3.1 Operating Environment
The PacketiX VPN Server supports many platforms and operating
systems. Please refer to 「12.1 PacketiX VPN Server 2.0 Specs」 for specifications on compatible
operating systems.
3.1.1 Support for Windows
The PacketiX VPN Server supports the Microsoft Windows platform.
Support is provided not only for Windows NT 4.0 and new NT kernel-based
platforms from Windows 2000 onwards, but also for legacy systems Windows
98 and Windows Millennium Edition, and the PacketiX VPN Server may in
some cases be operable on these legacy systems.
When developing the PacketiX VPN Server, SoftEther Corporation
develops the programs as well as basic debugging and optimization on a
Windows platform and then ports these tasks to other operating systems.
That is why the performance of the Windows OS kernel scheduler and
network protocol stack is equivalent to or slightly better than those of
Linux, and not only matches the performance of UNIX operating systems,
but exceeds it. Using the Windows version of the PacketiX VPN Server
also enables VPN Server operation with the least limitations.
In addition, while specific software may not work properly for Linux
and other UNIX operating systems depending on the kernel version and
differences between the distribution and various library systems,
Windows operating systems guarantee a certain degree of uniformity in
terms of the operation of system APIs and user-mode libraries such that
the PacketiX VPN Server can operate safely on both old and new versions
of Windows.
Accordingly, SoftEther Corporation recommends using the PacketiX VPN
Server on a Windows platform where no other technical or cost issues are
involved.
The Windows version PacketiX VPN Server is compatible with the
following system architectures. Note that there is a high likelihood
that compliant architectures will increase in the future.
PacketiX VPN Server 2.0 can be operated on either 32-bit or 64-bit
(x64 version) versions of Windows (except where license limitations
apply). See 「1.3.10 Client Connection Licenses」 for details. For more information about support for
64-bit environments, please refer to 「Chapter 12 PacketiX VPN Software Specification」.
3.1.2. Support for Linux
The PacketiX VPN Server supports the Linux platform. The server can
be operated on the Linux Kernel 2.4 or later kernel versions.
The Linux platform is the next operating environment recommended by
SoftEther Corporation after Windows. The performance of the Linux kernel
scheduler and multithread library has improved considerably on past
versions, and the network protocol stack also now rivals that of Windows
in terms of reliability. Therefore, where technical or political issues
make the use of Windows as the VPN server difficult, we recommend using
the PacketiX VPN Server on a Linux system. One of the particular
advantages of using a Linux system is that the cost of software license
fees upon installation is often cheaper than for Windows. The Linux
version PacketiX VPN Server also exhibits performance and functions
comparable with the Windows version.
Furthermore, the Linux operating system offers the benefit of
supporting many types of CPUs compared to the Windows OS. For this
reason, the PacketiX VPN Server supports many CPUs such as those listed
below. Apart from common computers, Linux may also be installed on
embedded devices (NASs, routers, HDD recorders, etc.) whose hardware
adopts a CPU aimed at such devices other than the x86. The PacketiX VPN
Server can also operate on these types of hardware.
The Linux version PacketiX VPN Server is compatible with the
following system architectures. Note that there is a high likelihood
that compliant architectures will increase in the future.
- x86
- x64 (AMD64 / EM64T)
- PowerPC (32-bit mode)
- SH4 (32-bit mode)
- MIPS (32-bit mode)
PacketiX VPN Server 2.0 can be operated on either 32-bit or 64-bit
(x64 version) versions of Linux (except where license limitations
apply). See 「1.3.10 Client Connection Licenses」 for details. For more information about support for
64-bit environments, please refer to 「Chapter 12 PacketiX VPN Software Specification」.
3.1.3 Support for FreeBSD
The PacketiX VPN Server supports the FreeBSD platform. The server is
operable on the FreeBSD 5.x or later kernel versions.
While the PacketiX VPN Server can perform sufficiently on the FreeBSD
platform, there is the disadvantage of not being able to use the local
bridge connection function. On the whole, using the PacketiX VPN Server
on FreeBSD does not pose any problems when the user does not intend to
utilize the local bridge function.
The FreeBSD version PacketiX VPN Server is compatible with the
following system architectures. Note that there is a high likelihood
that compliant architectures will increase in the future.
PacketiX VPN Server 2.0 can be operated on either 32-bit or 64-bit
(x64 version) versions of FreeBSD (except where license limitations
apply). See 「1.3.10 Client Connection Licenses」 for details. For more information about support for
64-bit environments, please refer to 「Chapter 12 PacketiX VPN Software Specification」.
3.1.4 Support for Solaris
The PacketiX VPN Server supports the Sun Microsystems Solaris
platform. The server can be operated on the Solaris 8 or later kernel
versions.
The VPN Server can deliver sufficient performance on the Solaris
platform. Additionally, the local bridge connection function can be used
on Build 5220 or later versions of the Solaris version PacketiX VPN
Server 2.0 / VPN Bridge 2.0. This has enabled the Solaris OS to realize
VPN Server / VPN Bridge functionality comparable to that of Windows or
Linux operating systems.
Also, because the Solaris OS operates on hardware using SPARC CPUs,
companies possessing this special hardware can effectively utilize their
resources as VPN servers by running the PacketiX VPN Server on said
hardware.
Due to a lack of test hardware, SoftEther Corporation has not carried
out testing of the PacketiX VPN Server for all CPU types and versions of
the Solaris OS. We therefore recommend using the latest possible version
of the Solaris operating system to best ensure operation.
The Solaris version PacketiX VPN Server is compatible with the
following system architectures. Note that there is a high likelihood
that compliant architectures will increase in the future.
- x86
- x64 (AMD64 / EM64T)
- SPARC (32-bit mode)
- SPARC (64-bit mode)
PacketiX VPN Server 2.0 can be operated on either 32-bit or 64-bit
(x64 or SPARCv9) versions of Solaris (except where license limitations
apply). See 「1.3.10 Client Connection Licenses」 for details. For more information about support for
64-bit environments, please refer to 「Chapter 12 PacketiX VPN Software Specification」.
3.1.5 Support for Mac OS X
The PacketiX VPN Server supports the Mac OS X platform. The server
can be operated on Darwin 7.9.0 or later kernel versions.
While the PacketiX VPN Server can perform sufficiently on the Mac OS
X platform, there is the disadvantage of not being able to use the local
bridge connection function. On the whole, using the PacketiX VPN Server
on Mac OS X does not pose any problems when the user does not intend to
utilize the local bridge function. Multithread library performance on
the Mac OS X may be inferior to that of other operating systems, so we
recommend using other OS when the PacketiX VPN Server is to be used in a
high load environment.
The Mac OS X version PacketiX VPN Server is compatible with the
following system architectures. Note that there is a high likelihood
that compliant architectures will increase in the future.
3.1.6 Support for Embedded Devices
The PacketiX VPN Server features highly portable, memory-saving
software programming code and can therefore be embedded in hardware
devices in hardware routers, Layer 3 and Layer 2 switches, wireless LAN
devices, digital consumer electronics and miniature computers in
automobiles and the like, provided that said hardware devices satisfy
the operational requirements. See 「1.3.8 64-bit version of PacketiX VPN Server 2.0」 for details.
Embedding the PacketiX VPN Server into various devices in the future
would theoretically ensure interconnectivity and communication between
these devices via the common PacketiX VPN protocol, thus enabling not
only computer users but also consumers in general to use the PacketiX
VPN intuitively.
3.1.7 Limitations
A number of operating system limitations exist for the PacketiX VPN
Server. While these limitations may be described in other areas of this
manual, it is also possible that other technically difficult OS and
hardware architecture-dependent issues may exist. Moreover, SoftEther
Corporation does not guarantee the operational stability of the PacketiX
VPN Server on all operating systems. Please refer to 「12.1 PacketiX VPN Server 2.0 Specs」 for details
on our recommended operating systems and system configurations.
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