Network connection types
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
Network connection types
You can use Network Connections to create several types of connections between computers. The following table shows each type of connection you can create, the communication methods you can use to create each type of connection, and an example of each connection type. For more information, click the appropriate connection type in the table.
| Connection type | Communication method | Example |
|---|---|---|
Modem, ISDN, X.25 |
Connect to a private network or the Internet by using remote access |
|
VPN connections to organization networks over the Internet using PPTP or L2TP |
Connect securely to a private network over the Internet |
|
See dial-up or VPN connections |
Connect to a private network using a collection of dial-up or VPN settings provided by your network administrator in a self-installing profile |
|
Ethernet, token ring, cable modem, DSL, FDDI, IP over ATM, IrDA, wireless, WAN technologies (T1, Frame Relay), PPPoE |
Connect directly to a local area network, to your cable modem, or to your DSL modem through an Ethernet adapter or a similar device |
|
Serial cabling, infrared link, DirectParallel cable |
Connect a handheld computer running Microsoft® Windows® CE to a desktop computer so you can synchronize information |
|
See dial-up, VPN, or direct connections |
Accept dial-up, VPN, or direct connections from other computers |
For a list of icons that appear in the Network Connections folder, see Network connection icons.