OT: Heading toward DSL Road; looking for directions

[Krsqk]

Thanks for all the advice. I did get DSL, and I do have a router. My new situation is this: DSL works fine connected directly to the computer. The router works fine for home networking. The DSL connection is not recognized when the modem is run through the router's Internet port. Right now, of all things, I have the modem hooked up to the third standard port on the router, and the connection works. Is this okay? I can't see the firewall and packet filtering portions of the router functioning when the modem is treated as part of a LAN, as it seems this setup would do. Any ideas?

[geoschmo]

Is the internet port on the router bad? Can you get one that works?

I agree with you that it doesn't seem like your router firewall is going to do anything with the setup the way you have it now. You'd need a software firewall on every pc on the lan if you are going ot leave it like this.

[Fyron]

You need to go into the router configuration and enter the appropriate user and password information to be able to connect to the DSL through the internet port.

[Krsqk]

I did enter the proper settings (username, password, PPPoE connection, etc.) AFAICT. Not sure what's happening then.

[Fyron]

Ok. When you do that, the computers no longer need to log in or anything. All they need to do is become part of the network created by the hub/switch that is part of the router device (as well as have TCP/IP protocol installed for their network connection). What OS(es) are the computers using?

[Krsqk]

Ok, I got it. Someone on comp.dcom.xdsl pointed me to the following helpful (and specific) FAQ on dslreports.com: http://www.dslreports.com/faq/9687
Just happens to be a FAQ specifically for my hardware and ISP. Hmmm...maybe people have too much time on their hands.

Thanks to all who helped out.

[ June 24, 2004, 04:06: Message edited by: Krsqk ]