Review the following concepts to become familiar with the technical and configuration details involved with each of the connections that are available through Universal Connection. The information presented about these concepts focuses on the relationship between this technology and establishing a Universal Connection. Each concept includes references to additional information about the topic.
Data protection technologies
You need to understand how network security affects configuring a Universal Connection before you start creating a configuration.
Application proxies
If your method of accessing the Internet is through an application proxy, some Universal Connection applications may be able to use the proxy. However, you must ensure that you select a configuration method that allows the remainder of your service data to connect through Universal Connection from your server to IBM® without going through an application proxy.IP packet filter firewall
You may have to change packet filter rules to allow Universal Connection traffic to flow through your firewall to IBM.Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS)
SSL/TLS protocol helps provide privacy over a network. Universal Connection creates a Certificate Store, containing trusted Certificate Authority Certificates for use by SSL/TLS, and you do not need to change this item. Some service applications use SSL/TLS to protect the data flowing to IBM.Network address translation (NAT)
Network address translation (NAT) changes internal or private addresses to public or globally routable IP addresses. The Universal Connection traffic can flow through a NAT to IBM. This is enabled automatically.SOCKS
A SOCKS server or client is a TCP/IP proxy application that allows you to send information through a wide variety of protocols without providing the internal network information. If your network includes a SOCKS server, you must ensure that you do not route Universal Connection traffic through this server.Virtual private network
Learn how VPN affects data protection when configuring a Universal Connection between your server and the IBM support services. Some service applications use VPN to protect the data flowing to IBM.