Networking / Beginners

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Configuring Dial-Up Access

A dial-up connection is a network connection established between two computers using modems and a telephone line. The calling computer is known as the dial-up client. The dial-up server is the computer that answers the call and accepts the connection request. The dial-up server can be a server running Windows 2000 Server or Windows .NET server; it can also be a third-party hardware and software solution. In addition, Windows XP Professional can act like a dial-up server on a small network, providing the ability to manage a single incoming remote access connection.

From a functional standpoint, a dial-up connection operates just like any local area network connection, except for the fact that it is much slower. Network traffic is routed through the computer's modem and telephone line instead of a network adapter cable or wireless LAN connection. In most cases, a connection to a dial-up server also means access to the network to which the dial-up server is connected, although access can be restricted to just the resources that belong to the dial-up server.

Typically, a dial-up client computer has complete network access, limited only by the security permissions assigned to the user.This means that the users can perform any of the following actions, just as if they were locally connected to the network:

• Access files stored in network drives and folders
• Submit print jobs to network printers
• Access the Internet using the network's shared Internet connection

A dial-up connection can be set up using any of the following communications channels:

• PSTN
• ISDN
• X.25

Windows XP Professional can create a dial-up connection using any of the following local area network protocols:

• TCP/IP
• IPS/SPX
• NetBEUI

Note Microsoft is terminating its support for the NetBEUI local area network protocol. However, it is still supported by Windows XP Professional and other Microsoft operating systems and can be found on the Windows XP Professional CD in \VALUEADD\MSFT\NET\NEBEUI.

Most modern networks use TCP/IP, so no other local area network protocols are required to established the connection. The important thing is to make sure that the dial-up connection is configured to use a local area network protocol that is supported by the host network and dial-up server. A WAN (wide area network) protocol known as the PPP (Point to Point Protocol) manages the actual connection between the dial-up server and dial-up client. This protocol encapsulates the LAN protocol (typically TCP/IP) for transport of the dial-up connection.

In order to establish a dial-up connection, several conditions must be met. First, a dial-up server must be set up and ready to receive incoming connection requests. On the dial-up client, a modem must be installed and a dial-up client connection must be configured.