Topic: dedicated internet access in UK - know a good provider?

[David]

Hi,
using e-smith 4.1.2 to provide internet gateway for our LAN and host our web site.  Currently using a standard NTL 128K line.  Its getting too slow for our surfing needs.
I've been looking at BT's ADSL service which is locally available, but they talk of having to have MS NT or 98 installed.  Well we're happy with e-smith and are unwilling to change.   Looking at NTL's broadband/direct internet access services they talk of MS and Solaris ( i think it was) and that they (NTL) insist on installing the software onto said server.

Obviously we are happy with e-smith and all we want is a company that can offer us, say 512K or even 1M of bandwidth in the first instance (perhaps more later).  Don't mind them installing a router at our end or whatever as long as they then just connect into a NIC in our e-smith server (no body to touch our server except us!).

Does anyone have a happy experience of a fast internet (dedicated?/leased?/broadband) in the UK.  We will need to host our own site (so static IP is required) and provide fastish internet access for probably at most 60 users at a time although theoretically it could be many more as we have 150 machines on site.  Also a standard monthly charge is needed.

Thanks for any advice.

[BrianC]

David

We have used e-smith as a server on our adsl connection for the last 9 months
and have not had a problem
the service was supplied by clara.net
although this service is more expensive than BT's offering. we cannot fault the service and i therefore can say you should consider them
But make sure you ask about there business service as this will give you fixed ip addresses and a router for a Lan connection

[lougha]

I use blueyonder which is the telewest cablemodem service equivalent to NTLs cablemodem service.

It depends on your needs, but if you are currently using 128K ISDN and your requirement is internet access , rather than hosting servers, then I would recomend cable. you get a dynamic ip , but this isnt an issue as you can use dyndns.org and the esmith to keep your dns entry uptodate.

I believe services are currently about £33 per month for 512K and there are faster packeges to come.

Alternatively you can try www.easynet.co.uk theyre cheaper than BT, give you a pure TCPIP connection with upto 13 static IPs for 79 per month for 512K or 99 pm for 1Mb

good luck

[David]

Thanks, for the replies.  Sorry I'm only now replying but I managed to mess up my debian workstation at home and have been fixing it for a few days.

I've just looked at the clara.net site and it looks very good.  Thanks again for the advice.  I presume that the router they install just connects to the e-smith server via a network card?  Is it easy to install another NIC in e-smith?

thanks again!