Manageability

The best networks cannot hope to operate without being manageable. In local area networks,
this is fairly simple because the administrator controls everything from the wall jack to the
server or WAN router. In remote access, these advantages no longer exist because the ability to
physically access the remote end has been removed. When the connection is down or disconnected
(reflecting the potential differences between dedicated circuits and on-demand connections),
it is not possible to logically connect to the remote equipment. Either of these limitations
can greatly work against quick problem resolution.
For remote access manageability, the designer and administrator will frequently try to automate
as many functions as possible. This can be accomplished with tools including Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol (DHCP), which automatically assigns IP addresses; and authentication servers,
including Enhanced Terminal Access Controller Access Control System (TACACS+), which can
centralize the user-authentication database. Administrators prefer centralization, instead of the
alternative, which would require placing each user and password on every access resource manually.
This centralizing of the security function will also make the network more secure; removing a single
terminated employee will remove their access account from all entrances into the network.