Mobile virtual private networks with dynamic MIP home agent assignment

This paper presents the dynamic external Home Agent (x-HA) assignment in mobile Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). The proposed architecture is based on the mobile VPN proposed by the IETF, which adopts Mobile IP and IPsec. The IETF solution, however, leads to two questions: where should we put the x-HA and how should we trust the x-HA? We propose to assign the x-HA dynamically so the handoff latency and end-to-end latency could be reduced significantly. By using Diameter Mobile IPv4 application, we also propose a technique such that the x-HA can be associated with the VPN securely. In addition, the registrations with x-HA and internal HA (i-HA) are concurrently accomplished. The proposed technique has been implemented in a mobile VPN testbed. Performance analysis based on empirical experiments is discussed.