Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for establishing a virtual private network that operates over a public data network. One embodiment of the present invention includes a system that selects a plurality of entities coupled to the public data network to include in the virtual private network. The system next assembles a plurality of identifiers for the plurality of entities. These identifiers are used to identify communications between the plurality of entities, so that these communications can be transferred securely over the public data network. A variation on this embodiment includes defining encryption, authentication and compression parameters for the virtual private network. In another variation, selecting the plurality of entities includes, assembling entities coupled to the public data network into groups, and selecting groups of entities to include in the virtual private network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for managing a virtual private network operating over a public data network. This public data network has been augmented to include a plurality of virtual private network gateways so that communications across the virtual private network are channeled through the virtual private network gateways. One embodiment of the present invention includes a system that operates by receiving a command specifying an operation on the virtual private network. The system determines which virtual private network gateways are affected by the command. The system then automatically translates the command into configuration parameters for virtual private network gateways affected by the command. These configuration parameters specifying how the virtual private network gateways handle communications between specific groups of addresses on the public data network.