a VPN 
				is a private network that uses a public network (usually the 
				Internet) to connect remote sites or users together. Instead of 
				using a dedicated, real-world connection such as leased line, a 
				VPN uses "virtual" connections routed through the Internet from 
				the company's private network to the remote site or employee. In 
				this article, you will gain a fundamental understanding of VPNs, 
				and learn about basic VPN components, technologies, tunneling 
				and security.
			 
 
			
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				Image courtesy Cisco Systems, Inc.
				A typical VPN might have a main LAN at the corporate 
				headquarters of a company, other LANs at remote offices or 
				facilities and individual users connecting from out in the 
				field.