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Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS)
Last Updated: June 12, 2012
Definition - What does Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) mean?
Routing and remote access service (RRAS) is a suite of network services in the Windows Server family that enables a server to perform the services of a conventional router. RRAS includes an application programming interface (API) that facilitates the development of applications and processes for administering a range of network services.
Windows Server 2000, 2003 and 2008 are integrated with various network services and specific APIs that enable a server to provide data and network routing functionality. RRAS, which transforms a Windows Server into a virtual/software router, is among these programming interfaces. RRAS applications cover a broad domain of network routing and enablement services, which can be centrally administered by the server domain controller.
Techopedia explains Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS)
RRAS provides a remote user with access to an internal network via a secured virtual private network (VPN) connection. This connectivity can be deployed using typical IP-based VPN over the Internet. Or, like an Internet service provider (ISP), it can be deployed through dial-up services by allowing remote users to connect with the organizational network after authentication. RRAS also supports direct or site-to-site connectivity between two different remote servers.
According to Microsoft, services included in the RRAS suite are:
- Remote access
- Dial-up remote access server
- VPN remote access aerver
- IP router for connecting subnets of networks
- Network address translation services
- Other router-specific services
- Dial-up and VPN site-to-site demand-dial router
