About Network Connections
Network Connections provides connectivity between your computer and the Internet, a network, or another computer. With Network Connections, you can gain access to network resources and functionality, whether you are physically located at the location of the network or in a remote location. Connections are created, configured, stored, and monitored from within the Network Connections folder.
The New Connection Wizard helps you create Internet connections using your dial-up modem, ISDN, DSL or cable modem. You can also create incoming, direct, and virtual private networking (VPN) connections using the New Connection Wizard. Local area connections are created automatically when a network adapter is installed.
Each connection in the Network Connections folder contains a set of features that you can use to create a link between your computer and another computer or network. Outgoing connections contact a remote access server by using a configured access method (LAN, modem, ISDN line, DSL, cable modem, and so on) to establish a connection with the network. Conversely, an incoming connection enables a computer running Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, or a stand-alone computer running Windows 2000 Server to be contacted by other computers. This means your computer can operate as a remote access server. Whether you are connected locally (LAN), remotely (dial-up, ISDN, and so on), or both, you can configure any connection so that it can perform any needed network function. For example, you can print to network printers, access network drives and files, browse other networks, or access the Internet.
Because all services and communication methods are configured within the connection, you do not need to use external management tools to configure connection settings. For example, the settings for a dial-up connection include features to be used before, during, and after connecting. These include the modem you use to dial, the type of password encryption you want to use upon connecting, and the network protocols you use after you connect. Connection status, which includes the duration and speed of a connection, is viewed from the connection itself; you do not need to use an external status tool.
Network connection types
There are five types of network and dial-up connections.
Dial-up connectionsModem, ISDN, X.25
A dial-up connection connects you to a network or the Internet by using a device that utilizes the telephone network. This device can be a modem that uses a standard phone line, an ISDN card with a high-speed ISDN line, or an X.25 network.
If you are a typical user, you may have one or two dial-up connections, perhaps to the Internet and to your corporate network. In a more complex server scenario, you can use multiple dial-up connections to implement advanced routing.
You can create multiple dial-up connections by copying them in the Network Connections folder. You can then rename the connections and modify connection settings. By doing so, you can easily create different connections to accommodate multiple modems, dialing profiles, and so on.
Local area connections overviewEthernet, cable modem, DSL, IrDA, wireless, home phoneline (HPNA)
When you create a home or small office network, computers running Windows XP Professional, or Windows XP Home Edition are connected to a local area network (LAN). When you install a network adapter, Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home Edition detects the adapter, and a local area connection is created. It appears, like all other connection types, in the Network Connections folder. By default, a local area connection is always activated. A local area connection is the only type of connection that is automatically created and activated.
If you disconnect your local area connection, the connection is no longer automatically activated. Because your hardware profile remembers this, it accommodates your location-based needs as a mobile user. For example, if you travel to a remote sales office and use a separate hardware profile for that location that does not enable your local area connection on your home network, you do not waste time waiting for your network adapter to time out. The adapter does not even try to connect.
If your computer has more than one network adapter, a local area connection icon for each adapter is displayed in the Network Connections folder.
You can create local area networks using Ethernet, wireless, home phoneline (HPNA), cable modems, DSL, and IrDA (Infrared).