The Direct Connect column represents how a personal computer is typically connected to a network in an office. The Dial-In column represents how you might access that same network from a personal computer and modem at home. IP machine addresses are registered internationally and are unique. IPX machine addresses are not registered internationally, with the potential for id conflicts across Novell networks. An example of authentication is when you signon to a minicomputer by typing a login ID and a password.
Authentication is needed for security and accountability.
Many sites on the Internet frown upon anonymous access. Our current modem pool does not allow direct access to the Internet. You must first establish a session with a computer on campus before accessing other systems on the Internet. Thus, your identification is tied to an on-campus computer. The new service will allow you to directly access the Internet.