What Is Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE)?
Do you know how they say, "GREAT minds think alike"? Well, it's true. We do think alike. You see, we were thinking about creating a virtual private network (VPN) between two locations that couldn't otherwise communicate with each other because of firewalls, and you were thinking about how to encapsulate Layer 3 protocols over an Internet Protocol network. Then it hit me. Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) is a tunneling concord that makes it encapsulates Layer 3 protocols over an IP network. It's defined by RFC 2784 as a tunneling protocol that carries OSI layer three protocols in the network. GRE creates a private point-to-point connection, like a VPN. Unlike IP-to-IP tunneling, GRE can send IPv6 and multicast traffic between networks. If you're using GRE to get your data online, it's not just simply putting on your favorite stretchy pants and walking out the front door. No, this is about tunneling your way through an entire network of routers without knowing what's inside those packets. Each router only looks at the outer IP packet before forwarding it along. That means that if there's a problem with any part of the payload itself—say it has too many bytes or is corrupted somehow—it doesn't matter: the router will still forward the packet (and probably get mad at its friend for sending him insufficient data). Once that payload reaches its destination? Then all bets are off! The outer IP packet will be stripped away, and its contents will be revealed in full glory. It will be as if nothing ever happened! GRE is a protocol that allows for stateless and private connections. However, it is not considered secure because it needs encryption. An alternative to GRE in this regard would be IPsec Encapsulation Security Payload, which offers both a secure connection and the ability to maintain statelessness.
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