Definitions for "PPTP"
Keywords:  tunnels, vpn, ppp, netbeui, ipx
A Microsoft extension to Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), used to create multiprotocol virtual private networks (VPNs) via the Internet. See PPP and VPN.
A protocol (set of communication rules) that allows corporations to extend their own corporate network through private "tunnels" over the public Internet. In this way a corporation can effectively use a WAN (Wide Area Network) as a large single LAN (Local Area Network). This kind of interconnection is known as a virtual private network (VPN).
An enhanced form of PPP that uses "tunneling"--encapsulating packets of data written for one network protocol inside packets used by another--to allow TCP/IP data to be transmitted over non-TCP/IP networks. The most common use for PPTP is to join physical networks together to form "virtual internets" using the Internet as a go-between. See also PPP. (8/97)