You can configure all outbound connections in Windows 2000 with the Network Connection wizard. Much of the work of configuring protocols and services is automated when you use this tool. Understanding the options available in the wizard will help you to configure connections efficiently.
There are three basic types of outbound connections:
After this lesson, you will be able to
Estimated lesson time: 25 minutes
Dial-up connections are outbound dial-up connections to either private networks or to Internet service providers (ISPs). To create and configure an outbound dial-up connection, use the Network Connection wizard. On the Network Connection Type page, select Dial-Up To Private Network to create a connection to a private network, or select Dial-Up To The Internet to create a connection to an ISP.
If you select the Dial-Up To A Private Network option and click Next, you are prompted to type the telephone number of the computer or network to which you want to connect; this can be an ISP for an Internet connection or the modems for your private network. Enter the telephone number, click Next, and you are prompted to specify who can use this connection. If you want this connection to be made available to all users of this computer, click For All Users, and then click Next. If you want to reserve the connection for yourself, click Only For Myself. When you click Next, you will be prompted to type a name for the connection. If you would like a shortcut to appear on your desktop, select the Add A Shortcut To My Desktop check box. Click Finish to create the connection.
If you have selected the Dial-Up To The Internet option and then you click Next, the Welcome To The Internet Connection Wizard starts (see Figure 5.10). The wizard presents the following three options:
Figure 5.10 The Welcome To The Internet Connection Wizard page
NOTE
To configure Internet connection sharing, ensure that Enable Internet Connection Sharing For This Connection is selected on the Sharing tab of the connection's properties dialog box.
A VPN is a network that is created by using tunneling protocols such as PPTP or L2TP to create secure connections across an untrusted network. To create a new VPN connection, you also use the Network Connection wizard. On the Network Connection Type page, click Connect To A Private Network Through The Internet, click Next, and then do one of the following:
You are then prompted to type the host name or IP address of the computer or network to which you are connecting. Type in the name or address and then click Next. If you want this connection to be made available to all users of this computer, click For All Users, and then click Next. If you want to reserve the connection for yourself, click Only For Myself. When you click Next, you will be prompted to type a name for the connection. Type in the name and then click Finish. If you would like a shortcut to appear on your desktop, select the Add A Shortcut To My Desktop check box. Click Finish to create the connection.
You can also use the Network Connection wizard to create a direct cable connection to another computer. On the Network Connection Type page, click Connect Directly To Another Computer, click Next, and then do one of the following:
After specifying Host or Guest, you select the port that is connected to the other computer and then click Next. You must specify which users can access this connection and then click Next. You will be prompted to type a name for the connection. If you would like a shortcut to appear on your desktop, select the Add A Shortcut To My Desktop check box. Click Finish to create the connection.
In this practice, you configure an outbound connection.
The Network And Dial-Up Connections window appears.
The Network Connection wizard appears.
NOTE
If your computer is on a network and there is a valid address that you can use to test your outbound connection, use that address instead of 192.168.1.202.
The Connect Virtual Private Connection dialog box appears.
NOTE
If your computer is on a network and you entered a valid address in step 7, enter a valid user name and password in step 10.
NOTE
If your computer is a standalone computer, this operation will fail. If your computer is on a network and you entered a valid address to a computer accepting virtual private connections in step 7 and a valid user name and password in step 10, a message will be displayed stating that Virtual Private Connection is now connected.
The Network And Dial-Up Connections window is again visible. Notice the Virtual Private Connection icon for the outbound connection you just created.
In this lesson, you learned that you can configure all outbound connections in Windows 2000 using the Network Connection wizard. Using the Network Connection wizard automates much of the work of configuring protocols and services. Understanding the options found in the wizard helps you to configure the three basic types of outbound connections efficiently. The three types of outbound connections are dial-up connections, connections to a VPN, and direct connections to another computer through a cable.