The LM Link Feature in LM Studio

LM Link is a way to connect devices on which LM Studio is installed; allowing you to load models on remote devices as if they were local. Chats remain local and the only thing loaded on LM Studio's backend servers are your device list.  In a way, it's model-connectivity-as-a-service using your own hardware.

LM Link is implemented on top of Tailscale VPN.

Built-in Secure VPN for Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge now comes with a free built-in VPN to keep your location private, safeguard sensitive data, fill out forms and more. 

There is an option to automatically use VPN for public wifi. 

The VPN is allegedly powered by CloudFlare and comes with usage limits.

WinBods Intro to "High-Perf Telco-Tech" (HPTT) a.k.a. Getting to Know the Data Link Layer - Global Style

Introduction - Two Types of DLLs To Think About

Dynamic Link Libraries are not the only DLLs that a WinBod needs to know about. Equally important, is the Data Link Layer "DLL" of the OSI Reference Model.

Lesson One in HPTT - Building VPNs by Wrapping Packets and Sticking a Path Label on Them So they Know Exactly Where to Go - another way of describing "Multiprotocol Label Switching"

Multiprotocol label switching is also known as MPLS and is a term used in high performance telecoms.

Specifically, it is a technique to direct data from one network node to the next.

Its main selling point is it does away with long network addresses and instead uses short path labels.

The labels identify paths between distant nodes rather than mere endpoints.

Its "multiprotocol" nature stems from the fact that MPLS can encapsulate packets containing data conformant to "any protocol you please".  It can be used to build VPNs.

The point is to eliminate dependence on a specific data link layer technology such as Asynchronous Transfer Mode, Ethernet, Frame Relay or Synchronous Optical NETworking (SONET). To understand the data link layer read up on the OSI Reference Model.

What you Ought to Have Known Before Reading this Piece - What Asynchronous Transfer Mode is All About, and in Particular, how it differs from TCP/IP

Transfers data in cells or packets of a fixed size. ATM creates a fixed channel or route for packets to pass through unlike TCP/IP where various packets can take various routes. ATM services generally offer different types of bit rate. UBR, or unspecified bit rate, does not guarantee any throughput levels.

VPN Tunnelling and what Microsoft uses (PPTP)

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) offer a cost effective alternative to other mechanisms to connect geographically distance offices such as leased lines (sometimes called "private circuit"), which involves paying a monthly lease to a provider in exchange for a permanent connection between two locations. A problem can be lack of guaranteed bandwidth which you get with a leased line.

The first form of VPNs were software defined networks (SDNs) developed by AT&T in the 1980s.

Today's technology relies on tunnelling protocols, the main ones being:

• IP Security (IPSec) which is an open standard that deals with authentication and security of transmission over the public network.
• PPTP or Point to Point Tunnelling Protocol, developed by an industry consortium including Microsoft and 3Com is used by Windows.
• Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol (L2TP) was developed by Cisco to replace IPSec

Tunnelling offers the safety and security required to make VPNs a viable proposition. It behaves like an envelope for letters - the data packet in the payload of another packet which follows another protocol. This technique also allows routing of non IP packets.

The tunneled packet header contacts a bunch of information relating to the protocol of the enclosed packet, the initiator and potentially a checksum to ensure data was not corrupted during transmission.

BITS, BFE and other "Standard" Windows Services

BITS is a Windows service, that stands for Background Intelligent Transfer Service. This helps to transfer files in the background using idle network bandwidth. It is used by Windows update and Internet Explorer.

BFE is the Base Filtering Engine which manages firewall and IPsec (Internet Protocol security) policies. Stopping or disabling the BFE service will significantly reduce system security.

Related Tangent: What is IPsec? It's a suite of protocols for authenticating and encrypting information at the IP packet level. Developed in conjunction with IPv6. Its major application is in Virtual Private Networks.