Architecture for emulating an Ethernet network interface card

An architecture for performing communications between a remote computer system and a host server over a “connection establishment” type network, the architecture comprising:

• a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) stack configured on the remote computer system;
• an ARP service module to provide address resolution configured on the remote computer system;
• a DHCP server to provide DHCP lease renewal configured on the remote computer system;
• wherein the PPP stack, the ARP service module, and the DHCP server are configured on the remote computer system such that the connection between the remote computer system and the host server will appear as an “always connected” type connection to the remote computer system.

A method of providing a connection between a remote computer system and a host server over a “connection establishment” type network, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) configuring the remote computer system with a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) stack;
• b) configuring the remote computer system with an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) service module;
• c) configuring the remote computer system with a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server;
• and
• d) communicating between the remote computer system and the host system via the “connection establishment” type network while the PPP stack, the ARP service module, and the DHCP server allow the connection to appear as an “always connected” type connection to the remote computer system.