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WAN mini port

(also wide area network mini port, WAN miniport)

WAN mini port definition

A WAN mini port is a software driver for Windows XP (and later versions) that allows devices to connect to wide area networks (WANs). Crucially, WAN mini ports allow connections to the internet without using a router as an intermediary — for example, by plugging the ethernet cable directly into your computer.

WAN mini ports are typically installed automatically when a computer is connected to a WAN, such as through a DSL or cable modem. WAN mini ports are also automatically installed when you connect to a virtual private network (VPN). Each WAN mini port can be configured separately using the Windows Device Manager.

See also: WAN, WAN port

Common types of WAN mini ports

  • WAN mini port (IP): Basic network connectivity over WAN.
  • WAN mini port (IPv6): IPv6 connectivity over WAN.
  • WAN mini port ( PPPOE ): Supports Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPOE), which is used for DSL connections.
  • WAN mini port ( L2TP ): Support the Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP), which is used for VPN connections.
  • WAN mini port (PPTP): Supports the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), another protocol used in VPN connections.
  • WAN mini port (SSTP): Supports for the Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP), one of the protocols used in VPN connections.
  • WAN mini port ( IKEv2 ): Like the other VPN-specific WAN mini ports, this mini port allows VPN connections using the Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2).