Windows 2000 Administration in a Nutshell

Name

direct computer connection

Synopsis

Configure, connect using, create, and monitor a direct computer connection between two computers.

Procedures

The tasks listed here (unless otherwise specified) assume that you have already opened the Network and Dial-up Connections window by:

Start → Settings → Network and Dial-up Connections

In some cases the steps depend on whether your computer is a standalone server (belonging to a workgroup) or a domain controller or member server (belonging to a domain).

Configure a Direct Computer Connection

There are two possibilities, the standalone server and the domain server.

Standalone Server

Right-click on connection → Properties

The tabs available here depend on whether you have created a Host or Guest connection. Some of the more important settings on these tabs are as follows:

General (Host)

By default, this connection is enabled to listen on all WAN or direct connection devices, so you probably need to disable it on some of them for the sake of security.

Make the connection icon visible on the taskbar as it simplifies the process of monitoring and terminating the connection.

General (Guest)

Here you can only specify one device that the connection will use.

Users (Host)

By default, devices such as handheld PCs that are directly connected to the computer using a cable or IR port can bypass authentication to simplify and speed up the connection process. Of course, this means that you should probably physically secure your computer so that strangers do not ...