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Internet Key Exchange (IKE) is the protocol IPsec uses to authenticate communicating peers and negotiate the Security Associations (SAs) needed to protect their traffic. IKE establishes the security state; IPsec uses the resulting Child SAs to protect IP packets.
What does Internet Key Exchange do?
IKE lets two peers agree on security parameters and establish shared cryptographic state rather than requiring that state to be configured manually. That state is organized into Security Associations, which include negotiated parameters and key material.
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The distinction matters: IKE handles negotiation and authentication, while IPsec uses the negotiated Child SAs to protect traffic. IKE itself is not the protocol that encrypts user traffic.
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What are an IKE SA and a Child SA?
- IKE SA: The protected association used for IKE communications and further negotiation between the peers.
- Child SA: An ESP or AH association established through the IKE SA to protect IP traffic. IKEv2 can establish additional Child SAs after the initial one.
An SA is shared security state for an association, including the parameters and cryptographic material the peers have agreed to use.
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How does IKEv2 establish a connection?
IKEv2’s initial setup normally consists of two request-and-response exchanges, in this order:
- IKE_SA_INIT: The peers negotiate IKE security parameters and exchange nonces and Diffie–Hellman values.
- IKE_AUTH: The peers authenticate one another and establish the first Child SA for IPsec traffic.
After these exchanges, the IKE SA supports protected IKE communications, and the Child SA provides the association IPsec uses to protect traffic.
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How is IKEv1 different from IKEv2?
| Aspect | IKEv1 | IKEv2 |
|---|---|---|
| Generation and compatibility | Earlier version, described in RFC 2409; it is not backward compatible with IKEv2. | Revised version specified in RFC 7296; it is not backward compatible with IKEv1. |
| Exchange structure and terminology | Uses Phase 1 and Phase 2 exchange terminology. | Initial setup uses IKE_SA_INIT followed by IKE_AUTH. |
| Current standards status | Deprecated by RFC 9395. | Covered by RFC 7296, an Internet Standards Track specification. |
For current explanations, IKEv2 is the relevant version to lead with. IKEv1 terminology is useful mainly when interpreting older configurations or documentation.
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Standards references
- RFC 7296 defines IKEv2 and its role in IPsec.
- RFC 2409 describes the historical IKEv1 protocol.
- RFC 9395 documents IKEv1 deprecation and the status of obsoleted algorithms.
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