In this chapter, we began by discussing the basics of VPNs and how they provide a cost-effective way of connecting clients to private networks across the internet (client-server) and private networks to other private networks across the internet (peer-to-peer). We then introduced the three protocols currently supported by pfSense (IPsec, L2TP, and OpenVPN), and the advantages and disadvantages of each. We then covered how to configure each of these protocols. Finally, we discussed how to troubleshoot a VPN connection. We built heavily on some of the concepts covered in previous chapters, especially the firewall rules covered in Chapter 6, Firewall and NAT.
In the next chapter, we will cover something that many pfSense users will likely want to implement in their ongoing quest to make their networks more robust: multiple WANs.