What is the primary purpose of tunneling protocols in networking?

Tunneling protocols are designed primarily to encapsulate packets, allowing one type of protocol to be transported over another protocol’s network. This encapsulation is crucial in scenarios where data needs to be sent securely or across networks that may not support the original protocol. By wrapping the original packets in a new header, tunneling protocols can route data through an intermediate network, effectively creating a “tunnel” through which the original data travels.

This ability to encapsulate packets is fundamental to many networking processes, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), where encapsulation enables secure communication over the Internet. Tunneling can also facilitate the integration of different networking technologies or protocols that inherently do not work together.

In contrast, while managing bandwidth, monitoring traffic, and enhancing security are important aspects of networking and can be related to tunneling protocols, they are not the primary function. Effective management of these areas often depends on other tools and techniques that work in conjunction with the encapsulation responsibilities of tunneling protocols.