Network communications

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

Network communications

Network protocols, access methods, and server protocols help create a communications link between your computer and a network.

Whether information is transported from your computer to a server by using a direct serial cable, or across a secure VPN from your Internet service provider (ISP) to the corporate network, different combinations of access methods and protocols are used to send information. These access methods and protocols are listed as follows:

Network protocols

• TCP/IP

• IPX

• AppleTalk

Access methods

• Using phone lines and modems

• ISDN access

• Serial (RS-232) cable access

• DirectParallel cable access

Server protocols

• Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)

• SLIP

• Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP)

• Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)

The IPX/SPX protocol is not available on the Itanium-based versions of the Windows operating systems.