Scaleable network system for remote access of a local network

Abstract

A network system that provides a scaleable and distributed architecture to enable a plurality of remote clients to access a local area network (LAN). The network system includes an access server that executes a network operating system (NOS), such as any standard NOS, to enable communication with the LAN, an access bus, an access device coupled to the access server and the access bus that cooperates with the NOS to establish a communication link between the access server and the clients, and at least one multiport device coupled to the access bus and coupled to one or more clients through corresponding wide area network (WAN) connections that cooperates with the access device to establish a communication link between clients and the access device. The access server is preferably implemented on an industry standard platform using industry standard components. The access bus is either a dedicated bus or a shared media bus, such as Ethernet. The multiport and access devices cooperate to link each client to the access server as though directly connected thereto. Each multiport device includes a plurality of port slots, each for receiving one of a plurality of communication cards coupled to a remote clients via corresponding WAN connections. Each communication card operates according to one of a plurality of different communication protocols.