There are five types of network and dial-up connections. The following table shows each connection type, the communication methods used to establish the connection type, and an example of the connection.
| Connection type | Communication method | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dial-up connections | Modem, ISDN, X.25 | Connect to a corporate network or the Internet by using remote access |
| Local area connections | Ethernet, Token Ring, cable modem, DSL, FDDI, IP over ATM, IrDA, wireless, WAN technologies (T1, Frame Relay) | Typical corporate user. Cable modem and DSL connect to the Internet. You can use Ethernet, IrDA, wireless or home phoneline network adapters (HPNA) to set up your home or small office network |
| Virtual private network (VPN) connections | VPNs over PPTP or L2TP to corporate networks or the Internet | Connect securely to a corporate network over the Internet |
| Direct connections | Serial cabling, infrared link, DirectParallel cable | Synchronize information between a Windows CE Handheld PC and a desktop computer |
| Incoming connections | Dial-up, VPN, or direct connections | Call in to a remote access server at your home or small office network |
