The types of telephone lines you can choose from are described in the following table.
Table 3.1 Classification of Telephone Line Types
Line type | Description | When to use | Line speed | |
Public dial-up network lines | These are common telephone lines. They require users to manually make a connection for each communication session. | This connection type is slow and not totally reliable for transferring data. However, for some companies it may be practical to dial up a temporary link between sites daily to transfer files or update databases. | Carriers are continually improving their dial-up line service. Some digital lines claim data transmission speeds of up to 56 kilobits per second by using error correction, data compression, and synchronous modems. | |
Leased, or dedicated, lines | These provide full-time dedicated connections that do not use a series of switches to complete the connection. | The quality of the line is often higher than that of a line designed only for voice transmissions. | Lines typically range in speed from 56 kilobits per second to 45 megabits per second or more. | |
If your Internet Information Server is used infrequently by a small number of users, dial-up line connectivity that provides limited connection and access to the Internet may be appropriate. However, if your Internet Information Server is accessed by a large number of simultaneous users or provides 24-hour continuous availability, you should choose a dedicated connection and line technology that provides adequate bandwidth and availability.
Dial-up telephone lines, even with a fast modem and data compression, can create a large telephone bill for even a temporary connection. Leased lines, which offer more continuous connections, are in the long run more economical for companies that want to provide continuous availability to remote users.