Overview

TetherNet is a system for dynamically relocating Internet subnets. This system can securely relocate portions of a network to a location remote from the original network via an automation process for configuration and management, using a graphical interface and multipoint control channel to manage overlay deployment at the IP layer. An anchor site can provide a delegated IP address block and reverse DNS as a rented service, and with this technology, a remote site can use those IP addresses with the same privileges.

Advantages

• Provides true Internet service - globally routable IP addresses, with forward and reverse DNS - supporting services on well-known ports.
• Works behind NATs - provides Internet service for any IP-based protocol, even those defeated by NATs, including experimental protocols.
• Works behind varying dynamic IPs - enables stable connectivity even where DHCP leases are short and rotated, without timeout delays or protocol failures.
• Provides IPsec-encrypted IPv4, multicast IPv4, IPv6, and multicast IPv6 - all behind NATs or conventional IPv4.
• Works for any IP client: Unix, Windows, Mac, PDAs, embedded systems, etc., with plug & go and no additional support needed.

Applications

• Enable use of any IP client (PC, PDA, etc.) and protocol.
• Provide true Internet connectivity at conferences, exhibitions, and demos at a customer site, remote office, residence or hotel.
• Support experiments and testbeds.
• Provide stable and secure true Internet VPN without specific client support.
• Reuse office Internet address space - enables reuse of even small blocks.
• Community service: rent small blocks "at cost" to researchers, students.

Turnkey Systems:

• Simple web user interface for setup and management
• Setup WAN info (DHCP/static, DNS)
• Setup LAN
• Select rental site and parameters
• Connect
• Box management (time, logging, monitor)

Related Work

J. Touch. Those Pesky NATs. IEEE Internet Computing, July/August 2002, pp. 96.