other VPNs. It is comprised of backend servers and

end to end peer clients, i.e. its peers locate each other with the help of a

third node called Mediation Server. To initiate a connection, it uses the Boot

Strap protocol. The connection is direct between the peers and going by what

Hamachi claims, no traffic flows through their servers. Which straightforwardly

implies that they're not peeking into your data.

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A Hamachi client is identified by its Hamachi network address. This IP

address is assigned the first time the client connects to the mediation server

from a 5.0.0.0/8 subnet, and gets statically associated with the client's public

crypto key.

Direct

Hit!
Applies

to:
IT managers
Price:

Free
USP:

An easy to use and configure, centrally managed, UDP based VPN
Links:

www.hamachi.cc 
Google

keywords:
Hamachi, VPN

As long as the client retains its key, it can log into the system and use the

respective 5.x.x.x IP address as is used by Hamachi servers for authentication.

The 5.0.0.0/8 subnet is used to avoid collisions with other IP addresses that

might already be in use on the client side as this subnet is currently reserved

by IANA and not used in an Internet routing domain.

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Configuring Hamachi



Using Hamachi is very easy. Upon installation, it automatically creates a
Hamachi Network Interface. You can use it by opening the specific link in

Programs menu. On the bottom left of the main window, click on the Power button.

Hamachi will start connecting to its Mediation server, where it will acquire its

unique Hamachi network address. Now to create your own VPN, click on Hamachi's

Networking Menu and on Create New Network. In the window that pops up, provide

the name and password for the network and click on Ok. Your network is created.

Hamachi creates a virtual

LAN of systems

Similarly, if you want to join an already created network, click on Join a

Network under the Networking menu and provide the username and password for the

network you want to join. Once you are on the network, you can see all nodes

(online as well as offline) in the main window with their unique Hamachi network

addresses. You can also block or evict a node. It also lets you appear invisible

to the network. If someone steals your Hamachi public IP and hacks into your

computer, don't panic. To prevent such an eventuality, Hamachi has a built-in

safeguard whereby only the nodes of the same LAN can communicate amongst each

other. Therefore, nodes from other LANs can not peek into your network.

Implementing Hamachi



Now, lets discuss how to implement Hamachi in a real world situation. If you
want to browse a remote node with Windows file sharing, right click on the node

and click on Browse. Similarly, if you want to have a meeting (text based) with

the remote node, right click on that node and click



on Chat. These messages are encrypted with symmetric cipher algorithm and
authenticated with MAC. Every message is also uniquely numbered to prevent

replay attacks. Now, if you want to remotely access any node, open Windows

Remote Desktop Connection. In the Computer Name field, provide the Hamachi

network address and connect. Once connected, provide the username and password.

The same applies to Microsoft Windows Meeting, and with VNC.

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