Topic: ADSL Setup Help

[Matt pitts]

Hi

I am abit of n e-smith and Linux novice, and this is my first expereice of setting up a server.  So far it has all been pretty straight foward.  

I have managed to get my dail up modem to work OK with the server, however we want to change to ASDL with BT (basic package) in the very near future and having looked through various peoples messages I am abit lost as the simplest route to success.  

I thought I just needed an ASDL modem, (which one? NOT USB I assume) but people seem to be saying a router as well.  

Can I get away with just a modem?  I only want to share the ASDL connection with 4 other computers running windows 98.  

So I would be really grateful if people could give me some help in plain english.  

Matt

[Bill Talcott]

Personally, I'd get just a modem. When you get one with router features, it often creates more problems. With a plain modem, the SME's external NIC will get your public IP, and everything on the SME will just work the way it's supposed to. With another router in the mix, you have to forward ports for every service you want to use. Some routers don't like to forward PPTP traffic, so it may even prevent VPN connections. With a modem, the SME does all the routing, just as if it were a cable modem.

I can't give you any advice, except that USB won't work without some tinkering. Any ethernet modem should do, though I'm sure some are better than others.

[Brian Read]

I am in the UK, and on ADSL, and agree with everything that Bill says, however I would think carefully about going with BT as an ADSL provider, as they are not very good at sorting out problems if they occur (the quality of the "technical" support is awful).  Better to go with a provider who has higher level connections to BT.

Email me off list for some reccomendations..

cheers

Brian