Connecting to the Internet with Windows NT

Traditionally, connecting to the Internet has been a difficult process that is daunting for a beginner. Early tools, such as FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and Telnet, featured character-based commands suited for those who knew how to connect and maneuver through the intertwined network with 32-bit IP addresses. Today's tools, such as Internet Explorer, provide front-end viewers that enable users to scan and search for information without much knowledge of how information is stored and without having to log on to the source computer.

Windows NT provides and works with tools that make it easier to connect to the Internet.

• Dial-Up Networking is the software that enables clients to connect to remote computers, such as an Internet service provider.
• Remote Access Service (RAS) is the software that enables a computer running Windows NT to accept calls from remote computers. The remote computer can use Windows Dial-Up Networking or any other Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) dial-up client.

Both Dial-Up Networking and RAS are included in Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server.

This section presents four scenarios for connecting to the Internet by using Windows NT Dial-Up Networking and Remote Access Service.

For more information about Remote Access Service and Dial-Up Networking, see the Windows NT Server Networking Supplement and Windows NT Server Resource Kit Networking Guide.