GRE Generic Routing Encapsulation: Detail Explained (2024)

by Jaspreet Singh

What is GRE?

GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) is a tunnelling protocol developed by Cisco that allows remote hosts to connect to a private network over the Internet. GRE is often used to connect an on-premises network to a cloud-based virtual private network (VPN).

GRE tunnels can be used to transport IPv4 traffic across an IPv4 or IPv6 network. When transporting IPv4 traffic, GRE uses the IPv4 protocol to encapsulate the original IPv4 packets. When transporting IPv6 traffic, GRE uses the IPv6 protocol to encapsulate the original IPv6 packets.

GRE is a Layer 3 protocol and can be used over any IP-based network. GRE tunnels are point-to-point and do not support multicast traffic.

GRE tunnels are often used to connect an on-premises network to a cloud-based virtual private network (VPN). Cloud-based VPNs can provide a more secure and reliable connection than an on-premises VPN because they are not subject to the same physical security risks.

Benefits of GRE Generic Routing Encapsulation

(GRE) has a number of benefits:

  • GRE is a tunnelling protocol that can encapsulate a wide variety of network layer protocols inside virtual point-to-point links over an Internet Protocol network.
  • GRE keeps the original IP header intact, which allows the packets to be processed by intermediate routers without inspection or reassembly.
  • GRE is a lightweight protocol that does not require additional software or hardware support at the intermediate routers.
  • GRE tunnels can be configured to transport traffic between two IPv4 networks or between two IPv6 networks.
  • GRE tunnels can be used to connect an on-premises network to a cloud-based VPN. Cloud-based VPNs can provide a more secure and reliable connection than an on-premises VPN because they are not subject to the same physical security risks.
  • GRE is often used in conjunction with IPsec to create a secure tunnel between two networks. IPsec encrypts the data inside the GRE tunnel to protect it from eavesdropping.

Drawbacks of GRE Generic Routing Encapsulation

GRE has a number of drawbacks:

  • GRE is a proprietary protocol developed by Cisco. It is not an open standard like IPsec.
  • GRE is not supported by all routers. In particular, many consumer-grade routers do not support GRE.
  • GRE tunnels can be difficult to troubleshoot because they encapsulate the original packets and headers.
  • GRE tunnels can introduce latency because the packets must be encapsulated and decapsulated at each end of the tunnel.
  • GRE tunnels do not support multicast traffic.
  • IPv4-only GRE tunnels cannot transport IPv6 traffic and vice versa. This can complicate the network configuration if both IPv4 and IPv6 traffic need to be transported.
  • GRE tunnels can be susceptible to denial-of-service attacks.

How does generic routing encapsulation work?

GRE Generic Routing Encapsulation: Detail Explained (1)

Here are the process steps for the GRE:

  1. A host on the private network sends a packet to a host on the public network.
  2. The router at the edge of the private network encapsulates the packet in a GRE header and forwards it to the router at the edge of the public network.
  3. The router at the edge of the public network decapsulates the packet and forwards it to the destination host on the public network.
  4. The destination host sends a reply packet to the source host.
  5. The router at the edge of the public network encapsulates the reply packet in a GRE header and forwards it to the router at the edge of the private network.
  6. The router at the edge of the private network decapsulates the packet and forwards it to the source host on the private network.

How to allow generic routing encapsulation?

If you want to allow GRE, you need to configure your router to allow GRE traffic. The specific steps will vary depending on the make and model of your router.

You can also use a software-based VPN solution that does not require GRE. Many VPN solutions, such as OpenVPN and IPsec, do not require GRE and can be used without any special router configuration.

is not configured to allow generic routing encapsulation?

If your router is not configured to allow GRE, you will need to reconfigure it.

Alternatives of GRE

If GRE is not supported by the routers in your network, or if you are looking for an alternative to GRE, consider using one of the following protocols:

IPsec is a standard protocol for creating VPNs. It can be used to create both site-to-site and remote-access VPNs.

OpenVPN is an open-source protocol that can be used to create both site-to-site and remote-access VPNs.

SSTP is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft. It can be used to create both site-to-site and remote-access VPNs.

L2TP is a legacy protocol that can be used in conjunction with IPsec to create a VPN. It is not as secure as IPsec alone, but it is more widely supported than IPsec.

PPTP is a legacy protocol that can be used to create both site-to-site and remote-access VPNs. It is not as secure as more modern protocols, but it is more widely supported than most modern protocols.

GRE Generic Routing Encapsulation: Detail Explained (2024)

FAQs

What is generic routing encapsulation in detail? ›

Generic routing encapsulation (GRE) provides a private path for transporting packets through an otherwise public network by encapsulating (or tunneling) the packets. GRE tunneling is accomplished through tunnel endpoints that encapsulate or de-encapsulate traffic.

What are the disadvantages of GRE tunnels? ›

Lack of security:
  • One of the major drawbacks of the GRE is its lack of security. Without the use of authentication and encryption, GRE tunnels can be vulnerable to attack.
  • Data sent over the tunnel is vulnerable to sniffing and other network-based attacks.
  • Another limitation of the GRE is its scalability.
Mar 3, 2023

What is encapsulation in routing? ›

Encapsulation adds information to a packet as it travels to its destination. Decapsulation reverses the process by removing the info, so a destination device can read the original data.

What is the difference between IP encapsulation and GRE? ›

Unless you are encapsulating non-IP protocols, such as routing protocols or protocols used for research purposes, IP-in-IP encapsulation is often a suitable protocol at a lower overhead to GRE. However, GRE has slightly better security.

What protocols can GRE encapsulate? ›

Generic routing encapsulation or GRE is a protocol that encapsulates packets of one network protocol, such as IPv4, IPv6, IPX, etc., within the payload of another protocol, like IP. The term “encapsulate” refers to the process of wrapping one data packet within another data packet.

What is GRE in VPN? ›

Generic Routing Encapsulation, or GRE, is a protocol for wrapping data packets inside secondary data packets in order to set up a direct point-to-point network connection.

Are GRE tunnels safe? ›

Additionally, traffic over GRE tunnels is unencrypted by default, but VPNs provide different encryption methods via the IPsec protocol suite, and their traffic can be encrypted from end to end. All the same, traffic transmitted across most sites employs encryption standards such as TLS/SSL for all communications.

What is the difference between VPN and GRE tunnel? ›

IPSec are used in Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to offer safe communication over an insecure network like the internet. GRE is a tunneling protocol used to construct a virtual point-to-point link between two networks, not a security protocol.

What are the disadvantages of the GRE? ›

One of the main problems with the GRE is its ability to predict graduate school performance, particularly the first-year grades. Several critics have cited that its predictive validity is actually weak. Also, the GRE fails to cover areas like a student's intellect, creativity, and perseverance to finish a program.

What is an example of encapsulation? ›

Containers are just one example of encapsulation in coding where data and methods are bundled together into a single package. A key benefits to hiding information about attributes and methods using encapsulation in programming is that it prevents other developers from writing scripts or APIs that use your code.

What is multipoint generic routing encapsulation? ›

Quick Definition: A GRE multipoint tunnel, or Multipoint Generic Routing Encapsulation (mGRE), is a protocol used for connecting multiple remote sites through a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

What are the three types of encapsulation? ›

There are three types of encapsulation, namely Member variable encapsulation, Function encapsulation and Class encapsulation, each of which has its own significance with respect to member variables of a class, functions, APIs when it comes to the implementation of any specific application possessing encapsulation.

Which layer 3 protocol does GRE use? ›

GRE is an IP encapsulation protocol that is used to transport packets over a network. tunnels are in IPv4 Layer-3 mode. IPv6 encapsulated in IPv4 and IPv4 encapsulated in IPv6 are not supported.

What is GRE tunneling? ›

Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) is a tunneling protocol developed by Cisco Systems that can encapsulate a wide variety of network layer protocols inside virtual point-to-point links or point-to-multipoint links over an Internet Protocol network. Generic Routing Encapsulation. Communication protocol.

What is generic routing encapsulation Geeks for Geeks? ›

Generic Routing Encapsulation is a method of encapsulation of IP packet in a GRE header which hides the original IP packet. Also a new header named delivery header is added above GRE header which contains new source and destination address.

What is network virtualization using generic routing encapsulation? ›

Network Virtualization using Generic Routing Encapsulation (NVGRE) is a network virtualization technology that attempts to alleviate the scalability problems associated with large cloud computing deployments. It uses Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) to tunnel layer 2 packets over layer 3 networks.

What is encapsulation in banking system? ›

The whole point of encapsulation is that BankingService shouldn't know which specific data structures it is using. The only other way to get a specific object into a BankingService object is through the constructor.

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