Assign multiple phone numbers to a connection
Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 7
You can use this procedure to assign multiple phone numbers to a dial-up network connection.
Sometimes the network to which you are calling has multiple access points in your city, and it could also have access points in other nearby cities. You can assign all or several of the available phone numbers to the connection, and establish the order in which you want Windows to try them. If the first one does not connect successfully for any reason, Windows then tries the next connection in order, and continues down the list until a successful connection is made.
Any user account can be used to complete this procedure.
To assign multiple phone numbers to a connection
Open the Network Connections folder and view available connections.
Right-click the dial-up connection to which you want to assign multiple phone numbers, and then click Properties.
On the General tab, in Phone number, click Alternates. The Alternate Phone Numbers dialog box opens.
In the Alternate Phone Numbers dialog box, if you want the connection to attempt a different phone number when the first number in the list is not successful, click the If number fails, try the next number check box.
In the Alternate Phone Numbers dialog box, if you want the connection to move the first successful phone number to the top of the list under Phone numbers and use it on the next connection attempt, click Move successful numbers to top of list. This option has the effect of sorting the numbers to help reduce the time it takes to connect.
In the Alternate Phone Numbers dialog box, to add a new phone number to the list, click Add. The Add Alternate Phone Number dialog box opens.
In the Add Alternate Phone Number dialog box, in Phone number, type the phone number. If you want the connection to use established area code and dialing rules, select the Use dialing rules check box. Click OK.
In the Alternate Phone Numbers dialog box, if you want to change the order of phone numbers, under Phone numbers, select a phone number, and then click the Up or Down arrow button until the phone numbers are arranged in the order you want.
In the Add Alternate Phone Number dialog box, in Phone numbers, if you want to change a phone number, click the number and then click Edit.
In the Add Alternate Phone Number dialog box, if you want to remove a phone number, under Phone numbers, click the phone number, and then click Delete.