Remote Connections

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Remote communications consist of two distinct elements: the client and the server. Windows Server 2003 can either establish a connection to a remote system (as a dial-up client) or accept connections from remote clients (as a dial-up host). For more information on using Windows Server 2003 as a dial-up host, please see the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit.

Getting connected

Using Windows Server 2003 as a dial-up client is not terribly difficult. In most cases, you dial out to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to make an Internet connection. We can take you step-by-step through the process of establishing such a connection if you have the following pieces of information at hand:

  • Phone number of the ISP

  • Logon name

  • Logon password

For this type of connection, we assume that you have a modem, not an ISDN line or other connection device. If you don't have a modem, you definitely need one for this exercise. You can install a modern using the Add/Remove Hardware applet from the Control Panel. If you follow the prompts, you'll be amazed at how easy it is to do the installation.

We also assume that your ISP has a simple logon procedure. If you require special characters prefixed to your logon name, must traverse a logon menu, or must execute a logon script, you need to consult the ISP for instructions on how to configure Windows Server 2003 to properly establish a connection. Fortunately, most ISPs have a simple logon.

Here's how to get things rolling:

  1. Choose Start Settings to display the Network Connections screen, as shown in Figure 10-4

    REMEMBER 

    You should have a modem installed before you follow these steps.

  2. Double-click the New Connection Wizard and then click Next.

  3. Choose the Connect to the Internet option and then click Next.

  4. Choose the Connect Using a Dial-up Modem option and then click Next.

  5. Provide a name for this connection object, such as the ISP name, and then click Next.

  6. Provide the phone number and then click Next.

  7. Select whether this object can be used by anyone logged on to this system or only you and then click Next.

  8. Provide the login name and password for the ISP account and then click Next. Click Finish.

click to expand
Figure 10-4: The Network Connections management console (after a dial-up object has been defined).

That's it! An icon now appears in the Network Connections window with the name you provided. Double-click this icon to display the Connection dialog box. Click the Dial button to establish the connection. After a few noisy moments, you'll establish a connection and be ready to surf!

You can view the status of the connection by placing your mouse cursor over the connection icon (the one with the two overlapping computers) in the icon tray. You can also double-click the icon to display a dialog box with more information.

You can change the parameters of the dial-up connection by right-clicking the icon in the Network Connections window and choosing Properties. In the dialog box for the Network Connections Property page, you can change every aspect of the connection.

To end the connection, right-click the connection icon in the icon tray and choose Disconnect or double-click the connection icon to display the Details box and then click Disconnect.

Other frills

Windows Server 2003 includes all the latest capabilities that you would expect in a Windows-based remote access server. You'll recognize most of these from Windows 2000 and some from Windows NT. But even with the latest enhancements, Windows Server 2003 has retained nearly all of its old capabilities and functions. That means if you could accomplish something using Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000 RAS, you can do it better using Windows Server 2003 Remote Access.

These features include but are not limited to the following:

  • Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) for dial-out and dial-in connections. Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) is still retained for outbound connections to non-PPP systems. (Windows XP Professional doesn't support SLIP for incoming connections; only Windows Server 2003 can use TCP/IP to connect through SLIP.)

  • Multilink PPP for aggregating similar connections into a single pipeline.

  • Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) for link establishment over the Internet for secure communications.

  • Authentication encryption to secure logon passwords.

  • VPN security features: IPSec and L2TP (see the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit or TechNet for more information).

  • Support for smart cards (which are small cards added to the system to store security information).

  • Full Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service (RADIUS) support.

  • Shared connections (a single computer sharing its connection with other network clients).

For an in-depth discussion of Remote Access, check out the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit.

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Windows Server 2003 for Dummies
Windows Server 2003 for Dummies
ISBN: 0764516337
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 195

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