Connection Methods

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Remote users connect to networks by using one of two methods: they either connect with direct dial, where they connect directly by using dial-up lines, or they use VPNs to connect over the Internet. When using a VPN to connect, remote users who do not have a pre-existing connection to the Internet must use a double-dial configuration, where they first dial an ISP number to access the Internet and then establish the VPN connection. Connection Manager can make this double dial process look like a single connection attempt to the end user.

Direct Dial

Users who connect to your network by using direct dial call directly into your network, using the dial-up phone numbers that your organization provides to connect to remote access dial-up servers. You can easily manage a small number of users calling a small number of phone numbers. However, if a large number of users are dialing into your network, or if your network can be reached through many phone numbers, Connection Manager and CPS are useful for managing remote access.

VPN

Organizations that offer VPN access to their remote users approach this in either one of two ways:

  • Assume that the users have their own connections to the Internet.

  • Provide users with an easy method to dial up the Internet and establish a subsequent VPN connection to the corporate network.

An organization can also contract with an ISP to supply a national or worldwide collection of phone numbers for Internet access. Connection Manager provides a method to expose these numbers from the ISP in a phone book and automatically establish the VPN connection after the ISP connection is complete. For more information about working with an ISP, see "Providing Connection Manager Phone Book Support" in this chapter. For more information about double-dial connections, see "Example: Deploying Remote Access Clients" in this chapter.