What is Windows Remote Access?

Windows Remote Access is a set of components which allow remote users to access centralized computing resources.


Windows Remote Access consists of the following components:

Remote Access Clients
Computers which are running a Windows operating system creates either a dial-up or virtual private network connection to the remote access server. The remote access client can use either a manually configured connection or a Connection Manager (CM) profile.

Remote Access Server
A computer running a member of the Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 families and the Routing and Remote Access service configured for Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) authentication.

RADIUS Server
A computer running a member of the Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 families and the Internet Authentication Service (IAS).

Accounts Database
For Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003-based networks, the Active Directory directory service is used as the accounts database, which stores user accounts and their dial-in properties.

Remote Access Policy
On the server running IAS, a remote access policy that provides authorization and connection constraints are configured for remote access connections.