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
Dial-up connections	Modem, ISDN, X.25	Connect to a private network or the Internet by using remote access
Virtual Private Network (VPN) Connections	VPN connections to organization networks over the Internet using PPTP or L2TP	Connect securely to a private network over the Internet
Connection Manager Administration Kit	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
Using local area connections	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
Using direct connections	Serial cabling, infrared link, DirectParallel cable	Connect a handheld computer running Microsoft® Windows® CE to a desktop computer so you can synchronize information
Incoming connections	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.