Editing Remote access service (section)

== History ==
The term was originally coined by [[Microsoft]] when referring to their built-in [[Windows NT]] remote access tools. RAS is a service provided by Windows NT which allows most of the services which would be available on a [[computer network|network]] to be accessed over a [[modem]] link.<ref>{{cite book |title=Biophotonics: Visions for Better Health Care |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f6N7XL37KTMC |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |date=2006-08-31 |isbn=9783527406227 |first=Marion |last=Strehle}}</ref> The service includes support for [[dialup]] and [[login|logon]], presents the same network interface as the normal network drivers (albeit slightly slower). RAS works with several major network protocols, including [[TCP/IP]], [[IPX]], and [[NetBIOS Frames|NBF]]. It is not necessary to run Windows NT on the [[client (computing)|client]]—there are client versions for other [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] [[operating system]]s. RAS enables users to log into an NT-based [[LAN]] using a modem, [[X.25]] connection or [[wide area network|WAN]] link.

Starting in the mid-1990s, several manufacturers such as [[U.S. Robotics]] produced "modem terminal servers". Instead of having [[RS-232]] ports, these would directly incorporate an analog [[modem]]. These devices were commonly used by [[Internet service provider]]s to allow consumer dial-up. Modern versions interface to an [[ISDN]] [[primary rate interface|PRI]] instead of having analog modem ports.

Remote access services are now commonly used for online technical support for personal computers. The first instance of this was in 1987 in the [[United Kingdom]], provided by a company called [[Jade Technologies]]. This used the [[MS-DOS]] based program called [[PC Anywhere]] to directly link into [[MS-DOS]] and early Windows-based PCs. The company had been providing RAS support for [[Unix]] based corporate systems since 1985.