HOWTO: Use Serial Data Exchange with RAS

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Win32 Application Programming Interface (API) included with: - Microsoft Windows NT, versions 3.51, 4.00 - Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

In a lot of situations it is necessary to exchange some serial data (such as user name, password, or other pre-authentication data) between an RAS client and RAS server before PPP framing starts. From a Windows 95 RAS client, you can accomplish this either programmatically or through user interaction. From a Windows NT RAS client, you can only accomplish this through explicit user interaction.

MORE INFORMATION

Server

With Windows NT 3.51 and above it is possible to create an RAS security add-on DLL with certain functions that are invoked before PPP framing starts. The functions in this DLL can carry out a serial data exchange with either a Windows 95 or Windows NT RAS client. For example, it can prompt the client for extra password, or receive input from some other hardware device on the client side. The Win32 SDK sample RASHOST (\MSSDK\SAMPLES\WIN32\WINNT\RASHOST) demonstrates how to write an RAS security DLL for Windows NT. Please see this sample's help file for more information.

Client

An RAS client can send and receive serial data (before PPP framing starts) from the RAS server in the following manner:

1. By opening a terminal Window on the client site, the user can exchange serial data with the RAS server. This can be accomplished from either a Windows 95 RAS client or Windows NT RAS client. RAS automatically brings up the terminal window when the phone entry has been set to do so.

2. In Windows 95 it is possible to carry out serial data exchange with the RAS server programmatically by creating a Session Management Module DLL. This DLL must be installed on the Windows 95 RAS client machine. The DLL allows a serial data exchange with the RAS server before PPP framing starts. The Windows 95 Session Management Module (SMM) is documented in the Windows 95 DDK (\DDK\DOCS\DESGUIDE\Network.doc). Note that at the present time SMM is not supported on Windows NT.