Remote Access Server (RAS) for Dialing-In

Before going into detail on how to setup "Dial-Up Networking/Remote Access services DUN/RAS" for Dial-In connections, be aware about a limitation:

RAS allows Dial-In connection to a Network !(not just a system)

What does this mean ? If your NT4 system (to which you like to dial-in) does NOT have a Network-board installed, try to browse the "Network Neighborhood":

although you defined your system to be part of aworkgroup (in this example: APPL_BRX) andalthough you put a Sharing on your disk,your "Network Neighborhood" either showsNOTHING or (even worse) does not allowto browse.

Although your Network Bindings showthe proper logical connection, it seemsthat this is NOT good enough to qualify as a REAL network.

Before you continue with RAS Server, make sure, that you can browse your own "Network Neighborhood", because if you cannot do that yourself, then also the dial-in connections will NOT be able to do that !

On Windows95, I only got it to work by installing a REAL network-board, setting up a ONE-system network (see: Dialup-Networking Server ).

But again, WindowsNT turns out to be a little better than Windows95:Select in the "Control-Panel" "Network"-applet the tab: "Adapters", then "Add":

Select from the list of availableNetwork adapters the:"MS Loopback Adapter",which is a software-emulationof a network-board,NOTrequiring to open the computerand to install a REAL board.

You will be prompted for a"Frame-Type".I have not found anygood explanation for thatin the Online-Helps, soI kept the default settingfor : 802.3

When now checking the "Bindings"in the "Network"-applet, theTCP/IP protocol is "bound" toboth the "Dial-Up Adapter/Modem"("Remote Access WAN Wrapper")and to the emulated Network-board"MS Loopback Adapter"

You need to configure the "TCP/IP"properties for the "network-board".I suggest to configure it with astatic IP-address.

Lets make the check by browsing now your own"Network Neighborhood":your systems with its shares should now display.

Now, that the system is ready to become a RAS server, lets configure it by calling up in the "Control-Panel" "Network"-applet tab:"Services" the properties of "Remote Access Service":

Select the "Configure"-button to allow "Dial out and Receive calls".Select the "Network"-button to define now the Server settings:- which protocols are allowed to be used for a Dial-In connection.(in my case, I allow dialing-out with TCP/IP (to the Internet) and IPX (to connect to the office system), but IPX and NetBEUI for dial-in (also from the office system)).For both IPX and NetBEUI, we need to define, whether an incoming connection is to be limited to just the NT4-system or whether access to the "Entire Network" is allowed:

There could be the need to read the WinNT4 CD-ROM, but for sure, you need to reboot to have the new settings take effect.

However, NT4 is carefully: although the dial-in feature is now installed, it is NOT started up automatically, as shown in the "Remote Access Admin":

Select from the Menu:"Server" the option to start the Dial-In server:

It takes a little to start up this service,you need to be patient !

Once the service is started, the Status is displayed, you can also ask for a list/display of connected users:

Something NOT to forget:Windows NT is a SECURE Operating system and does NOT allow anybody to dial-in without proper authorization.

You need to give Users EXPLICITLYthe permission to be able to dial invia RAS, either in the "Remote AccessAdmin" menu:"Users" or by using the"User Manager", by selecting the"Dialin"-button.In both cases, you can also define,whether "Call-Back" is allowed ora MUST (to ensure that users canonly connect from pre-definedlocations, giving an additional security against un-authorized dial-inattempts)

If you like to start up the "Dial-In/RAS Server" automatically (avoiding that you forget it before going home), it can be configured in the "Control-Panel" in the "Services"-applet:Select the "Remote Access Server" from the list, then "Start-Up" to define "automatic" Startup.

The Author — Johannes Helmig

Dr.Johannes Helmig is working as Director, Technical Knowledge Management in the Belgium office of Gerber Technology where he is involved in Customer Service and internal training, with special interest in Networking.