The
mppc
node type implements the Microsoft Point-to-Point Compression (MPPC)
and Microsoft Point-to-Point Encryption (MPPE) sub-protocols of
the PPP protocol.
These protocols are often used in conjunction with the Point-to-Point
Tunneling Protocol (PPTP).
The node has two hooks,
comp
for compression and
decomp
for decompression.
Typically one or both of these hooks would be connected to the
ng_ppp4
node type hook of the same name.
Each direction of traffic flow is independent of the other.
HOOKS
This node type supports the following hooks:
comp
Connection to
ng_ppp4
comp
hook.
Incoming frames are compressed and/or encrypted, and sent
back out the same hook.
decomp
Connection to
ng_ppp4
decomp
hook.
Incoming frames are decompressed and/or decrypted, and sent
back out the same hook.
CONTROL MESSAGES
This node type supports the generic control messages, plus the following:
NGM_MPPC_CONFIG_COMP
This command resets and configures the node for a session in the
outgoing traffic direction (i.e., for compression and/or encryption).
This command takes a
struct ng_mppc_config
as an argument:
The
enabled
field enables traffic flow through the node.
The
bits
field contains the bits as negotiated by the Compression Control Protocol
(CCP) in PPP.
The
startkey
is only necessary if MPPE was negotiated, and must be equal to the
session start key as defined for MPPE.
This key is based on the MS-CHAP credentials used at link authentication time.
NGM_MPPC_CONFIG_DECOMP
This command resets and configures the node for a session in the
incoming traffic direction (i.e., for decompression and/or decryption).
This command takes a
struct ng_mppc_config
as an argument.
NGM_MPPC_RESETREQ
This message contains no arguments, and is bi-directional.
If an error is detected during decompression, this message is sent by the
node to the originator of the
NGM_MPPC_CONFIG_DECOMP
message that initiated the session.
The receiver should respond by sending a PPP CCP Reset-Request to the peer.
This message may also be received by this node type when a CCP Reset-Request
is received by the local PPP entity.
The node will respond by flushing its outgoing compression and encryption
state so the remote side can resynchronize.
SHUTDOWN
This node shuts down upon receipt of a
NGM_SHUTDOWN
control message, or when both hooks have been disconnected.
COMPILATION
The kernel options
NETGRAPH_MPPC_COMPRESSION
and
NETGRAPH_MPPC_ENCRYPTION
are supplied to selectively compile in either or both capabilities.
At least one of these must be defined, or else this node type is useless.
The MPPC protocol requires proprietary compression code available
from Hi/Fn (formerly STAC).
These files must be obtained elsewhere and added to the kernel
sources before this node type will compile with the
NETGRAPH_MPPC_COMPRESSION
option.
In PPP, encryption should be handled by the Encryption Control Protocol (ECP)
rather than CCP.
However, Microsoft combined both compression and encryption into their
``compression'' algorithm, which is confusing.