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Internet Key Exchange (IKE) is the protocol IPsec uses to authenticate network peers and negotiate the shared security associations (SAs) needed to protect traffic. IKEv2, the current version to focus on, first negotiates parameters and exchanges key-agreement information, then authenticates the peers and establishes an IPsec Child SA.
What does Internet Key Exchange do?
IKE handles the negotiation and authentication side of IPsec. It allows two peers to agree on security parameters and establish the shared state IPsec needs, rather than requiring that state to be configured manually. The IETF describes IKE as a component of IPsec used for mutual authentication and for establishing and maintaining Security Associations (RFC 7296).
IKE is not the protocol that encrypts user traffic. It negotiates associations; IPsec uses the resulting Child SAs to protect IP traffic.
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What is an IKE Security Association?
A Security Association (SA) is shared security state between peers. It includes negotiated parameters and cryptographic material, such as keys, that support protected communication.
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IKE SA
The IKE SA protects IKE communications and provides the association through which peers negotiate and manage security state.
Child SA
A Child SA is an ESP or AH association established through the IKE SA to protect traffic. IKEv2 establishes a first Child SA during initial setup and can establish additional Child SAs later.
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How does IKEv2 establish an IPsec connection?
IKEv2’s initial setup normally consists of two request/response exchanges, in this order:
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- IKE_AUTH: The peers authenticate each other and establish the first Child SA for IPsec traffic.
The first exchange prepares the IKE relationship; the second authenticates the peers and sets up traffic protection. These are exchanges in the protocol, not a guarantee that every implementation’s user interface will show two steps.
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How is IKEv1 different from IKEv2?
| Aspect | IKEv1 | IKEv2 |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol generation and compatibility | Specified in RFC 2409 (1998); not backward compatible with IKEv2. | Specified in RFC 7296 (2014); a distinct revision rather than a compatible update to IKEv1. |
| Exchange terminology | Uses Phase 1 and Phase 2 terminology in its historical exchange model. | Initial setup uses IKE_SA_INIT followed by IKE_AUTH. |
| Standards status | Deprecated by RFC 9395 (2023). | The version covered by RFC 7296, the IKE specification discussed here. |
For current explanations and configurations, IKEv2 is the relevant version. RFC 9395 documents IKEv1’s deprecation and also addresses related obsoleted algorithms; consult the applicable standards and implementation documentation when evaluating a specific configuration.
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What should you remember about IKE?
- IKE authenticates peers and negotiates or maintains the security associations used by IPsec.
- The IKE SA supports protected negotiation; Child SAs protect traffic.
- In IKEv2, initial setup normally proceeds through IKE_SA_INIT and then IKE_AUTH.
- IKEv1 is legacy and deprecated; IKEv2 is the version to use as the current standards context.
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