This chapter includes the following sections, which address various topics covered on the Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure MCSE exam:
- Network Protocols
Introduces the network protocols supported by Windows 2000, including TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, NetBEUI, and AppleTalk.
- Managing TCP/IP
Describes the TCP/IP protocol suite, its component protocols, and the organization of the TCP/IP reference model. Also describes the IP addressing scheme.
- IP Routing
Describes Windows 2000’s routing features for the TCP/IP protocols and the process of configuring and managing IP routing.
- IP Security (IPSec)
Introduces Windows 2000’s new secure IP features and presents procedures for installing and configuring IPSec features.
- Hostname Resolution
Describes the various methods of TCP/IP hostname resolution, including the HOSTS file and DNS (Domain Name Service).
- NetBIOS Name Resolution
Describes methods of NetBIOS name resolution, including traditional NetBIOS resolution and WINS (Windows Internet Name Service).
- NetWare Connectivity
Introduces Windows 2000’s features for compatibility with NetWare networks, including NWLink (IPX/SPX protocols), CSNW (Client Service for NetWare), and GSNW (Gateway Service for NetWare).
- DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
Describes the DHCP protocol, which dynamically assigns IP addresses, and how to configure and use this protocol in Windows 2000.
- Remote Access Server (RAS)
Introduces Windows 2000’s implementation of RAS and how to configure and manage this service for dial-up access to networks.
- NAT (Network Address Translation)
Describes NAT, a Windows 2000 service that translates between private and public IP addresses to allow Internet access without the use of multiple public addresses.
- Certificate Services
Describes Windows 2000’s certificate features. Digital certificates are used to authenticate encryption keys. Windows 2000 Server can act as a certificate authority (CA).
- Monitoring Network Performance
Describes several tools for monitoring the performance of the network and monitoring specific communications, such as IPSec.
N etwork protocols specify the methods for communicating between computers and other devices on a network. Windows 2000 supports the same basic network protocols as previous versions of Windows NT, although protocols such as TCP/IP have been improved with new features.
The TCP/IP protocol suite is the foundation of the Internet and the primary set of transport protocols used on Unix systems and on Windows NT and Windows 2000 networks. TCP/IP is named for two of its most important protocols, TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and IP (Internet Protocol). TCP/IP is designed for large networks, and its transport protocols are routable.
Windows 2000 builds on the TCP/IP support of previous versions of Windows NT with a number of new and enhanced features. These include the following:
- PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol)
Allows the creation of VPNs (virtual private networks) that use the Internet or another large network as a virtual transport for a smaller network. This allows low-cost networking between machines in distant locations.
- IPSec (IP Security)
Uses keyed encryption to secure communication between TCP/IP nodes. This is particularly useful with VPNs.
- L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol)
Combines L2F (Layer 2 Forwarding) with PPTP to create a more efficient virtual private network.
In addition, Windows 2000 includes an improved TCP/IP stack (the drivers that support the various TCP/IP protocols). This adds support for large transmission windows, selective acknowledgments, and better optimized traffic.
IPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange) and SPX (Sequenced Packet Exchange) are protocols developed by Novell for use with their NetWare network operating system. IPX and SPX are the primary protocols used in NetWare versions up to 4.1. NetWare 5.0, like Windows 2000, uses TCP/IP as its primary transport.
Like TCP/IP, the IPX/SPX transport protocols are routable and are suitable for large- and wide-area networks. Their chief disadvantages compared to TCP/IP are the less widely used protocols and the relative difficulty of managing addressing on a large network.
NetBEUI (NetBIOS Extended User Interface) is a basic transport protocol developed by Microsoft and used as the primary network transport protocol in Windows NT 3.0 and earlier. Even Windows NT 4.0 required NetBEUI for some network configurations.
Windows 2000 does not rely on NetBEUI at all, but supports it for interoperability with earlier operating systems. NetBEUI is not routable and is not suitable for larger networks.
AppleTalk was developed by Apple as a networking protocol for Macintosh computers. Although it is used almost exclusively by Apple computers, AppleTalk is a versatile, routable protocol that can be used on many types of networks. Windows 2000 supports AppleTalk for Macintosh connectivity.
DLC (Data Link Control) is a non-routable protocol used for communication with IBM mainframes using the SNA architecture. It is also supported by some printers with network interfaces, such as Hewlett Packard’s JetDirect interface. Unlike the other protocols listed here, DLC cannot be used to support file sharing between computers or other generic communication between hosts.