ATLANTA, Sept. 14, 1999 — On the show floor this week at NetWorld+Interop (N+I) in Atlanta, Microsoft Corp. is demonstrating a Windows® 2000 virtual private networking (VPN)-based server handling over 2,500 concurrent client connections with throughput doubling real-world 56Kbps connections. Demonstrating performance and scalability not yet shown by software-based VPN solutions, Microsoft illustrates how enterprise customers can exploit the Internet for a growing mobile user population. In three VPN displays, Microsoft highlights the scalability, reliability, manageability and interoperability of the Microsoft® Windows 2000 remote access services, providing flexible solutions for customers from small businesses to the enterprise.
With the release of Windows 2000, Microsoft software-based VPNs will offer enterprise-class scalability, allowing thousands of mobile workers to access corporate networks securely through the Internet. This level of scalability surpasses what has been possible with Windows-based VPNs in the past. A second display showcases the high availability and the rich central management of remote access policy through the Windows 2000 VPN. Windows Network Load Balancing Service is shown balancing client connections across multiple servers to enhance availability and further increase scalability. Connection Manager shows how VPNs can be centrally deployed across an enterprise, and Internet Authentication Services is shown enforcing rich policy to control who can access the network, using which protocols and security levels, and where they can go once they gain access.
“Microsoft is showing the industry that a manageable, directory-integrated VPN solution can scale up to the demands of the enterprise, without the complexity of adding specialized hardware appliances to your network, and can be delivered at a lower cost per user,”
said Phil Schacter, director, Network Strategy Service, Burton Group.
“We are excited to be delivering these powerful remote access capabilities with Windows 2000,”
said Deborah Willingham, vice president of marketing, Business and Enterprise Division at Microsoft.
“Windows 2000 lets customers securely take advantage of the power of the Internet for remote access while addressing central management, availability and scalability needs for companies of all sizes.”
Windows 2000 also offers customers choices for security protocols and authentication methods to address diverse deployment requirements: Windows 2000 with L2TP/IPSec for situations demanding the most advanced remote access security and multivendor interoperability, and PPTP for simpler and lower-cost situations. Both protocols offer customers the option to use smart cards and other strong authentication services to increase remote access security. A third display at the show will demonstrate the out-of-the-box multivendor interoperability of the Windows 2000 L2TP/IPSec support with third-party VPN solutions. This broad range of functionality makes Windows 2000 Server the best remote access solution for companies of all sizes.
The VPN capabilities previewed at N+I will be delivered as part of Windows 2000, which is scheduled for release in the second half of 1999. VPN and remote access services will be included in the Server, Advanced Server and Datacenter Server editions of Windows 2000.
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