What is the Network Policy Server (NPS) role used for in Windows Server 2008?

• A. NPS assigns IP addresses to clients.
• B. NPS acts as a RADIUS server and proxy to centralize authentication, authorization, and accounting for remote access and VPN.
• C. NPS provides file services.
• D. NPS is a DNS resolver.

Answer: (B)

The Network Policy Server role focuses on centralized network access control using RADIUS. It acts as a RADIUS server that receives authentication, authorization, and accounting requests from remote access servers, VPN gateways, wireless controllers, and other network devices. NPS evaluates defined network policies to decide who can connect, what resources they can access, and under what conditions, and it logs accounting data for auditing and monitoring. It can also operate as a RADIUS proxy, forwarding requests to other RADIUS servers to centralize control across multiple devices. This role does not assign IP addresses (that’s typically done by DHCP), nor does it provide file services or act as a DNS resolver.