What is a TAP adapter, what does it do, and how does it work?
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I am currently using NordVPN on my Windows 10 system, and during the course of uninstalling an unrelated program, I came across something called 'TAP - NordVPN 9.21.2' on the Uninstall/Change list. NordVPN has always been on that list, and I'm guessing I just hadn't seen the 'TAP- NordVPN 9.21.2' before.
I wansn't planning to uninstall it, but I'm curious as to its function. I searched for "TAP adapters" and "TAP drivers," but I couldn't find any information telling me what a TAP driver/adapter does or why it's needed. As far as I could tell, it's connected to the function of the VPN, but I couldn't find out how or why. Only a vague mention about it being a virtual adapter for the VPN to communicate with something else. Could someone please explain this?
drivers vpn network-adapter
asked Jun 28 '18 at 12:24
FredSavage187FredSavage187
72310
add a comment |
I am currently using NordVPN on my Windows 10 system, and during the course of uninstalling an unrelated program, I came across something called 'TAP - NordVPN 9.21.2' on the Uninstall/Change list. NordVPN has always been on that list, and I'm guessing I just hadn't seen the 'TAP- NordVPN 9.21.2' before.
I wansn't planning to uninstall it, but I'm curious as to its function. I searched for "TAP adapters" and "TAP drivers," but I couldn't find any information telling me what a TAP driver/adapter does or why it's needed. As far as I could tell, it's connected to the function of the VPN, but I couldn't find out how or why. Only a vague mention about it being a virtual adapter for the VPN to communicate with something else. Could someone please explain this?
drivers vpn network-adapter
asked Jun 28 '18 at 12:24
FredSavage187FredSavage187
72310
with traditional VPNs, TAP vpn endpoints are from a client directly to an endpoint, so they are kind of AdHoc, and are created and destroyed as they are needed. when you vpn into work from home, thats a tap connection. the other option, TUN connections, are infrastructure, so they are pre-created between a pair of router-like devices, and are generally persistent, such that end devices don't need any particular software or knowledge of the VPN connection; they just send packets that upstream devices know to route into the tunnel.
– Frank Thomas
Jun 28 '18 at 14:37
there are several types of things currently called VPN, but the most robust ones use a virtual network adapter to represent the local tunnel endpoint. that way you can configure your system to route certain traffic through the VPN, without the app in question knowing anything about the VPN at all. they also allow you to do things like firewalling, split tunneling, etc. The item you highlighted is the virtual network adapter installation package. its essentially a driver.
– Frank Thomas
Jun 28 '18 at 14:42
add a comment |
I am currently using NordVPN on my Windows 10 system, and during the course of uninstalling an unrelated program, I came across something called 'TAP - NordVPN 9.21.2' on the Uninstall/Change list. NordVPN has always been on that list, and I'm guessing I just hadn't seen the 'TAP- NordVPN 9.21.2' before.
I wansn't planning to uninstall it, but I'm curious as to its function. I searched for "TAP adapters" and "TAP drivers," but I couldn't find any information telling me what a TAP driver/adapter does or why it's needed. As far as I could tell, it's connected to the function of the VPN, but I couldn't find out how or why. Only a vague mention about it being a virtual adapter for the VPN to communicate with something else. Could someone please explain this?
drivers vpn network-adapter
asked Jun 28 '18 at 12:24
FredSavage187FredSavage187
72310
I am currently using NordVPN on my Windows 10 system, and during the course of uninstalling an unrelated program, I came across something called 'TAP - NordVPN 9.21.2' on the Uninstall/Change list. NordVPN has always been on that list, and I'm guessing I just hadn't seen the 'TAP- NordVPN 9.21.2' before.
I wansn't planning to uninstall it, but I'm curious as to its function. I searched for "TAP adapters" and "TAP drivers," but I couldn't find any information telling me what a TAP driver/adapter does or why it's needed. As far as I could tell, it's connected to the function of the VPN, but I couldn't find out how or why. Only a vague mention about it being a virtual adapter for the VPN to communicate with something else. Could someone please explain this?
drivers vpn network-adapter
drivers vpn network-adapter
asked Jun 28 '18 at 12:24
FredSavage187FredSavage187
72310
asked Jun 28 '18 at 12:24
FredSavage187FredSavage187
72310
asked Jun 28 '18 at 12:24
FredSavage187FredSavage187
72310
asked Jun 28 '18 at 12:24
FredSavage187FredSavage187
72310
asked Jun 28 '18 at 12:24
FredSavage187FredSavage187
72310
72310
with traditional VPNs, TAP vpn endpoints are from a client directly to an endpoint, so they are kind of AdHoc, and are created and destroyed as they are needed. when you vpn into work from home, thats a tap connection. the other option, TUN connections, are infrastructure, so they are pre-created between a pair of router-like devices, and are generally persistent, such that end devices don't need any particular software or knowledge of the VPN connection; they just send packets that upstream devices know to route into the tunnel.
– Frank Thomas
Jun 28 '18 at 14:37
there are several types of things currently called VPN, but the most robust ones use a virtual network adapter to represent the local tunnel endpoint. that way you can configure your system to route certain traffic through the VPN, without the app in question knowing anything about the VPN at all. they also allow you to do things like firewalling, split tunneling, etc. The item you highlighted is the virtual network adapter installation package. its essentially a driver.
– Frank Thomas
Jun 28 '18 at 14:42
add a comment |
with traditional VPNs, TAP vpn endpoints are from a client directly to an endpoint, so they are kind of AdHoc, and are created and destroyed as they are needed. when you vpn into work from home, thats a tap connection. the other option, TUN connections, are infrastructure, so they are pre-created between a pair of router-like devices, and are generally persistent, such that end devices don't need any particular software or knowledge of the VPN connection; they just send packets that upstream devices know to route into the tunnel.
– Frank Thomas
Jun 28 '18 at 14:37
there are several types of things currently called VPN, but the most robust ones use a virtual network adapter to represent the local tunnel endpoint. that way you can configure your system to route certain traffic through the VPN, without the app in question knowing anything about the VPN at all. they also allow you to do things like firewalling, split tunneling, etc. The item you highlighted is the virtual network adapter installation package. its essentially a driver.
– Frank Thomas
Jun 28 '18 at 14:42
with traditional VPNs, TAP vpn endpoints are from a client directly to an endpoint, so they are kind of AdHoc, and are created and destroyed as they are needed. when you vpn into work from home, thats a tap connection. the other option, TUN connections, are infrastructure, so they are pre-created between a pair of router-like devices, and are generally persistent, such that end devices don't need any particular software or knowledge of the VPN connection; they just send packets that upstream devices know to route into the tunnel.
– Frank Thomas
Jun 28 '18 at 14:37
with traditional VPNs, TAP vpn endpoints are from a client directly to an endpoint, so they are kind of AdHoc, and are created and destroyed as they are needed. when you vpn into work from home, thats a tap connection. the other option, TUN connections, are infrastructure, so they are pre-created between a pair of router-like devices, and are generally persistent, such that end devices don't need any particular software or knowledge of the VPN connection; they just send packets that upstream devices know to route into the tunnel.
– Frank Thomas
Jun 28 '18 at 14:37
there are several types of things currently called VPN, but the most robust ones use a virtual network adapter to represent the local tunnel endpoint. that way you can configure your system to route certain traffic through the VPN, without the app in question knowing anything about the VPN at all. they also allow you to do things like firewalling, split tunneling, etc. The item you highlighted is the virtual network adapter installation package. its essentially a driver.
– Frank Thomas
Jun 28 '18 at 14:42
there are several types of things currently called VPN, but the most robust ones use a virtual network adapter to represent the local tunnel endpoint. that way you can configure your system to route certain traffic through the VPN, without the app in question knowing anything about the VPN at all. they also allow you to do things like firewalling, split tunneling, etc. The item you highlighted is the virtual network adapter installation package. its essentially a driver.
– Frank Thomas
Jun 28 '18 at 14:42
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
TAP is a vritual network kernel interface - a virtual network card if you will - used for creating a network bridge, ie. a connection between two networks.
There is an article about it on Wikipedia.
answered Jun 28 '18 at 12:32
Konrad BotorKonrad Botor
2947
add a comment |
As far as I could tell, it's connected to the function of the VPN, but I couldn't find out how or why. Only a vague mention about it being a virtual adapter for the VPN to communicate with something else. Could someone please explain this?
It's a virtual network interface. It is indeed used by your VPN client.
TAP-Windows provides virtual TAP device functionality on the Windows OS.
TAP devices are virtual network kernel devices supported entirely in software – and not backed up by hardware network adapters. TAP drivers are used for TAP devices to work and they are designed with low-level kernel support for Ethernet tunneling.
Source: What are TAP-Windows adapters and why does your VPN require this Driver
Additionally,
Packets sent by an operating system via a TUN/TAP device are delivered
to a user-space program which attaches itself to the device. A
user-space program may also pass packets into a TUN/TAP device. In
this case the TUN/TAP device delivers (or "injects") these packets to
the operating-system network stack thus emulating their reception from
an external source.
Wikipedia - TUN/TAP
answered Jun 28 '18 at 14:56
RamhoundRamhound
21.1k156287
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
TAP is a vritual network kernel interface - a virtual network card if you will - used for creating a network bridge, ie. a connection between two networks.
There is an article about it on Wikipedia.
answered Jun 28 '18 at 12:32
Konrad BotorKonrad Botor
2947
add a comment |
TAP is a vritual network kernel interface - a virtual network card if you will - used for creating a network bridge, ie. a connection between two networks.
There is an article about it on Wikipedia.
answered Jun 28 '18 at 12:32
Konrad BotorKonrad Botor
2947
add a comment |
TAP is a vritual network kernel interface - a virtual network card if you will - used for creating a network bridge, ie. a connection between two networks.
There is an article about it on Wikipedia.
answered Jun 28 '18 at 12:32
Konrad BotorKonrad Botor
2947
TAP is a vritual network kernel interface - a virtual network card if you will - used for creating a network bridge, ie. a connection between two networks.
There is an article about it on Wikipedia.
answered Jun 28 '18 at 12:32
Konrad BotorKonrad Botor
2947
answered Jun 28 '18 at 12:32
Konrad BotorKonrad Botor
2947
answered Jun 28 '18 at 12:32
Konrad BotorKonrad Botor
2947
answered Jun 28 '18 at 12:32
Konrad BotorKonrad Botor
2947
2947
add a comment |
add a comment |
As far as I could tell, it's connected to the function of the VPN, but I couldn't find out how or why. Only a vague mention about it being a virtual adapter for the VPN to communicate with something else. Could someone please explain this?
It's a virtual network interface. It is indeed used by your VPN client.
TAP-Windows provides virtual TAP device functionality on the Windows OS.
TAP devices are virtual network kernel devices supported entirely in software – and not backed up by hardware network adapters. TAP drivers are used for TAP devices to work and they are designed with low-level kernel support for Ethernet tunneling.
Source: What are TAP-Windows adapters and why does your VPN require this Driver
Additionally,
Packets sent by an operating system via a TUN/TAP device are delivered
to a user-space program which attaches itself to the device. A
user-space program may also pass packets into a TUN/TAP device. In
this case the TUN/TAP device delivers (or "injects") these packets to
the operating-system network stack thus emulating their reception from
an external source.
Wikipedia - TUN/TAP
answered Jun 28 '18 at 14:56
RamhoundRamhound
21.1k156287
add a comment |
As far as I could tell, it's connected to the function of the VPN, but I couldn't find out how or why. Only a vague mention about it being a virtual adapter for the VPN to communicate with something else. Could someone please explain this?
It's a virtual network interface. It is indeed used by your VPN client.
TAP-Windows provides virtual TAP device functionality on the Windows OS.
TAP devices are virtual network kernel devices supported entirely in software – and not backed up by hardware network adapters. TAP drivers are used for TAP devices to work and they are designed with low-level kernel support for Ethernet tunneling.
Source: What are TAP-Windows adapters and why does your VPN require this Driver
Additionally,
Packets sent by an operating system via a TUN/TAP device are delivered
to a user-space program which attaches itself to the device. A
user-space program may also pass packets into a TUN/TAP device. In
this case the TUN/TAP device delivers (or "injects") these packets to
the operating-system network stack thus emulating their reception from
an external source.
Wikipedia - TUN/TAP
answered Jun 28 '18 at 14:56
RamhoundRamhound
21.1k156287
add a comment |
As far as I could tell, it's connected to the function of the VPN, but I couldn't find out how or why. Only a vague mention about it being a virtual adapter for the VPN to communicate with something else. Could someone please explain this?
It's a virtual network interface. It is indeed used by your VPN client.
TAP-Windows provides virtual TAP device functionality on the Windows OS.
TAP devices are virtual network kernel devices supported entirely in software – and not backed up by hardware network adapters. TAP drivers are used for TAP devices to work and they are designed with low-level kernel support for Ethernet tunneling.
Source: What are TAP-Windows adapters and why does your VPN require this Driver
Additionally,
Packets sent by an operating system via a TUN/TAP device are delivered
to a user-space program which attaches itself to the device. A
user-space program may also pass packets into a TUN/TAP device. In
this case the TUN/TAP device delivers (or "injects") these packets to
the operating-system network stack thus emulating their reception from
an external source.
Wikipedia - TUN/TAP
answered Jun 28 '18 at 14:56
RamhoundRamhound
21.1k156287
As far as I could tell, it's connected to the function of the VPN, but I couldn't find out how or why. Only a vague mention about it being a virtual adapter for the VPN to communicate with something else. Could someone please explain this?
It's a virtual network interface. It is indeed used by your VPN client.
TAP-Windows provides virtual TAP device functionality on the Windows OS.
TAP devices are virtual network kernel devices supported entirely in software – and not backed up by hardware network adapters. TAP drivers are used for TAP devices to work and they are designed with low-level kernel support for Ethernet tunneling.
Source: What are TAP-Windows adapters and why does your VPN require this Driver
Additionally,
Packets sent by an operating system via a TUN/TAP device are delivered
to a user-space program which attaches itself to the device. A
user-space program may also pass packets into a TUN/TAP device. In
this case the TUN/TAP device delivers (or "injects") these packets to
the operating-system network stack thus emulating their reception from
an external source.
Wikipedia - TUN/TAP
answered Jun 28 '18 at 14:56
RamhoundRamhound
21.1k156287
answered Jun 28 '18 at 14:56
RamhoundRamhound
21.1k156287
answered Jun 28 '18 at 14:56
RamhoundRamhound
21.1k156287
answered Jun 28 '18 at 14:56
RamhoundRamhound
21.1k156287
21.1k156287
add a comment |
add a comment |
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with traditional VPNs, TAP vpn endpoints are from a client directly to an endpoint, so they are kind of AdHoc, and are created and destroyed as they are needed. when you vpn into work from home, thats a tap connection. the other option, TUN connections, are infrastructure, so they are pre-created between a pair of router-like devices, and are generally persistent, such that end devices don't need any particular software or knowledge of the VPN connection; they just send packets that upstream devices know to route into the tunnel.
– Frank Thomas
Jun 28 '18 at 14:37
there are several types of things currently called VPN, but the most robust ones use a virtual network adapter to represent the local tunnel endpoint. that way you can configure your system to route certain traffic through the VPN, without the app in question knowing anything about the VPN at all. they also allow you to do things like firewalling, split tunneling, etc. The item you highlighted is the virtual network adapter installation package. its essentially a driver.
– Frank Thomas
Jun 28 '18 at 14:42