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Lesson 1

Configuring Remote Access

Microsoft Windows 2000 incorporated several new protocols for remote access, in addition to new wizards and interfaces for configuring all types of network connections. The Network Connection wizard, for example, provides a simple interface for creating and configuring basic inbound and outbound connections, whereas Routing and Remote Access is a more robust management tool for configuring connections on routed networks. An understanding of the new options and interfaces in Windows 2000 will assist you in connecting computers and configuring protocols correctly. At the end of this module, you will be able to:
  1. Describe the new protocols that Windows 2000 supports
  2. Describe how Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) supports authentication
  3. Enable Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)
  4. Describe the function of Internet Protocol Security (IPSec)
  5. Differentiate between L2TP and PPTP
  6. Enable Bandwidth Allocation Protocol (BAP)


Protocols used by Microsoft when it released Terminal Services

When Microsoft first released Terminal Services in Windows NT 4.0 in 1997, it supported two protocols:
  1. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP): RDP is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft that allows users to connect to a remote computer and use it as if they were sitting in front of it. RDP is the most common protocol used for remote desktop connections.
  2. ICA (Citrix Independent Computing Architecture): ICA is a proprietary protocol developed by Citrix that allows users to connect to a remote computer and use it as if they were sitting in front of it. ICA is a popular protocol for remote application delivery.

Microsoft chose to support both RDP and ICA in Terminal Services because it wanted to give customers the flexibility to choose the protocol that best met their needs. RDP was a good choice for customers who wanted a simple and easy-to-use remote desktop solution. ICA was a good choice for customers who needed a more powerful and feature-rich remote application delivery solution. In 2005, Microsoft released Terminal Server 2005, which added support for the following protocols:
  1. RemoteFX: RemoteFX is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft that improves the performance and reliability of remote desktop connections. RemoteFX also adds support for new features such as rich multimedia playback and multi-touch support.
  2. VPN over RDP: VPN over RDP allows users to connect to a remote computer over a VPN connection. This provides an additional layer of security for remote desktop connections.
Terminal Services was renamed to Remote Desktop Services (RDS) in Windows Server 2008. RDS continues to support all of the protocols that were supported in Terminal Services, as well as the following new protocols:
  1. Microsoft RemoteFX over TCP/IP: Microsoft RemoteFX over TCP/IP allows users to connect to a remote computer over a TCP/IP connection without the need for a VPN.
  2. USB redirection: USB redirection allows users to redirect USB devices to a remote computer. This allows users to use USB devices such as printers and scanners on a remote computer as if they were connected to their local computer.

RDS is a powerful and flexible remote access solution that can be used to meet the needs of a wide range of customers. The protocols that are supported by RDS provide a variety of features and benefits, such as performance, security, and flexibility.
In the next lesson, you will learn the new protocols supported by Windows 2000.